Will Waxing a Wood Floor Harden It Over Time?

Benefits

• Waxing benefits a wood surface by soaking into the wood and acting to harden it, protect it from minor wear and tear, and give it a low-gloss sheen that accentuates the natural beauty of the wood. Unlike stains, it does not alter the color of the natural wood. It also does not provide the ultra high gloss of polyurethane type varnishes and shellacs. This more natural look is a growing trend in wood floors.

Frequency

• To maintain a wood floor's beauty and maximize the protection offered by waxing, it must be done about twice a year. Before waxing, strip off any old wax on the surface using mineral spirits and then an approved wood floor cleanser. The cleanser removes any traces of the mineral spirits, as well as dirt and grime that are capable of damaging the floor. Floors can also be maintained through spot-waxing. When faced with small scuffs and minor spills, clean and buff the area, apply wax, and buff to a shine.

Disadvantages

• Waxing also has its disadvantages, the greatest being that wax on the surface of the floor tends to attract and hold dust and dirt. For this reason, waxed floors may require more frequent cleaning by dry mopping, sweeping or vacuuming. Wax also does not protect floors against UV light from sun, which ages and fades the natural color of the wood. Some may also be put off by the twice yearly chore of stripping and waxing the floor to maintain its good looks and hardening properties.

Finishes

• Other finishes besides wax are urethane finishes and sealers. Urethane finishes coat the wood, and never look as pristine as the day they are installed. Abuse received by floors results in imperfections in the coating like scratches, scuffs and dulling. The only remedy is to strip, sand and re-coat the floor, which requires a lot of work. Sealers penetrate into the wood, sealing in the pigment, but do little to seal out water and protect against wear. Often, many layers of sealer are required for ultimate protection, and wax may be applied over top to bring out some shine in the floor.