How to protect a wooden floor?

Floors

Jul 24, 2024

Varnishing is crucial for the protection of your new wooden floor. Now that you know this, the only question is what type of protection to choose - wax, oil, or varnish? In theory, all options look nice, but in practice, there are small details to consider before you decide on this investment. Read, get informed and make the right decision!

Varnish Coating

Varnishing best protects the wood from wear, scratches, and moisture. The kind of protection you will have and how long it will last depends on the type of varnish used.

Polyurethane varnish creates the hardest protective layer on wood but is quite demanding to apply and maintain - it dries in about a week and “smells” for about a month! If you are looking for excellent protection and faster performance, the two-component water-based varnish is definitely a better option.

As for aesthetics, you can choose between glossy and matte finish. Glossy parquet looks beautiful on its own, but it doesn't quite match with high-gloss furniture. Therefore, before making a final choice, consider the apartment's decor.

Apart from the high gloss, the ease of maintenance also favors varnished parquet. Since it is resistant to cleaning agents, it is very easy to clean whatever falls on it, and varnishing needs to be repeated on average every 15-20 years. Economical, indeed.

Oil Coating

Unlike varnish, oil penetrates deeply and emphasizes the natural beauty of the wood. However, it also gathers dust and absorbs stains. Because of this, it will develop a dark patina over time, even if you only wipe it with a damp cloth.

Since such parquet less withstands the test of time, oiling needs to be done every three to four years. The parquet is always lubricated with natural oils, most often cold-pressed and refined linseed oil.

If you share your living space with pets, be ready to do this more often. The good thing in this whole story is that you can sand and oil individual pieces of wood because there is no significant difference in the appearance between freshly oiled and the rest of the parquet. You don't have this option with varnished parquet.

What if you have one, but want another?

If the floor has already been treated with one technique, and you want to switch to another, you will first need to sand and then clean, and only then apply the new final layer of the chosen product. The entire process can take several days to a week, depending on the size of the surface, the number of layers, and the drying time.

Varnishing is done in three to four layers, depending on the type of varnish and the desired durability of the top layer. A base coat is first applied to the parquet, followed by three coats of varnish in the desired gloss.

Oil is rubbed into the wooden floor with white felt. The process should be repeated until the surface stops absorbing the oil. A day or two later, you need to remove the excess oil layers that remain on the surface.

When is the optimal time for this type of work?

If you decide to wait and embark on this endeavor in the heart of summer, you risk too fast drying which results in an orange peel effect. In winter, drying is slower, allowing more dust to adhere to the surface.

Therefore, the right time for floor renovation is the time of year when temperatures range from +18 to +22°C, and the relative humidity is between 65 and 75%. The important thing is to prevent drafts which can bring impurities onto the surface and cause uneven gloss.

However, you don't need to worry about that. Whether you need sanding, varnishing, or installing a new floor, Postay and find a service provider who will do everything for you.