Anybody who owns a wooden floor in Liverpool should think about getting it professionally sanded and finished. It’s a perfectly normal process that will extend the lifespan of your floor a long way. Most professionals recommend that you go for something like an oil finish over a water-based one because it lasts longer and gives better protection. However, knowing about the types of wood floor oil finishes is important for making smart decisions about them. Let’s take a look at what you need to know.

What is an Oil Finish?

So, what’s in a wood floor oil finish Liverpool? Well, it’s typically a solvent-based oil which is applied to things like hardwood floors. It has been designed to protect the wood from spillages, scuffs and other types of damage.

Oil finishes are used to stop water damage and wear, which means they can improve the lifespan of your floor in a big way.

The Benefits of Oil Finishes

So, why should you choose oil finishes for your parquet flooring repairs and sanding Liverpool? Well, the good news is that they have a lot of benefits to them. There are plenty of types of oil-based products out there, and each one does have its own strengths and weaknesses, but the main reason people tend to pick them is because of two main factors – cost and overall appearance.

Your typical oil-based offering is roughly half the price of a water-based counterpart. This can often make it the only viable choice for a lot of projects.

With regards to the oil-based finish, it gives you a nice amber colouring which you can’t find in a water-based finish. This can mean that the oil aspect of the finish will penetrate the wood much more deeply than a water offering and will be absorbed into the finer.

The amber colours which are present in the oil help to improve the natural colours of the wood by “brining the grain”. It’s probably worth noting that for a long time, there was no water-based substitute. There was only ever the oil product on offer, and it meant that this was the only option for a lot of floors. Lots of modern homeowners will still choose the amber-tinted floor as a way to enhance their home because the longer that it is exposed to sunlight, the darker it will get.

Things to Consider

When using oil for a commercial wood floor finish Liverpool, there are a handful of things to keep in mind which can influence the project.

Your typical oil finish has a high level of volatile organic compounds in it, which can release gases that can be harmful to your health and the environment. The best thing that you can do is to have the area well-ventilated when you are using the oil.

It’s also worth noting that this type of oil finish takes longer to apply. Normally you wait about six hours for the oil to drive properly, and then you can apply the next coat.

Different Types of Oil Finishes

There are different types of oil finishes available. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones here.

Obviously, one of the most common types to keep in mind is oil-based polyurethane. This was the most popular type of finish for a long time, producing a very bespoke look and giving wood a very smooth appearance. The great thing about polyurethane is that it provides a lot of protection but doesn’t require masses of maintenance. This makes it a good choice for long-term use because you can apply it and forget about it.

Generally speaking, polyurethane is a plastic polymer which has a lot of uses through different industries. Polyurethane which uses oil creates a liquid substance that you apply to the floor. Once the oil evaporates, the polymers harden and form a protective layer.

Another popular type of oil is tung oil. This is a natural substance which is made from the nuts of the tung tree. The oil will naturally harden over time as it is in contact with oxygen. It does work a little bit differently from other types of oil because it doesn’t form a protective layer. Instead, it strengthens the top layer of wood, giving it a natural defence.

Obviously, something like this is useful because it’s very easy to repair small damage. All you need is a little bit of oil, and you can usually get rid of scratches or scuffs. Any new coats of oil that you use will simply bleed into the existing coats and help to strengthen them.

The only thing worth noting about this type of oil is that not every version of it is suitable for use with wood. You need to make sure that you have chosen a variant of the oil that is compatible with wood, otherwise you will cause damage to the floor. Another issue with incompatible variants is that they simply won’t work. If you’re not sure, feel free to ask us and we will help you out.

Finally, you have UV-cured oil. This is a special type of finish which uses ultraviolet light. The light hardens the oil in between each of the coats that you apply. It also means that this type of oil can offer higher levels of protection in some cases.

Lots of people also like this particular type of oil because it can be used quite quickly. You don’t have to wait for it to dry so much as dry it out using the light. This makes it very flexible.

As an oil, this also helps to preserve the original aesthetic value of the word, which makes it a good choice by seeping directly into the grain, rather than forming a protective surface over it. The only real drawback to an oil like this is the fact that it’s only available as a premade floor in most cases. The equipment involved is pretty specialist!

Natural Flooring Solutions Ltd
Bulloch House, 10 Rumford Pl, Liverpool L3 9DG
0151 541 6277
floorsandingliverpool.co.uk