To find the best maintenance products for your flooring, first you should know what type of flooring you have an what type of finish it has. There are 3 most common types of floor boards, these include Engineered, Laminate, & Vinyl flooring.
What type of Flooring Do I Have?
Engineered Hardwood Flooring
Engineered timber flooring is pure timber veneer on top; generally ranging from 3mm to 6mm. It combines a real hardwood surface with a multi-layered core of plywood. Engineered timber floors are a strong, durable flooring option that is less prone to splitting and gapping than solid timber flooring.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is similar to luxury vinyl planks in its look and method of installation. The critical difference is that its core is made from wood by-products bonded with resins. The top surface is a hard, transparent plastic wear layer that covers the printed design layer. The overall thickness for laminate flooring planks ranges from 6 mm to 12 mm.
Vinyl
Vinyl flooring is a 100-percent synthetic material. with vinyl plank flooring, the core layer is a thicker, multi-layer PVC vinyl. Luxury vinyl flooring comes in planks or tiles that interlock side-to-side to form a floating floor. The overall thickness for vinyl flooring ranges from 1.5 mm for sheet vinyl to 5 mm for luxury vinyl planks.
What type of Finish does my floor have?
Oiled Floor Finish
An Oil finish will require more maintenance than a lacquered finish but provides a deeper defence by penetrating the wood to the core. An oil finish provides a natural look compared to lacquer, creating a matte and natural finish that retains visibility of the grain of the wood. Unlike a Lacquer finish, patch repairs are possible, any repairs can be completed with out needing to re-do the entire floor. The life span of a oiled finish is between 5-7 years.
Lacquered Floor Finish
A Lacquer finish is easily maintained and very durable, it is applied to the flooring as a protectant and often gives the flooring a sheen. Unlike oil lacquer sits on top of the wood and does not sink into the wood. A lacquer finish is ideal for an area where you anticipate heavy foot traffic, or for where you want a glossy or shiny finish. Unlike oiled finish, patch repairs are not possible. The life span of a lacquered floor finish is between 5-10 years.