Wood Floor Re-oiling and Recoating

You are excused if you are not a wood floor oil finish guru, with so many choices and options available on the market it is hard to keep up with all oil finish products available even if you are a professional. However, we are a very dedicated team of experts committed to success and we do our best to keep up with all new trends and new and innovative products launched on the international market so we can be as helpful and informed as it gets and provide our clients with the best services possible. However, let’s go back to the variety of oil finishes for your wooden floor and help you understand more about what you can choose from. The category of oil wood floor finishes includes a lot of different products and all of them contain some sort of oil in their formula, be it Danish, teak, linseed, hard wax oil, or modern oil finishes. There is a whole additional group called oil-based polyurethane varnishes and if the mixture of oil and varnish in one place sounds pretty surprising to you, you are right to think so, but let us explain.

You already know that oil finishes are designed differently than other finishes that create a protective layer on the top of the floor only such as lacquers and varnishes. In contrast, oils penetrate the wood’s structure and additionally protect the floor from insight by being absorbed by the fibres and the core of the wood. Still, oil finishes create a protective barrier on the surface but are not as firm and solid as lacquers and varnishes.

It is important to remember that lacquers and varnishes are also a more hard-wearing and lasting choice, while oil sealants require more regular maintenance and recoating. However, on another side oils are good at enhancing and highlighting the natural texture, colour, and beauty of wood and better at camouflaging imperfections such as fine scratches, marks, and dents as they are not as glossy and shiny as lacquers and varnishes. Besides, oil finishes have the advantage to be reapplied and recoated without the need of having the floor’s surface re-sanded and the old finish stripped off beforehand. This pretty much means that you can have a quick renewal of the finish without planning a more time- and money-consuming service of buffing and sanding.

Re-oiling and recoating the floor already sounds pretty self-explanatory and effortless to begin with, especially compared to more heavy-duty services and treatments. However, it still requires some level of expertise and knowledge. One of the main things that should be considered is the previous type of oil finish that has been applied on the surface of the floorboards as it will determine what type of oil finish to be used next. If you are not sure or you don’t know the exact type of wood floor oil finish applied on the surface of the floor, make sure to contact a professional company that will be able to inspect the floor and determine.

Remember that only a coat of the already existing product can be applied on top, otherwise, the results won’t be as good as you expect them and it will affect the way your floor looks. The best solution is not simply using the same finish but also, if possible, the same manufacturing company for flawless results. Still, if you are unsure and wood floor maintenance professionals also cannot tell the difference, you better opt for having the floor re-sanded and the old finish stripped off.

Re-oiling Wood Floors without Colour

If you don’t want to change the colour of the floor by re-oiling it, clear oil finishes and hard wax oils are available on the market. Simply remember that regular maintenance requires an application of a fresh new coat every 16 to 24 months for domestic floors and 4 to 6 months for commercial floors that tend to experience higher traffic and heavy footfall.

Re-oiling Wood Floors with Colour

When you want to add some colour to the mix, whether it will be slightly changing the natural one of the floor or enhancing it, even more, a slight buffing of the floor’s surface to even it out and ensure a uniform application of the product and the colour. Next, a couple of coats of the oil finish are applied for achieving the effect.

More about Recoating your Wooden Floor

Before you arrange a visit from the wood floor recoating team make sure to consider the current condition of the floor. In case it is slightly worn and looks a bit tired like a fresh coat of oil finish will solve all the issues, you can carry on with a recoating service. However, if the floor is struggling with more serious issues and imperfections, recoating it simply won’t be enough, so make sure to get rid of the issues first and then continue with refreshing it and improving it visually thanks to recoating. If you have waited for too long and how your floor is beyond the point of maintenance when just recoating will do the job, there is a high risk of bare wood being already damaged or scratched and sanding is recommended for getting rid of all imperfections first. Some of the common issues that require more than just recoating but a few rounds with the floor sanding machine too include water damage, permanent stains, pet stains, discolouration, and damages such as scratches, dents, marks, etc.

Generally, wooden floors treated with an oil finish require more regular maintenance and care not just because the oil finish wears off quicker, but also because they don’t provide as good water damage resistance and protection as lacquers and varnishes. In a nutshell, oil-treated wood floors are more prone to water damage and they need to be protected more thoroughly and maintained professionally more often. However, considering the simple and effortless nature of the recoating service, this should not be a problem.

There are some additional preventive measures you can ensure to keep your oil-finished wooden floors in good condition for longer and avoid the occurrence of permanent stains and noticeable scratches that cannot be solved by recoating only. Make sure that your pets are trained to go to the toilet as pet urine stains leave some of the worst permanent stains that sometimes are not even removed by sanding. Do not wear shoes in the house, especially high heels, as they will scratch the surface. Keep the nails of your pets trimmed too, once again, prevent scratches. Always place doormats to reduce the amount of dust and dirt entering the house and create scratches on the floor’s surface along with dirt build-ups. Finally, make sure to wipe spills and splashes clean and dry as soon as notice them.