How to Identify Wood Floor Finishes

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Steve Hanson

Identifying the type of finish that is applied to a wood floor is necessary in order to determine the best maintenance procedures. Knowing this will allow you to choose the proper cleaning chemicals and procedures to use, as well as determining a course of action for periodic maintenance of wood floors. Improper techniques can damage wood floors, resulting in astronomical repair bills. Wood's beauty is unparalleled, but comes at the cost of proper maintenance.

There are three basic types of floor finish: surface, wax, and acrylic. Follow these steps to determine what you are dealing with:

1. Obviously, the easiest way to determine what is on the floor is to ask. A homeowner may have this information, which will take all the guesswork out of the process. Also, if you can determine the manufacturer of the floor, you can check with them on proper care for their product.

2. A surface finish will flake off if gently scratched with a metal object, such as a putty knife or coin. Also, place a few drops of water on the floor. If white spots do NOT appear, it is likely a surface finish. Obviously, do this in an inconspicuous area.

3. To determine if your floor has a wax finish, take a white rag with a small amount of mineral spirits and wipe an inconspicuous spot. If the rag is yellow or brownish, it is likely a wax.

4. Place a few drops of a solution of ammonia, dish soap, and water on the floor. If it turns white, it is likely an acrylic wax.

5. Acrylic-impregnated wood will have a consistent color throughout, so if it is possible to remove a floor vent and look at the wood itself to see if the color is consistent throughout. As this is a fairly new type of flooring, you can rule this out for older flooring.

These steps will help you to identify the finish applied. Once you know what type of finish is on your floor, you can determine the best cleaning procedures for that type of product.

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Steve Hanson has been a building service contractor for more than 20 years and now uses his knowledge to help owners of residential cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business at MyHouseCleaningBiz.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for House Cleaning Profit Tips at http://www.MyHouseCleaningBiz.com.