Wood floor finishes protect the boards in different ways. Surface finishes, which include oil-based and water-based coatings, sit on top as a film. Penetrating oils soak into the fibers. UV-cured finishes are hardened under ultraviolet light, either on site or at the factory. Sheen follows one simple rule: the less light a floor reflects, the less everyday wear you notice. With a prefinished board, the oil vs polyurethane hardwood floor finish decision is made at the mill, so in our store you are mostly choosing the sheen. The four boards from our solid hardwood collection that we use as examples below all arrive with the finish already applied.
Quick answer: how oil, polyurethane and UV-cured finishes differ
The National Wood Flooring Association sums up each finish family in a line:
- Oil-based finishes form a film on top and add an amber colour: "Oil-based finishes are amber in color and are very durable."
- Water-based finishes also form a film, but they stay clear: "Water-based finishes are normally clear, very durable, and dry quickly."
- Penetrating oil, including hard wax oil, goes into the wood instead of sitting on it: "Penetrating finishes include natural oil finishes, which can be penetrating oils or hard wax oil finishes."
- UV-cured finishes are really a curing method, not a separate chemistry: "UV-cured finishes are normally water-based finishes that are cured instantly using ultraviolet light."
Sheen is a separate choice, running from gloss down to matte. Price follows the board, not the finish. Solid hardwood in our catalogue runs from $4.99 to $9.99 per sq ft, and the four example boards here run from $5.39 to $6.99 per sq ft.
Film finishes versus penetrating oils: where the protection sits
An oiled floor can be touched up in one spot. A film finish is one continuous coating. In the association's words: "Surface finishes are film-forming finishes that remain on the surface of the wood to form a protective coating."
| Finish | Where the protection sits | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Oil-based surface finish | On the surface, as a film | Amber in colour and very durable (association) |
| Water-based finish (varnish) | On top of the wood, as a clear film | "Today's varnishes are almost exclusively water-based, with minimal solvent content." (finish manufacturer) |
| Penetrating oil or hard wax oil | Inside the wood fibers and pores | "High-solid oils penetrate the surface and impregnate the wood fibers and pores." (finish manufacturer) |
| UV-cured finish | On the surface, cured by light | "These finishes may be site-applied or applied during the manufacturing process." (association) |
| Aluminum oxide finish | On the surface, applied at the mill | "Aluminum oxide finishes are applied during the manufacturing process." (association) |
Why the repair difference matters
An oiled floor is easier to spot-fix. As the finish manufacturer LOBA puts it, "Minor damage to oiled parquet and wood floors can usually be easily improved by re-oiling so that the marks are no longer noticeable". The catch is upkeep: "One of the downsides of impregnated wood surfaces is their stronger tendency to get dirty, which means they need more care."
A film finish flips both points: "Unlike oils, modern varnishes remain on the surface, forming a sealed and very long-lasting coating." Repairs are harder, though. Coatings "are also usually more difficult to repair than oiled floors, as the whole floor has to be stripped and refinished if it is damaged."
Each of our product pages names the board's finish. The Lauzon Essential Hard Maple Sapphir is "finished with a durable aluminum oxide coating", but its page doesn't give a sheen level. If you are matching an existing floor, put the two side by side before you order.
Finish wording on the prefinished boards we stock
These boards arrive finished, so the real question is which finish each one already has. Here is how four of them are described, with current prices.
| Board | Finish listed | Grade | Coverage per box | Box price | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Natural Hard Maple | Semi gloss, in the title and the spec table | Prestige Grade | 18.9 sq ft | $132.11 | $6.99 |
| Appalachian Natural Red Oak | Semi gloss (title and spec table) | Excel Grade | 18.9 sq ft | $101.87 | $5.39 |
| Lauzon Essential Hard Maple Sapphir | "finished with a durable aluminum oxide coating" | No grade in the spec table | 17.0 sq ft | $99.80 | $5.87 |
| MKB Red Oak Epicea Character | "surfaced in a smooth factory finish" | Character Grade | 17.0 sq ft | $118.83 | $6.99 |
Prices checked October 6, 2026. All four boards are 4 1/4" (108mm) wide and 3/4" (19mm) thick.
One thing to know before you compare: of our 41 solid hardwood listings, 26 name a sheen in the title, and every one of them says semi gloss. The other 15, from Lauzon and MKB, leave it out, so check those product pages. The Appalachian range alone covers 26 listings from $5.09 to $6.99 per sq ft, and 22 of them are in stock.
