Floor Sanding Lacquered Finish Versus Oiled Finish
Lacquered Finish Versus Oiled Finish

by Timberwolf

Lacquer

(Silk Matt on Red Oak Strip)

Lacquer Floor

Hardwax oil

(Satin Matt on French Oak Plank)

Hardwax Oil

 

At first glance it is hard to distinguish the difference between a lacquered floor and an oiled floor, as the two pictures above show.

 

 

As floor restoration professionals our clients regularly ask for advice over these two popular choices of 'top coat'

LACQUER (sometimes referred to as varnish) is our most popular option, currently representing at least 90% of all our restoration works. If Low maintenance, is your preferred choice, then we would always recommend lacquer. Although no definitive timescale can be offered, we generally wouldn't expect to hear from our Clients choosing this option for at least 10 years.  

Our lacquers provide incredibly durabilty, wear protection and resistance to most household spills and stains. Minor surface scratches can be removed using one of our floor polishes.

Downside - Timberwolf doesn't really see any downsides to Lacquers, we only use BONA LACQUERS ....the worlds finest !

Some cheaper end / DIY type Lacquers can look like a plastic skin sat on top of the wood disguising the woods natural beauty, our Lacquers are designed to give maximum protection with minimal thickness, resulting in a great looking floor.

We can recreate an oiled look using a combination of BONA primer and low sheen lacquer, combining the best of both worlds. A NATURAL LOOKING FINISH WITH LACQUERS INHERENT DURABILITY

HARDWAX OILS - PURISTS may argue that the feel / touch of an oiled floor cannot be achieved using lacquers ... they've obviously not tried BONA LACQUERS... Oil does sink deep into the woods fibres, offering a slightly warmer feel to bare feet.  If you are absolutely set on having an oiled finish, we offer Hardwax Oils from Brand leaders Bona, Basin, Osmo & Saicos

We have Hardwax Oil finishes suitable for all rooms including high traffic areas, if no maintenace at all was undertaken by the homeowner, the floor may need re-coating / sanding again after as little as 5 years, however if a 6-12 month maintenance schedule was adopted, the floor may never need professionl treatment again.

            

 

 

 

Lacquer

(Matt on European Oak)

Lacquered Floor

Hardwax Oil

(Matt on Victorian Pine)

Hard Wax Oil Floor
 

 

A FEW FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

*IF I RE-WAX MY FLOOR EVERY YEAR, WILL IT EVER NEED SANDING AGAIN ?

In theory, a floor treated with Hardwax Oil and then well maintained (re-waxed annually) should outlive it’s lacquered alternative. It takes minimal effort to maintain an Oiled floor, if this is something you are prepared to carry out, a very pleasing finish can be achieved with Hardwax Oils. Please remember ... if regular maintenance is not carried out, the floor will need sanding and re-finishing far sooner than a lacquered floor..

 

*IS IT TRUE OILED FLOORS CAN BE SPOT REPAIRED / LACQUERED FLOORS CANNOT ?

Slight scuffs and mild surface scratches 'CAN' be spot repaired with oiled floors. The maintenance wax can be applied on to the affected areas only, and if DONE carefully will blend with the rest of the floor once dry, effectively giving an invisible repair.

Whilst it is not possible to spot apply lacquer to a scratch or scuff (lacquer will always leave a 'lap line' once dried.... We do offer a maintenance polish that can be applied to the whole floor, which will hide any superficial damage.

 

DEEP SCRATCHES / GOUGES

 

*CAN I REPAIR A SCRATCH LIKE THIS ONE ?

 

Treating the deep scratch in an oiled floor with more oil will disguise it slightly, this cannot be done with a lacquered floor.

Deep Scratches / Gouges
 
 

*CAN I SAND AWAY THE SCRATCH THEN TOUCH UP WITH OIL ?

Unless your floor has only just been renovated then the answer to this common claim is most definitely NO !!!!

Sanding a floor back to bare wood, reveals fresh new wood that has not been exposed to the atmosphere (air / light / moisture etc) wood 'Oxidises' reacts with air and darkens / ambers slightly with time.

If an attempt to sand a small area within a floor is made, an unsightly lighter coloured patch will be visible, even when completed covered with fresh Oil.

Therefore the only way to remove this type of damage in LACQUERED 'AND' OILED floors is to sand the whole floor.... and start again !

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York and Hull Hard Wood Flooring Specialists

Timberwolf has close connections with Hull & York, working in these areas on a daily basis. Centrally situated between Hull and York, we serve both cities and the shaded surrounding areas.


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