Finish Selector

Synteko's Wood Floor Finish Selector Guide

Synteko believes that it is very important, once you have selected your unique timber floor species, to select the appropriate floor finish or coating that will not only enhance the look of your timber floor, but achieve your desired taste. Different floor finishes or coatings will alter the appearance of your timber floor. Synteko’s goal is to assist you in tailoring your desired colour and tone of your timber floor so that it will meet your needs.

How to Select the Right Finish or Treatment

Synteko Floor Cleaning Products

Example Finish and Treatment Colouring

In order to assist you in making your choice, Synteko has reproduced three identical floor panels, that have been coated/sealed with three different types of Synteko floor finishes. The options are displayed in this order: Waterbase Finish, Solventbase Finish, Penetrating Oil Treatment.

Finish Comparison Table

Compare the various features of Surface Coating finishes (Water based and Solvent based) and Penetrating Oil treatments via our comparison table.

Surface Coating
Water BasedSolvent BasedOil Modified
fast dryingfast dryingslow drying
3 gloss levels3 gloss levels3 gloss levels
clear / non-yellowing / NMP freeslightly amber in colouramber in colour
very good durabilityvery good durabilityvery good durability high solids
non-toxic, no odourstrong odour, non lingeringmoderate odour
non-flammablecombustiblecombustible
easy to re-coateasy to re-coateasy to re-coat
low maintenancelow maintenancelow maintenance
no edge bondingno edge bondingno edge bonding
Low VOC’sMeets new VOC rulesMeets new VOC rules
Penetrating Oils
Natural / Domo / Hardwax
fast drying
matte finish
amber in colour
excellent durability
very mild odour
very high solids
renewable by consumer
low maintenance
no edge bonding
Zero VOC’s

Application Suitability

Now we have explained the floor finish types (Water based, Solvent based and Penetrating Oil), one needs to assess which product from each of these finish types is suitable for your application.

ProductApplication
Nova Best (Waterbase)Heavy commercial and domestic floors
Top (Waterbase)Light commercial and domestic floors
Pro (Waterbase)Domestic floors only
Classic (Solventbase)Light commercial and domestic floors
Urethane (Solventbase)Light commercial and domestic floors
Hardwax (Penetrating Oil)Heavy commercial and domestic floors
Natural (Penetrating Oil)Heavy commercial and domestic floors
Domo (Penetrating Oil)Light commercial and domestic floors

Selecting a Sheen or Gloss Level

Following the step of selecting the type of floor finish/coating you want for your unique floor application, you must finally select the sheen or gloss level. All Synteko Surface Coating finishes have 3 sheen levels.

Sheen Product
Surface Coating Finishes
Gloss* Nova Best 90 / Top 90 / Pro 90 / Classic 90 / Urethane 90
Semi-gloss / Satin* Nova Best 45 / Top45 / Pro45 / Classic50 / Urethane 45
Matte Nova Best20 / Top 20 / Pro 20 / Classic 35 / Urethane 20
Penetrating Oil Treatments
Natural Matte** Synteko Hardwax / Natural / Domo Oil