on a real good floor finish for a high traffic area on solid Oak. Brother and I ripped up some old carpet at my son's place and two steps need refinishing. It's been about 40 years since I last did this. I'm sure there must be better urethane or something nowadays. Easy to apply is a must.
I used the low v.o.c. semi-gloss poly in my kitchen and I would never use it again. It dries quick and has low odor, but it seems to have more tint and less amber finish. It looked nothing like the poly that I put down 10 years ago when I redid the floors. As far as new products, I can't help. I just use the tried and true.
I used oil semigloss over clear 20 years ago. Dogs, kids and me abusing the floor and it looks great today. Not perfect, but real good.
Oil based Polyurethane is about the toughest finish out there as far as something that can be applied outside of a factory anyways. Keep in mind that the higher the gloss, the more it will show scuffs and whatnot. Here is a good tutorial on selecting/using polyurethanes from TOH http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LE...,00.html/RK=0/RS=aqv4vMe64aRmJqsy3nEuNv0uKiM-
My application was gloss first coat or two, than satin over. Depth with the advantage of non gloss finish.
Depending on adjacent steps and the exact look you are going for... Real depth and the look of an old field finished floor can be duplicated by cleaning well (denatured alcohol) then applying a couple of light coats of rubbed boiled linseed oil, each wiped off after a 30 minute wait. It will darken the floor a shade or two. Let it dry two days (you can walk on it gently) then give it one light coat of a oil based semigloss poly. If it dries quickly, give it another that same day, otherwise wait, then add another the next day. That boiled oil will give you a look not to be missed. If the overall floor has some 'character' just use the semigloss oil based poly.
