No, unless you plan to sand the floor. Prefinished floors are already polyurethaned.
Depends on the application really. The prefinished hardwood they are making now is fabulous. I would say, unless you are restoring a historic property, or have a reason to use unfinished, go with the prefinished. You wont have the mess, it will be done quickly, no fumes. No moving everything out at once, you can go one room at a time.Wife of a flooring contractor
To effectively fix scratches in polyurethane hardwood floors, you can start by cleaning the scratched area with a damp cloth. Next, apply a polyurethane touch-up product or a wood stain marker that matches the color of your floor. Gently rub the product into the scratch and let it dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Finally, apply a coat of polyurethane finish over the repaired area to blend it in with the rest of the floor.
Rubber casters are better for a hardwood floor as they will not scratch the wood surface and not leave black marks on your floor.
Polyurethane should be put onto a hardwood floor because without it, it can be sensitive to moisture damage and scratching.
If you ignore them for a while. Many of them will take care of them selfs as the wood expands and contracts with the weather.
To apply polyurethane to hardwood floors effectively, follow these steps: Sand the floor to remove any existing finish and create a smooth surface. Clean the floor thoroughly to remove dust and debris. Apply a coat of polyurethane using a brush or roller, working in the direction of the wood grain. Allow the first coat to dry completely before applying additional coats, typically 2-3 coats are recommended. Sand lightly between coats for a smooth finish. Allow the final coat to dry completely before walking on the floor.
Hardwood floors with a high Janka hardness rating, such as Brazilian cherry, hard maple, or hickory, tend to resist scratching the most due to their durability and strength. Additionally, choosing a hardwood floor with a protective finish, like aluminum oxide or polyurethane, can help enhance scratch resistance. Regular maintenance, like using protective pads on furniture legs and cleaning with recommended products, can also help prevent scratching.
The only reasons for installing unfinished flooring: you plan to stain the floor a color prefinished flooring doesn't come in, or you are planning to really abuse the floor so badly it will need to be refinished frequently. The finish on a prefinished floor is far more durable than anything you can apply yourself.
Yes, you can.
If your hardwood floor is not shining, it might need some polish. Or, it might just be old. I suggest investing in a new hardwood floor if yours is so ancient that it has lost its ability to be lucent. Or you can have your floors refinished. If they have been sanded recently, you might have a satin sheen in the polyurethane that was applied. If this is the case, all you have to do is re coat it with a semi gloss or gloss polyurethane.
The factory seals the prefinished hardwood floor with many coats of finish. Aluminum oxide, the second hardest substance after diamond, is commonly used in finish coats to produce a long-lasting protective finish.
No, in fact the wax can ruin the polyurethane finish. Clean the floor with a good wood floor cleaner. Do not mop with water.