- Q.I'm building a new home for
a couple who want to finish their hardwood floors with
wax, the way it used to be done. When they recently
refinished the polyurethane-topped floors in their
existing home, they were upset that they had to move
all their furniture into storage and swore, "Never
again." I'm trying to talk them out of the wax finish,
and I'd appreciate some feedback from a flooring
expert. Can a wax finish protect floors for the long
term?
A.Floor finisher Michael
Purser, owner of the Rosebud Co. in Atlanta,
responds: Whether wax will provide the
protection most homeowners want depends on how the
floors are treated. I consider wax not a finish but
a cosmetic product applied to the surface of wood
to enhance its appearance. And it absolutely has to
be applied over a surface that is well sealed. That
used to be done with shellac or sanding sealers.
Since neither of those products is used much these
days, a penetrating sealer is usually applied
several times before the floor is waxed. The most
common complaint with wax is that it doesn't
provide enough protection and requires a lot of
work to keep the floors looking attractive. Most
common household liquids will easily damage a paste
wax.
As far as doing it "the way it used to be done,"
I would point out that people used to cook on wood
stoves and wash their clothes by hand. Because of
the inefficiency and labor involved, few homeowners
wish to return to those good old days. Likewise,
most homeowners today dislike products that require
any more maintenance than is necessary or provide
inadequate protection. Urethane products have
become popular because they're durable and make
little work for the owner.
If the homeowners want the floors waxed, I would
make sure that they are thoroughly informed and
that they sign off on some document that spells out
the potential problems and expenses of this kind of
floor before I apply the wax.