i just got the matte finish on plain old (new) white oak in my kitchen remodel. They used amber stain because they said it would match rest of house best (old white oak floors that have yellowed). Even though I might have preferred lighter I was OK with that. But decided to hold my ground and asked them to use the matte finish which the floor guys were sort of against. I love the finished product!! It's super smooth, no shine and makes a more modern clean look. It dried nearly instantaneously and they did the whole thing in a day from sanding to top finish. Amazing what new products and technology have done to transform floor finishing. (I last had floors done in around 2001 - big mess). I sure hope this stands up because I love the look. I recommend it. And no smell at all after it dries (same day!)

In my experience, standard oil-modified polyurethane wears better, and it certainly costs a lot less. The downsides are slow drying, smell and ambering. As much as I like oil poly, I feel Weathered Oak would turn yellow over time if you use it. We used to recoat a salon floor regularly. At a seminar I asked an expert if he had any recommendations for a finish that would wear better than Traffic. He recommended oil poly and said it wears better than any of the top shelf waterborne urethanes, even the one his company sold. Unfortunately the salon was in a residence hotel and we could use it due to the odor. Depending on your wear and tear, Mega HD Clear might be a viable option for you. It costs about $50/gallon less than Traffic.

I think you are on the right track. The nice thing about starting with the glossy stuff is you will see the SHINIEST OF THE SHINY. You can then tone it down from there. The satin will look quite glossy in the first few weeks. But that will calm down. It's just something about the 'fresh' finish that keeps everything very 'fresh and shiny' for a little bit longer than you would expect. Relax and let the process happen. The Bona will take 5-7 days to cure...so take your time and view it (before moving back in) over several days. Take photos from the same spot (like a doorway) every time you visit. Visit at different times during the day to see it's sheen under different lighting situations. If, after 5 days or so you are GROSSLY unhappy, then now would be the time to discuss a coat of matte....before you move in. And by grossly unhappy I mean, "Hyperventilating, dizzy, nauseated at the very thought of what you've just done to your home".

Bona Traffic HD is the BIG BOY on the block. It is the best of the best. It is what every other flooring finish attempts to recreate. Even I, as a Loba 2K Supra AT lover, have to admit that Bona Traffic HD is the leader of the pack in North America. Glitsa Infinity II is rated as an oil modified product. That means it will turn yellow. Glitsa produces 1 part products which are much easier to work with (makes the job easier for the refinisher). The 2 coats of Glitsa TruSeal is recommended over White oak to prevent tannin pull (tannin pull causes white oak to turn yellow over time). This doesn't make sense to me. Why use a sealant to PREVENT white oak from turning yellow when you use an AMBERING PRODUCT like an Oil modified finish??? This is weird for me. But that's me. The question becomes - Do you want a YELLOW floor? Or do you want a floor that remains TRUE to the 'raw look' of wood? Do you want your floor to turn yellow/orange over time? If you say "No" to the yellowing then your contractor is using the wrong products for you.