Hardwood floors are gorgeous, but they also come with an array of choices. When it comes to finishing your hardwood floors, you have several options. Some people choose stains and finishes like urethane or polyurethane, both of which are available from the experts. However, there's an additional option that usually doesn't make the list, which is aluminum oxide.
Why is this finish less well known than the alternatives? What makes it an attractive option for homeowners? Why would you want to install hardwood flooring finished with aluminum oxide in your home? What exactly is an aluminum oxide floor finish? Not to worry because we’re here to help! These questions, as well as others, will be answered in this handy guide.
A Quick Primer on Aluminum Oxide
Breaking the name of the finish down into its standard parts leaves you with two words: aluminum, which is a type of metal, and oxide, which refers to oxygen, the air that everyone breathes. When these two things are combined, they form aluminum oxide, also known as its shortened form of alumina.
Not only is alumina used in the overall production of aluminum parts and other items, but it's an important component in everything from medical joint replacements to electrical insulation.
Aluminum Oxide as a Flooring Finish
What does this have to do with flooring? Well, aluminum oxide particles can be added to the polyurethane coating that goes on hardwood flooring planks. The particles infuse themselves with the polyurethane, forming a coating that's extremely durable and rugged. The only downside is that this must be done in a factory, so those boards come to your home already pre-stained and finished.
It’s important to know that it's not possible to add aluminum oxide to polyurethane in a home onto already installed floors because the process is simply not safe. With that said, once the finish has dried and hardened, you're left with beautiful floor planks that can hold up to everything from pets to foot traffic. Plus, since the finish is already on the flooring when it's installed, you won't have to wait for anything to dry before you can walk on it.
Long-Lasting Wood Finishes
Although hardwood floors can last for a long time, centuries even, in some cases, their finishes are another story. Typically, a hardwood floor will need to be stripped, restained, and refinished every ten to fifteen years, possibly more often if you have several pets or want your floors to perpetually be very shiny and new looking on a continual basis.
With aluminum oxide finishes, this is less of a hassle. That finish will last for a good 25-years, possibly longer, depending on how well you take care of your floors.
An Aluminum Oxide Floor Is Very Durable
Since there are essentially metal particles (although they aren't visible since they're very small) in your wood floor's finish, it's extremely durable. This type of finish is very resistant to everyday issues, like scratches, gouges, and pits, making it useful for people who tend to be hard on their floors.
For example, parents with young children and pet owners will find that wood flooring with an aluminum oxide finish tends to hold up well, with very little maintenance or upkeep needed. You will no longer have to worry about little ones dropping heavy objects, scratches from dog or cat claws, or every dent and gouge left behind by weighty furniture. This finish will resist everything that it can.
Less Worry About Off Gassing
One of the biggest worries when it comes to having hardwood floors finished is the potential for off-gassing. This occurs when chemicals within the stain or finish enter the air as it dries. Everything from paint to stain and even mattresses made of foam have the tendency to off-gas.
However, since aluminum oxide finishes are applied in the factory, and the boards come to your home already completed, you don't have to worry about off-gassing. The only dangers exist in the factory.
Choosing a Wood Floor with an Aluminum Oxide Finish
There are many reasons behind choosing an aluminum oxide finish for your hardwood floors. The finish lasts a long time, stands up to plenty of use, and you don't have to worry about off-gassing. Instead, you'll get a lovely wood floor that will enhance the look of your home and give you those gorgeous hardwood floors you’ve always wanted for years to come!
When looking for everything you need for the floors of your dream, check out Hardwood Bargains for the tips, tricks, and products for a beautiful home.
Sources:
Aluminum Oxide Finish Versus Polyurethane on Wood Floors | Hunker
Aluminum Oxide - an overview | Science Direct
What You Need to Know About Off-Gassing | Architectural Digest
