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Remodeling Flooring Design Dilemma

Help! Water Based Finish vs Swedish Finish on White Oak Floor

3 years ago

We are looking at 6" character grade rift and quartered white oak flooring, finished on site. We have a TON of flooring so this is a massive portion of our budget and have talked to multiple installer/finishers to get quotes. At the distributor's warehouse they had samples of water vs oil based finish and we really liked the water based finish. We are going for a "natural" look with a tinge of brown in it. Some installers are really pushing the Swedish finish over the water based. I don't like to argue with pro's but I'm finding it frustrating.. Any suggestions for me to say why else I want the water based (besides the look). Is there a significant price difference between a Swedish Finish and the Bona Traffic HD? (We have 2 very different bids so far) A contractor we are interviewing said they almost never do water based finishes and they aren't as lasting as swedish and didn't seem to know about the Bona Traffic (granted he is the gc and we haven't met his hardwood installer so I plan to ask him when we meet). We do not want the floor to yellow/orange. (We have a 50 lb dog, 2 toddlers, and we are one might say we are "hard" on our floors, though we do No Shoes on in the house) Also- any input on doing white painted risers vs Wood risers? We currently have the risers the same as the flooring but like the look of the white painted risers... INSIGHT, ADVICE, TIPS, GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

Pics from the distributor to show us what 6" character grade rift and quartered white oak flooring looks like.

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Comments (5)

PRO
Johnson Flooring Co Inc
3 years ago
Swedish finish is rather nasty to work with but is one of the best wearing finishes you can get on site. If your contractor is willing to work with it I'd strongly consider using it. It's far superior to any waterborne finish in regards to durability.
blyhoutz thanked Johnson Flooring Co Inc
Barbara
3 years ago
I am not a pro but when I was making the same decision I read some very negative things about dogs and the Swedish finishes and have since heard the same from friends who have it. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can explain why or you can find an article.
blyhoutz thanked Barbara
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This is an old post so I imagine this has long since been resolved for the OP, but since I just saw it, figured I'd throw our experience in anyway for future searchers on this topic: We have an interesting case study in that the floors in our house and our neighbors' identical house were both redone about five years ago (before we were on the scene, so don't know specific products used). The floors are identical hundred-year-old white oak installed at the same time (same family built both). Both were sanded down, neither was stained, and ours was finished with a water-based finish, theirs with oil-based. Both still look fine five years out (if you ignore the scratches from our dog!) but the looks are different. As someone noted above, the oil finish is a bit warmer and much shinier. I think it's fair to say it looks newer as a result, though how much of that is the wear-and-tear we put on our house (significantly more than our neighbors!) is hard to say. Our water-based finish is more matte-looking and pulls out more browns and beiges than yellows and reds (if that makes sense). There are apparently some differences in how you can clean and touch up the two finishes as well. (We use Bona hardwood cleaner on ours, which seems to work fine.) Anyway, just food for thought on this!
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Dish out is common on plain sawn oak, if, you do not have the right equipment, sandpaper and sanding sequence. More softwood is removed than hardwood, creating the undulation. A resanding is needed with a hard plating sanding driver, multi-head, power drive or trio to remedy the issue. Scuffing - will depend on the quality of the product and their process. Did they split the finishing process - sand and applied a couple of coats and returned at later date to finalize the project - contamination? Was there a stain applied - insufficient dry time? Did they, thin the product to save some money? What brand and product line did they use? Something happen to affect the performance of the product. Dragging a light cardboard box shouldn't cause too much damage, unless the scuffs are caused by staples. What was in the box - tv, toys, clothes?
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PRO
G & S Floor Service
3 years ago
You can search Bona's website for a Certified Craftsman in your area.
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
Swedish Finish STINKS to HIGH HEAVEN! Why? Because the VOCs are into the stratosphere. They are very high! Stink. Stink. Stink. For those of us with MIGRAINES or with CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES the Swedish Finish can be a horrible experience.

Some people find it impossible to move in after a Swedish Finish. Some are out of the house for 6weeks or more....simply because they get so sick just being in the same house as the smell.

The Swedish finish is one of the best wearing floors on the market...but I'll take a 3-coat Bona Traffic HD finish ANY DAY over a Swedish finish. If you pay to have 3 coats of the Bona Traffic HD put down you will build a finish that is VERY CLOSE to the Swedish Finish.

The 'guys' who say water based aren't as good as oil haven't worked with the BIG BOYS of the floor finishing industry. Bona Traffic HD and Loba 2K Supra AT are SUPER TOUGH. Both of these finishes have been 'updated' in the last 5 years. If you are in an area where 'newfangled ideas' are frowned upon, then I can guarantee these dudes haven't looked into the TOP of the line stuff.

A gallon of Bona Traffic HD should cost around $150. A gallon of the Loba 2K Supra AT = $190. Compare that to Home Depot option = $80 per gallon for Varethane waterborne finish. That's the stuff that DOES NOT perform as well as oil based.

And the NUMBER OF COATS of Bona HD will dictate how 'tough' your floor will be. For another $1/sf you can have a finish that lasts 7-10 years longer. Many flooring refinishers prefer a 'sealant + 2 coats of finish' system. It is cheap(er) and faster and gets them on to the next job quicker. The 3 coats gets you another LEVEL of protection. By building the finish (we call this a film building finish for a reason) you CREATE the toughest floor possible WITHOUT having migraines or bleeding noses for 6+ weeks after you move in.

And Swedish Finishes amber (turn orange). If you are trying to avoid 'orange' then the Swedish Finish might be too much colour for you.
blyhoutz thanked SJ McCarthy
Sumod
2 years ago
@SJ McCarthy i am not the original poster, but this was very helpful for me as i am in the same boat as they are. thank you!!

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