What do I use to seal hardwood floors?

Wood floors can be sealed with wax, polyurethane, oil or shellac. The choice of sealant depends on the type of wood, whether a sealant has previously been applied and the desired durability of the sealant.

Wax and penetrating oil sealants are both popular options for wood floors because they are low cost, easy for homeowners to apply themselves and contain few volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, wax and oil sealants scratch easily and may need to be retouched every few years. By contrast, oil based polyurethane is extremely durable but contains many VOCs. It is usually applied by a professional over several days, and should not be applied over other types of sealant.