Maintenance of oiled flooring
Among the many desirable features of our floors is that most of them are sealed with hard wax oil. Based on natural plant oils and waxes, this exceptional floor finish, in addition to being water repellent, and stain and abrasion resistant, creates a surface on the wood that is both pleasing to the eye and to the touch.
If these features are not enough, then the ease of routine maintenance certainly must be factored in, but perhaps hardwax oil’s most enduring benefit for the homeowner is that its natural finish is entirely renewable, that is, it can be topped up if and when necessary.
What Cleaner is Best for Oiled Wood Floors
The day-to-day cleaning of a wood floor sealed with hardwax oil could not be easier. “Wash & Care” by Osmo is the specialist product that we wholeheartedly recommend for cleaning. Diluted in warm water, this concentrate will remove soiling and leave a streak-free shine without buildup. This should be done using a micro-fibre mop – not an old-fashioned rag mop, nor a sponge mop. The less water on the wood, the better.
After several years of being walked on, however, most floors will start to show signs of wear: loss of sheen, some scratching, and even unsightly patches where the finish has worn away. The good news is that the floor can be returned to its former splendour by having hardwax oil reapplied to it.
Unlike lacquer, which although it requires no maintenance, will scratch and eventually be worn away until it becomes necessary to sand the floor back and refinish, hardwax oil can be reapplied to a floor without involving the disruption and expense of sanding.
How To Re-Oil Wood Floors
Generally speaking, in a domestic setting, a floor in more highly used areas such as hallways and kitchens will need re-oiling every two to three years. Bedrooms, on the other hand, can certainly be left longer. Re-oiling a hardwax oiled floor doesn’t require any specialist skills, although, on the whole, we recommend engaging us to handle the job. It is best done with a microfibre applicator (available online), although a paintbrush can be used, applying an even, thin coat across the floor surface. Be sure to let the area dry overnight before walking on it. If you need to do a room in two parts in order to move the furniture from one side to the other, can use low tack masking tape, making sure you follow the edge of individual floorboards, to mask first one side of the area and then the other.
While re-oiling a floor is not difficult, good preparation is crucial: the floor needs to be clean, very clean before you apply the oil, or you will end up sealing dirt and stains under the finish. If your floor is showing a lot of wear, especially areas where bare wood, grey and soiled, is present, then we should definitely be called in. We can give the floor an intensive cleaning, removing ingrained soiling, lifting marks, and dissolving old residue before we recoat.
Feel free to contact us for a quote.