Sheen levels, and which one shows less wear
Sheen is how much light comes back off the floor, and it decides how much fine scratches show. Here is how the association describes the four levels.
| Sheen | Association wording | How easily small scratches show |
|---|---|---|
| Gloss | "Gloss finishes offer the most shine and reflect the most light." | Most noticeable of the four |
| Semi-gloss | "Semi-gloss finishes offer some shine and reflect some light." | Less noticeable than gloss |
| Satin | "Satin finishes offer less light reflection." | Less noticeable than semi-gloss |
| Matte | "Matte finishes offer the least shine and reflect the least light." | Least noticeable of the four |
The association's rule is simple: "The less sheen, the less you will notice small scratches and other normal wear." That's why a matte or satin floor usually looks tidier in a busy hallway than a gloss floor, even in the same species.
The Appalachian boards sit in the middle of that scale. Semi gloss reflects some light, and all 26 Appalachian listings use it, including the Natural Red Oak Excel Grade Semi Gloss at $101.87 per box. If you want less reflection, check the finish wording on each listing as you shortlist, and see our notes on how textured and smooth surfaces compare.
What 500 sq ft of each board costs in material
We price material the same way on every quote. We add 5% for cuts, divide by the coverage per box, round up to whole boxes and multiply by the box price. A 500 sq ft floor becomes 525 sq ft, and the box counts below use that number.
| Board | Boxes for 525 sq ft | Box price | Material for 500 sq ft | Material per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Natural Hard Maple | 28 | $132.11 | $3,699.08 | $7.40 |
| Appalachian Natural Red Oak | 28 | $101.87 | $2,852.36 | $5.70 |
| Lauzon Essential Hard Maple Sapphir | 31 | $99.80 | $3,093.80 | $6.19 |
| MKB Red Oak Epicea Character | 31 | $118.83 | $3,683.73 | $7.37 |
Both Appalachian boards hold 18.9 sq ft per box, so each needs 28 boxes. The Prestige Grade Maple still costs $846.72 more for the same 500 sq ft, because it is $1.60 per sq ft above the Excel Grade Red Oak. The Lauzon Sapphir has the lowest box price at $99.80, but its 17.0 sq ft box means buying 31 boxes instead of 28. A cheaper box doesn't always make a cheaper room.
These figures cover material only. Installation, removal, trim, delivery and HST are extra, and our hardwood flooring price guide shows how those costs are worked out.
How to choose a finish and a sheen
The association calls sheen "a matter of personal preference and lifestyle", but a few simple rules make the choice easier.
- Choose the chemistry for upkeep. Varnishes "also require less cleaning and care than oil systems", while an oil finish needs more routine care but can be repaired in one spot.
- Choose the sheen for the room. Marks show less as sheen drops, so go below semi gloss in a busy hallway or kitchen. A quiet dining room can handle more shine.
- Check what the board already has. A factory finish is set before the box reaches you, so the sheen on the product page is the sheen you get.
- Read the surface description as well as the colour. The MKB Red Oak Epicea Character is "surfaced in a smooth factory finish" and its page gives no sheen level, so look at it next to a semi gloss Appalachian board before you choose.
Still deciding on species or grade? Start with our species, grades and finishes guide, then read our comparison of character grade and select grade.
Questions about hardwood floor finishes and sheen
What does semi gloss mean on a hardwood floor?
Semi gloss sits in the middle of the sheen range. It reflects part of the light that hits it, so it looks brighter under a window than satin or matte. It is also the only sheen named in the titles of our 41 solid hardwood listings.
Does a matte floor hide scratches better than semi gloss?
Yes. Lower sheen makes small scratches and normal wear harder to see, and matte is the lowest of the four levels. None of our solid hardwood titles says matte, so if that's the look you want, check the finish details on each product page before you order.
Is satin or matte better for a busy hallway?
Both are below semi gloss, so both hide everyday marks better than a shinier floor. Matte reflects the least light, which makes it the better choice if hiding wear matters most. Satin keeps a soft glow if matte looks too flat to you.
Does the finish change the price per square foot?
Not by itself. Our prices follow the board. The Appalachian Natural Red Oak Excel Grade and the MKB Red Oak Epicea Character are both Red Oak, yet they are $1.60 per sq ft apart because they are different brands and different grades.
Are your prefinished boards oiled or polyurethane coated?
Each product page tells you. The Lauzon Essential has an aluminum oxide coating, which the association says is applied at the factory. Our Appalachian pages list a semi gloss finish and the MKB page a smooth factory finish, but they don't name the chemistry underneath. None of the four boards is described as having an oil finish.
Get a hardwood floor finish quote in Toronto and the GTA
Tell us about your rooms, the board you like and what's on the floor now, and we'll work out the same box-count estimate using your measurements. You can request a quote online, or browse the full solid hardwood flooring range to shortlist colours first.
Top Floorings Depot
3781 Victoria Park Avenue, Unit 1, Toronto, ON M1W 3K5
www.topfloorings.com
Call: 416-499-0117
Text: 416-770-8819