THE CHANGING FACE OF FLOOR FINISHES By Bill Price EPA regulations and new technologies are changing the way we finish wood floors Many species and patterns of wood flooring have been used for hundreds of years. But no matter what type of wood floor or where it is used-whether kitchen or bedroom, residential or commercial- they all have one thing in common. They all need finishes to protect them from moisture and wear. While the flooring itself has changed little over the years, the finishes have gone through drastic changes in the last 35 years. Shellac, varnish, penetrating seals, and waxes were commonly used prior to the early 1950s and are still used today in some regions. But the
