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Oiling wood floors: FAQ and how-to

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Your wood floor might lose its sheen and color over time. Your wood floor likely needs oil to be revived and renewed. Wood floors can be oiled to improve their appearance and add protection and nourishment.

Oiling wooden floors is a good idea. It’s important that you consider the benefits of oiling, what steps you should take, and how often to do it.

Why is oiling your wood floor important?

Oiled wood flooring is a great way to prolong its life expectancy. Oil gives the floor a new look. Oil protects the floor’s surface to preserve its beauty for longer.

Your floor is thirsty

Wood flooring can be thirsty. Although it may sound odd, it is true.

Your wood will absorb any moisture and water if it is not protected with oil. The floor can become unstable if water is allowed to seep into it.

A protective oil coating on the floor will prevent moisture from getting to your floors.

Are you a pet owner?

Oiling wood floors is a great option for pet owners due to their durability and longevity. You can easily sand down any scratches from claws and teeth, and then oil over them.

A lacquered floor is, however, less likely to have scratch marks.

Bringing out details in the design

Oiled wood flooring highlights the amazing details and grains in each plank. This allows for a wide variety of colors and tones depending on what oil you use.

Our selection of Osmo Oils will make your flooring unique. They range from warm and rustic tones to more subtle, lighter finishes. Clear oils, too, can show off a floor’s natural beauty.

Floor protection

Unfinished wood flooring is susceptible to liquid stains like wine, cola, and sauce. Unwanted stains can be prevented by a simple oil finish.

The oil acts as a protective coating, so liquids cannot be absorbed into wood fibers.

Avoid floor cracking and drying out

Your floor may crack if it doesn’t get enough oil. Even though this can happen in extreme cases, it is important to remember the importance of oiling your wood floors regularly.

Permanent maintenance

All hardwood flooring needs to be maintained.

You won’t have to resand or finish your wood floor as often if you take care of it.

Oiling wood floors should be a regular part of your wood floor maintenance. This will be discussed in more detail shortly.

Quick recap:

  1. It improves longevity.
  2. Protects against scratches from pets
  3. If you see any marks, it is quick and easy to fix them.
  4. It brings out the details, tone, and color.
  5. Maintains the appearance of your floor
  6. More protection against liquid stains.
  7. This prevents your floor from drying out and cracking.

How to oil wood flooring

Here’s a quick guide to oiling and preparing wooden floors.

Prepare your flooring

  1. Oil can be applied directly to floors that have been previously oiled. You will need to sand floors with different finishes such as varnish until you reach the bare wood. This is done to ensure that you don’t add additional oil layers onto an existing layer.
  2. You don’t have to sand the floor if you are adding a touch-up layer after you have received new oiled flooring. While we strongly recommend this, it’s not necessary. Because the oil is the same as the last layer, you can apply the new coat directly on top.
  3. Make sure you clean off any dirt and debris that may be on your laminate flooring Wallasey. This will prevent any oil from settling under it.
  4. You should ensure that the room has good ventilation. This is so that any oil fumes do not remain in the room.

The process

  1. To ensure that all components are well combined, stir the oil container thoroughly
  2. Apply the oil with a stiff brush, or roller, following the grain of the wood. To ensure even application, apply oil thinly.
  3. Before applying additional layers, let the oil dry. Follow the same steps as above, but apply thin layers one at a time.
  4. Depending on what oil you use, apply 1 to 3 layers. Before applying another layer, ensure that each layer has dried completely.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions to ensure that your floor is oil-free. The label should be on the container.

How Often Does Your Floor Need Oiling?

Oiling wooden floors for domestic use is recommended every 2 years. However, depending on how long your flooring has been used, it may be more important to oil them sooner.

This provides additional protection against foot traffic and other mishaps that could cause damage to your floor.

We recommend that you oil the flooring after it is laid if it comes with oil.

This could be because your flooring may have been dry for some time. Your new flooring can be re-stained to add moisture. This will allow you to add color and durability to your flooring.

What oils can be used for wood flooring?

Bona hard oil: This is one of the most widely used waxes and it dries quickly. This wax is highly effective in preventing wear and tear, which you might see in unfinished floors. It makes a great choice for homes with a lot of foot traffic.

WOCA oil: Although more expensive, this oil provides a better result. Professionals who are equipped with the right tools to properly apply WOCA oil are more likely to use it.

Blanchon maintenance oils: Blanchon can revive wood floors. If you’re doing it yourself, the matt finish will give you a professional look. Blanchon oil can be dried quickly if you have limited time.

GRANWAX hard wax oil – This oil is completely transparent and provides a great level of protection without affecting the look of your wood. GRANWAX is an excellent option to prevent daily wear and tear on your flooring.

Oil can change the color of your floor.

It all depends on what oil you use. Some oils change the color or tint of the flooring. Others simply add protection to the surface. Our ranges of tinted Osmo Oils provide a variety of options if you’re looking for an oil that gives off a different color.

Do you need to oil wood flooring immediately after it is finished?

After laying wooden flooring, oil it as soon as you can. Because the flooring may dry out slightly during storage, this is important. Re-oiling is a way to add a little oil to the existing oil layer. This adds color and protection.

Are all floors in need of oiling?

Oiling floors are not necessary for all flooring types. However, there are some things you should consider depending on the type of flooring.

As mentioned above, oiled wood flooring should be re-oiled with a clear coat. This will hydrate the wood.

To oil lacquered wood flooring, it will need to first be sanded to the plank. The lacquer acts as a protective layer. If a lacquer finish has been applied, the coil won’t absorb into the wood.

Engineered wood flooring has a solid wood veneer on the plank. You can apply oil to engineered wood flooring planks, but make sure it does not have a lacquered finish. You will need to sand the veneer before you apply the oil.

EvoCore, Vinyl, LVT and Vinyl flooring can’t be oiled because they don’t have a wood surface to absorb the oil.

How can you maintain hardwood floors that have been oiled?

Maintain your wood floor with our Impero Elite Timber Flooring Kit. This kit is effective and efficient in restoring and maintaining your wood flooring’s appearance. This kit includes our Reviving wax which offers maximum protection for your wood floors.

To conclude

It is important to understand the benefits of oiling wooden floors. These are the best ways to prepare your wood flooring for a new coat. Wood flooring will last much longer if you take care of it. It’s easy!

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