It is the night before a big kitchen job. The floor is booked for sanding tomorrow, the client wants it finished by Friday, and you are ordering the lacquer. Ask most contractors what they are looking for and they will say the best finish. Watch what they actually order and it is something different: the one least likely to let them down.
That is not a criticism. It is how sensible people make decisions when they cannot see inside the tin. We rarely choose one product over another because we think it is better. We choose it because we are more certain it is good.
So the useful question when choosing a wood floor lacquer is not which one claims to be the best. It is how you can be certain a finish is good before it goes down on a paying job. This guide sets out five questions you can ask of any lacquer, explains why the words on the tin cannot answer them, and shows how Arboritec answers each one.
The short version
- Claims are cheap. Every tin says durable and hard wearing, so the label alone cannot give you certainty.
- Five questions cut through it: who makes it, what is in it, how the chemistry works, who supports it, and whether the maker invests in you.
- Then test it yourself. A sample board you have made and abused yourself is worth more than any brand name.
The question was never which lacquer claims to be best. It is which one you can be certain of.
Why the words on the tin cannot give you certainty
Every lacquer on the market says it is durable, hard wearing and easy to apply. Those are cheap claims: they cost nothing to make, so anyone can make them. They tell you what the maker wants you to believe, not what the finish will do in a hallway with two dogs.
- Everyone uses the same wordsWhen every tin promises toughness, the promise stops carrying any information.
- A familiar name proves marketing, not chemistrySeeing a brand everywhere online tells you about advertising budget and distribution. It is a reasonable shortcut, because a big name has a reputation to protect, but it says nothing about what is in the tin.
- The failure shows up laterA finish that goes on beautifully can still wear through in a year. By then the client is living with it, and you are the one they call.
Five questions to ask of any wood floor lacquer
Use these whatever brand you are looking at. A finish that answers all five clearly is one you can trust on a paying job.
| Question | A good answer looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Who makes it, and for how long? | A named manufacturer with years of floor finish history | A long track record is a reputation the maker cannot afford to lose |
| What is in it, and will they tell you? | Current SDS and TDS, and real answers when you ask | Openness is a sign of confidence in the formula |
| What does the chemistry actually do? | A clear explanation of how the film resists wear | A mechanism you understand is one you can explain to a client |
| Who answers when something goes wrong? | Someone technical who has done the job themselves | Support only matters on the day you need it |
| Will the maker invest in you? | Training and recognition from the manufacturer itself | Nobody spends money training people on a product they expect to fail |
How Arboritec answers the five questions
Question oneWho makes it, and for how long?
- Founded
- 1999
- Where
- Jörlanda, west coast of Sweden
- First name
- Nanofloor
- Synteko
- Floor finishes since 1944
Arboritec was founded in 1999 by a small team of Swedish coatings specialists. They set out to solve a problem contractors had lived with for decades: how to make a waterborne floor finish that performs like the old solvent based systems, without the fumes. Their answer was ceramic nanoparticles built into the lacquer, and they developed their first products under the Nanofloor name, after the technology itself.
Arboritec is owned by the Swedish industrial group Röko, and in 2019 it also took over Synteko, a Swedish floor finishes business founded in 1944. The name may be new to many UK contractors, but the company behind it has been making floor finishes for longer than most of us have been sanding them.
Question twoWhat is in it, and will they tell you?
Safety data sheets and technical data sheets are available across the Arboritec range, and when a question comes up that the paperwork does not answer, it goes straight to Arboritec's R&D team in Sweden.
The nano ceramic in Vibrant primer does not appear in Section 3 of its safety data sheet. That is not an omission. Arboritec's R&D team confirmed the particles are chemically bonded into the polymer itself rather than added as a separate free ingredient, so they are not listed as one. A maker that will explain a detail like that is comfortable with you looking closely.
Question threeWhat does the chemistry actually do?
- Bonded nano ceramicArboritec primers and lacquers contain ceramic particles under 14 nanometres across, surface treated so they bond chemically into the resin as it cures. Think of steel reinforcing bar tied into concrete, compared with gravel scattered on top. Loose particles are passengers in a film. Bonded ones carry load, from primer right through to topcoat.
- A primer that fills, not just coatsParticles that small can get into the open pores and micro fissures sanding leaves behind, which are the same routes oils and extractives use to migrate up into a finish. That is why Vibrant is the primer to look at on awkward species such as iroko, always with a test patch first.
- Crosslinking for toughnessAvenue 2K and Genuine 5 use Dual Cure Technology: water evaporates to form the film while the hardener crosslinks the resin into a tougher, more chemically resistant network. Classic+ is a 1K with a built in ADH crosslinker, so it keeps crosslinking as it cures without any mixing.
- More build per coatPolyRapid shares the Classic+ formulation at a higher viscosity, so each coat lays down a thicker wet film. That makes a full system of primer plus two coats of PolyRapid.
Question fourWho answers when something goes wrong?
- One point of accountability. HF Flooring Supplies is Arboritec's sole UK distributor, so there is no chain of resellers passing your question along.
- People who do the job. You speak to people who sand and finish floors themselves.
- A short line to the chemist. Anything we cannot answer goes directly to Arboritec's technical and R&D staff in Sweden. When a job throws up an unusual timber, an old contaminated floor or an odd reaction, that matters more than any promise on a label.
Question fiveWill the maker invest in you?
This is the hardest signal to fake. Anyone can say they are committed to the UK market. Flying senior people over to train contractors in person costs real time and money, and that tells you far more about how long a manufacturer plans to be here than any words could.
