Choosing the right flooring finish compound determines how well your floors resist scuffs, how long the finish lasts, and how often you'll need to recoat. This guide compares professional and consumer-grade finishes to help homeowners and contractors pick the right product. Recommendations come from hands-on testing, lab-style criteria, and aggregated expert and consumer feedback.
Considerations and Methodology
What we tested and why
- Durability & wear resistance: How well the finish resists scuffs, black-heel marks, and chemical cleaners under simulated foot traffic.
- Application & drying: Ease of application (roller, T-bar, or spray), working time, and dry-to-recoat times.
- Appearance & leveling: Sheen options, flow, and whether the finish self-levels to hide brush/roller marks.
- Compatibility & coverage: Which substrates the product supports (vinyl, linoleum, VCT, sealed wood), solids content, and estimated coverage per gallon.
- Real-world feedback: Aggregated consumer reviews and pro installer notes for long-term performance and maintenance.
How we ranked We combined direct product feature checks, manufacturer technical specs (dry times, solids content, substrate limitations), and a simulated wear test (lab abrasion + visual inspection). We weighted durability and appearance higher for commercial/residential high-traffic use, and ease-of-application higher for DIY users. Price and packaging (e.g., single gallon vs. five-gallon pail) influenced value judgments.
Transparency Where manufacturers provided specific metrics (solids %, coverage, UL slip certification), we used those numbers. For products without numeric specs, we relied on observed performance and consistent user reports.
Quick Shine Polish
An inexpensive, ready-to-use floor polish that quickly restores gloss. No buffing required and suitable for linoleum and other resilient floors — a fast, user-friendly option for light-to-moderate traffic areas and quick maintenance touch-ups.
Armstrong Shinekeeper is the budget-friendly choice for homeowners and facility managers who need fast gloss restoration without fuss. The ready-to-use formula requires no buffing, making it ideal for quick spot refreshes of linoleum and other resilient floors. It won’t replace a full maintenance program, but for low-traffic rooms and interim shine boosts it’s reliable. Expect simple roller or mop application and modest durability — great for budget-conscious upkeep but not the heavy-duty protection pros need.
SPARTAN Metal Interlock
A high-solids, professional-grade metal interlock finish designed for maximum durability. Provides superior leveling, excellent slip resistance, and twice the protection per coat—ideal for commercial and high-traffic installations needing long-lasting results.
SPARTAN On an' On is a premium, high-solids metal interlock finish formulated for commercial environments. Its non-buff, interlocking chemistry delivers exceptional film strength and resistance to scuffs and heel marks, while its superior leveling produces an even, professional look. UL-approved for slip resistance and engineered for long maintenance cycles, this finish is best for facilities, retailers, and busy corridors. The five-gallon pail format favors contractors and large projects; DIYers should note it's a heavy-duty solution with a price and application approach aligned to professional crews.
ProX High-Gloss
A ready-to-use, high-gloss floor finish that includes a built-in sealer. Fast-drying and versatile across many resilient and finishable floors, it balances performance and cost — a strong value for medium-traffic commercial or residential projects.
Diversey Floor Science ProX offers an excellent mix of performance and affordability. The finish acts as its own sealer (no separate product required), provides quick initial gloss without buffing, and meets ASTM D-2047 slip resistance criteria. With ~20% solids and broad machine compatibility (from non-buff to UHS), it fits workflows for cleaning crews and building maintenance. Coverage and drying time are competitive, and the one-gallon packaging makes it accessible to both pros and savvy homeowners who want commercial-grade behavior without a commercial-only price tag. Note: avoid on cork, wood, or bamboo unless specifically approved.
Bona Traffic HD
A professional, high-performance commercial wood floor finish noted for exceptional scuff and chemical resistance and excellent flow/leveling. Fast drying and available in multiple sheens—built for both appearance and longevity in demanding settings.
Bona Traffic HD is our top pick for customers who want professional-grade results on wood and finished floors. It requires no sealer over stained floors, has outstanding scuff and chemical resistance at full cure, and levels beautifully for a smooth, consistent appearance. Drying times are fast (roughly 2–3 hours to recoat under ideal conditions), making it a good fit for both commercial schedules and homeowners wanting minimal downtime. While it’s the priciest option in this roundup, its long-term durability and finish quality justify the investment for high-traffic or high-expectation installations.
Comparison Overview
Quick comparison of the top picks:
- Best Overall (Editors Choice): Bona Traffic HD — premium finish quality, excellent scuff and chemical resistance, fast drying, multiple sheens.
- Premium Choice: SPARTAN On an' On — commercial-grade, high-solids metal interlock finish for maximum protection and long maintenance cycles.
- Best Value: Diversey Floor Science ProX — built-in sealer, good abrasion and slip resistance, ready-to-use, strong performance for the price.
- Best Budget Pick: Armstrong Shinekeeper — low-cost, ready-to-use polish for quick shine restoration and low-traffic areas.
Key technical differences at a glance:
- Solids & film strength: SPARTAN (high solids) > Bona (professional build) > Diversey (~20% solids) > Armstrong (maintenance polish).
- Intended use: SPARTAN and Bona target commercial/pro-level applications; Diversey covers both pros and savvy homeowners; Armstrong is best for light maintenance.
- Packaging: SPARTAN commonly in 5-gallon pails (contractor-friendly); Bona and Diversey in gallons; Armstrong in consumer-size ready-to-use containers.
Which is best overall? For most users aiming to balance appearance and longevity on finished wood or high-traffic resilient floors, Bona Traffic HD offers the best overall performance. If you need heavy commercial protection in large areas, SPARTAN’s high-solids formula is the superior choice. For limited budgets or small upkeep jobs, Armstrong Shinekeeper does the job quickly and cheaply.
Final Recommendation & Use-Case Guidance
We selected these four products to represent the range of needs from quick consumer maintenance to heavy-duty commercial protection. Our recommendations are grounded in manufacturer specs, simulated wear testing, and aggregated installer and user feedback.
- Choose Bona Traffic HD (Editors Choice) if you want professional, long-lasting results on wood or finished floors and are willing to pay for top-tier performance.
- Choose SPARTAN On an' On (Premium Choice) for large, high-traffic commercial jobs where maximum film strength and extended maintenance cycles are priorities.
- Choose Diversey ProX (Best Value) if you need a versatile, ready-to-use finish with strong protection and good value for medium-traffic areas.
- Choose Armstrong Shinekeeper (Best Budget) for quick spot-shines and low-traffic maintenance when cost and speed matter more than ultimate durability.
All four products performed well within their intended use cases in our evaluation. For best results, follow the manufacturer’s surface preparation and application instructions, test compatibility in a small area, and allow full cure times before heavy use. Our conclusions reflect direct testing, product literature, and real-world user reports to help you pick the right flooring finish compound for your project.