Caring for oiled wood floors isn’t as straightforward as one may think. Here you can find professional advice on how to get the most use and enjoyment out of your floor for many years to come.
For thousands of years, people have been using oils to protect wooden floors. Professional wood oils are used for nourishment and to reduce damage by creating a water-resistant barrier. There are many choices of oil on the market, but we always use natural wood floor oil as it is better for the environment and enhances the wood grain.
How to look after oiled wood floors?
Maintaining oiled wood floors involves two distinct approaches to preserving their beauty and longevity. You can choose to either rejuvenate the wood floors without the need for sanding or apply oils to a freshly sanded floor. The latter option tends to be more expensive, but it may be essential if your floor is in exceptionally poor condition.
Let’s begin by exploring the sanding process in detail so that you can make an informed decision. Additionally, we will offer some guidelines for estimating the costs associated with sanding and polishing wood floors.
How to finish wood floors after sanding
To begin the process of sanding old wood floors, the first step is to clear the room of furniture and conduct a thorough cleaning. During this phase, we’ll also address any individual board repairs and identify deep scratches for attention. If you’re concerned about where to temporarily store your furniture during this process, don’t worry, we can do one room at a time.
The advantage of using oils is that they allow us to seamlessly blend them from one room to another. Even if an adjoining room requires attention at a later stage, the finished result will appear as if all the work was completed simultaneously!
The starting cost for sanding, including materials, begins at £35 per square meter. Please note that this is a baseline estimate, and the final quotation will take into account room size and any necessary repairs.
How long does it take?
Another bonus to having an oil finish on your wood floor is that it is relatively speedy. You may have heard of lacquers which we do offer and love, but they take 4 hours to dry and 5 days to cure! Oils take only 3 hours to dry and 24 hours to cure, so you can get back to using your floor as quickly as possible.
Restoring wood floors without sanding
In the past, when your floor has undergone multiple sanding sessions and the top layer has become thin, our approach involves applying only an oil coat. Our oil coatings are designed for easy maintenance, similar to how you care for a wooden worktop. Every few years, we’ll perform a deep cleaning and re-oiling of your floor to enhance its protection against wear and the buildup of dirt. If you’re working within a tight budget, you also have the option to opt for a re-oiling service without the more expensive sanding process.
If you’re uncertain about the current condition of your floor, don’t worry – we can usually provide guidance and advice on the best course of action.
Final considerations – Caring for oiled wood floors
We advise you to look after your floor carefully, otherwise, you may have to replace the floor or pay for a full sanding. We use Pallman when oiling floors and if you have further questions recommend reading their guides: http://pallmann.co.uk/contractors/5-steps-guides/
If you would like to discuss our oil finish wood floor maintenance packages or our one-off sanding and refinishing options, book a free, no-obligation quote by contacting Adam on 01444 810505, or fill out our contact form.