Arboritec's CEO, two of its technical team and its R&D manager will be in the UK for a two day wood floor coatings course run through HF. Contractors who complete it can join the Arboritec endorsed Approved Applicator register. Places are limited, so contact us to register your interest.
The price question: count it differently
The price per tin is the wrong way to judge any finish. Work it out per square metre, then per year of wear. The finish is a small part of the cost of a sanding job, yet it is the only part the client touches every day for years. A finish that holds up longer between recoats, and keeps callbacks away, is cheaper in the way that matters to your business.
PrimerFirst CoatNano ceramic primer for most timbers£82.37 + VATTrade price shown after loginView product- PrimerVibrantDeep ambering primer for awkward species£71.79 + VATTrade price shown after loginView product
- 1K lacquerPolyRapidHigh build 1K, primer plus two coats£102.31 + VATTrade price shown after loginView product
- 2K lacquerAvenue 2KDual cure for the heaviest traffic£132.69 + VATTrade price shown after loginView product
Prices shown are our standard prices. Trade account holders see lower trade pricing once logged in.
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How to find out for yourself
Certainty you have earned yourself is worth more than anything we can tell you. Here is a simple way to get it.
- Order for a job you know well. Pick a hallway or kitchen where wear shows quickly, and order the system online.
- Make a sample board. Finish one half with Arboritec and the other with your usual system, following each technical data sheet.
- Test it yourself. Once fully cured, drag keys across it, leave a damp glass on it overnight and try a drop of red wine. Use whatever your clients actually put their floors through.
- Show the client. Let them see the board and hear why you chose the finish. A contractor who has done the test has something better than a brand name to point to.
- Go back and look. Revisit the floor after a few months of traffic and judge it on how it has worn.
Want to see finished floors first? Our case studies show real jobs by named contractors.
If you are a homeowner reading this
You do not need to understand lacquer chemistry to make a good choice. Ask your floor sander three things.
- Which exact finish, and how many coats? A good contractor will answer without hesitating.
- Why did you choose it for this room? A busy kitchen or hallway needs a tougher finish than a bedroom.
- What training have you had in applying it? Manufacturer training shows they have invested in doing the job properly.
If you would like an Arboritec finish on your floor, ask your floor sander about it, or contact us and we will help where we can. Still deciding on the type of finish? Our guide to oiled versus lacquered wood floors explains the difference.
Certain before it goes down
The key takeaways
- People choose the finish they are most certain is good, not the one they think is best, and that is a sensible way to decide.
- The words on the tin cannot give you certainty, because every tin says the same thing.
- Five questions cut through the claims: who makes it, what is in it, how it works, who supports it, and whether the maker invests in you.
- Arboritec answers all five: Swedish floor finish chemistry since 1999, open data, bonded nano ceramic and crosslinking chemistry, a single UK distributor with a direct line to R&D, and manufacturer led training.
Try Arboritec on your next job
We are the sole UK distributor for Arboritec, with stock on the shelf and technical support from people who finish real floors. Log in to see your trade price.
- Orders placed Mon to Fri before 2PM are dispatched the same day for next working day delivery
- Not sure which Arboritec system suits a job? Contact us
Choosing a wood floor lacquer
How do I choose a wood floor lacquer?
Look past the claims on the tin and ask five questions. Who makes it and for how long? What is in it, and are the SDS and TDS available? How does the chemistry resist wear? Who gives technical support when something goes wrong? Does the manufacturer offer training? A finish that answers all five clearly is one you can be confident in. Then make a sample board and test it yourself before using it on a paying job.
Is Arboritec a reliable brand?
Arboritec has been developing professional floor finishes in Sweden since 1999, when its first products were developed under the Nanofloor name. It is owned by the Swedish industrial group Röko, and in 2019 it took over Synteko, a Swedish floor finishes business founded in 1944. HF Flooring Supplies is the sole UK distributor and provides technical support with a direct line to Arboritec's R&D team.
What makes Arboritec lacquer different from other waterborne lacquers?
Arboritec primers and lacquers contain ceramic particles under 14 nanometres across that bond chemically into the resin as it cures, rather than sitting loose in the film. The 2K lacquers, Avenue 2K and Genuine 5, add Dual Cure Technology, where a hardener crosslinks the resin for extra chemical and abrasion resistance. Classic+ uses a built in ADH crosslinker to toughen a 1K finish without mixing.
Which Arboritec lacquer should I use for a busy kitchen or hallway?
For the heaviest residential and commercial traffic, Avenue 2K is the usual choice because its hardener crosslinks the film for the highest chemical and abrasion resistance in the range. For a ready to use 1K, Classic+ or PolyRapid works well, with PolyRapid laying a thicker film per coat. Use an Arboritec primer underneath, and choose Vibrant on oily or extractive rich timbers such as iroko, with a test patch first.
Is a more expensive floor lacquer worth it?
Judge a lacquer by its cost per square metre and per year of wear, not per tin. The finish is a small part of the total cost of a sanding job but takes all the wear afterwards. A finish that lasts longer between recoats and avoids callbacks usually costs less over the life of the floor.
I am a homeowner. What should I ask my floor sander about the finish?
Ask which exact finish and how many coats they plan to use, why they chose it for your room, how to clean and maintain it, and what training they have in applying it. A professional should answer all of these clearly. The finish is the layer that takes the wear, so it matters as much as the sanding.
Where can I buy Arboritec in the UK?
HF Flooring Supplies is the sole UK distributor of Arboritec. The full range, including First Coat and Vibrant primers, Classic+, PolyRapid, Avenue 2K, Genuine 5, Genuine Naked and Nordic Elastic, can be ordered online from hfflooringsupplies.co.uk, with next working day delivery on orders placed Monday to Friday before 2pm.
