We're going have 4" wide rustic maple flooring (unfinished, t&g) installed in a 1000 sf house. It will go into all rooms except for bathrooms and the laundry room. I need to choose what type of finish to put on it. We have a toddler and a cat, so I'd like something that's durable and as safe as possible. The vendor suggested tung oil but I think the curing process is too time consuming - I read that it takes 30 days to cure. Please correct me if this is wrong. We need to finish work on the house and move in before paying a mortgage and rent eats us alive. We need to install the kitchen after the floors and before moving in, so a shorter drying and curing time would be good. I would also like a natural looking finish that won't change the color of the wood much and won't discolor much over time. I don't want glossy; I think that will look weird on rustic floors. What would you recommend? Thanks for your help.

Rubio Monocoat may be good for you..Bona is making a similar waterbased/oil 1 coat green safeguard product as well..

1 coat..flat sheen..no surface finish...and green..sounds like it is right up your alley..

visit Bona site for more info or rubio..

curetimes are quick too..I believe it is over night for the Bona stain

Thanks. Is this the Bona product you mean? http://www.bona.com/en-US/United-States ... -Clear-HD/ or maybe this one? http://www.bona.com/en-US/United-States ... ona-Novia/

Neither of them..Its their indoor wood oil..

http://www.bona.com/en-US/United-States ... or-System/

the second product..its available in colors

We're finally going to start this project next week. Do you think the Rubio Monocoat or the Bona product is better? I need to make a decision ASAP.

IF you want solid , long term protection, go with an actual waterborne urethane . From Bonakemi, you can use Mega (good) , Novia (better) or Traffic (best) For sealers, I recommend the Bona DTS, do not use Bona seal as it is impossible to buff out .it simply melts and makes a mess on the floor.

From Basic Coatings, I would recommend the Hydroline sealer and top coats of their "street shoe" . The reason I recommend water based urethanes is because you mentioned you don't want to change the color of the maple much and water based urethane is more clear than oil based urethanes .

However, the other products previously mentioned have their place .They are good products but they cannot protect the floor the way a hard urethane can.They are designed to be quick,clean and easy to apply but can leave the floor vulnerable to wear in comparison to multiple coats of polyurethane. Pick which ever one suits your needs the best