The Main Difference Between Floor Sealer And Finish (& Why You Need Them)

After researching and picking the best flooring options for your home, the last thing you want to have happen is damage. Applying the right protective coating to your hardwood, concrete, or tile floors helps them look like new longer and prevents potentially costly damage. It seems like it should be a simple decision, but figuring out the differences between the variety of flooring coatings isn't always easy.

One mistake you might make is thinking that floor sealers and finishes are the same thing. They both act as a protective coating for different flooring types, but they achieve that goal in different ways. Floor finishes sit on top of the surface to form a protective layer while enhancing the appearance of the floor. You can choose different colors and sheen levels for floor finishes. However, they don't typically work well on their own. Finishes often need a base coat or foundation on the floor to help them perform optimally. 

That's where floor sealers come in. Sealers protect at a deeper level, interacting chemically with the flooring. The liquid penetrates the pores of the flooring material to create a stronger material with a durable coating. For many floors, using both options together provides the best protection system while also giving the flooring the look you want.

Think of sealer as the primer of the flooring world. Just like primer prepares your walls for the paint color, the sealer protects the flooring and creates a smoother surface for the finishes you choose. It also helps your finishes stick better to the flooring, which gives you improved results when you're finished with all of the coatings. 

Sealer is usually a good idea for any flooring made from porous materials. Hardwood floors often come to mind when you think of sealing, but it's also beneficial for concrete, natural stone, and tile floors. Because the sealer penetrates the pores, it fills those tiny pockets to keep moisture, bacteria, dirt, and other debris out. This helps keep the floors looking cleaner with a lower risk of stains if something spills. Sealer also helps strengthen the floor material, which can prevent it from breaking down or showing lots of wear in busy areas. If you have hardwood floors, the sealer helps keep the tannins in the wood from bleeding and showing through the finish. 

For wood floors, you might start with stain to create the best hardwood floor color for your space. Then, the sealer comes next. This allows the sealer to soak into the wood easily without other products interfering. Filling up the pores with the sealer creates a strong, even, consistent foundation for the finishes that you choose. This makes it easier to apply the finish evenly without patchiness where it soaks in more in some spots. Some finishing chemicals are harsh on wood and could cause damage without a sealer layer to separate them. 

Unlike sealers, floor finishes don't penetrate the pores of your flooring material. Instead, they form a film or coating that sits on top of the flooring. The floor finish is the last layer you apply to the surface. You can choose from a wide range of finishes that add color or varying levels of sheen to the flooring. While the finish adds some surface-level protection, it's often more of an aesthetic product and doesn't typically offer enough protection on its own to withstand day-to-day wear. 

There are several different types of floor finishes, including fast-drying water-based options and highly durable oil-based finishes that lend an amber hue to the floor. A moisture-cured finish holds up better against moisture, making it an option for rooms that are prone to dampness. Finish options can also vary based on the flooring material. Types of concrete floor finishes include paint, stain, and epoxy, for instance. You can also find finishes that offer additional benefits, such as less scuffing or sustainable ingredients.

If you decide to use sealer and finish together, it's often beneficial to choose products within a flooring finish system by a single manufacturer. While products from different companies should be compatible, sealers and finishes from the same brand are often formulated to work well together. This can give you better results because the products will adhere to each other more effectively. Either way, when you apply both coatings, you typically use one coat of sealer and two coats of finish. This gives you a thicker coating to protect the grain and increase the protection the system gives to the flooring.