Bona vs. Loba Hardwood Finish: What's the Difference?
Bona Traffic HD and Loba 2K Supra AT are the two most respected commercial waterborne finishes in the industry. Both are two-component, extremely durable and low-VOC. In our shop, Bona wins on availability and clarity; Loba wins on hardness and matte options.
Durability
Loba 2K Supra AT tests slightly harder in scratch and chemical resistance. Bona Traffic HD is the industry benchmark — used in airports, retail floors and dog kennels — and holds up beautifully in residential settings.
Look
Bona reads slightly warmer and clearer. Loba's Invisible Protect line delivers the closest look to raw, unfinished wood on the market — perfect for the natural-white-oak look popular in Bethesda and Arlington.
Cure and cost
Both finish to walk-on in 24 hours and full cure in 7–14 days. Loba costs a bit more per gallon; the finished project delta is small.
Quick answers
- Which finish should I choose?
- For a natural, raw-wood look choose Loba Invisible Protect. For everything else, Bona Traffic HD is a bulletproof default.
- Are these safe for kids and pets?
- Yes. Both are low-VOC and safe to reoccupy 24 hours after final coat.
Written by
Daniel Santos
Owner, CDS Hardwood Floors
Daniel Santos is the owner of CDS Hardwood Floors and has spent 15+ years sanding, staining and installing hardwood in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC homes. He personally walks most projects, specializes in HEPA-contained dustless sanding, premium water-based finish systems and custom installations, and believes homeowners make better decisions when the process is explained plainly before a single board is touched.
Looking for hardwood floor refinishing in Maryland?
CDS Hardwood Floors handles this work every week across Gaithersburg, Montgomery County and the wider DMV.