In recent years, we’ve noticed that the market has experienced a dramatic surge in consumer demand for floor oils. Indeed, when time has done its work and the time has come to restore a floor, more and more people are opting for a penetrating natural oil. Unlike vitrifying varnishes, an oiled floor lets the wood breathe and adapt to changes in the weather. Oil beautifies your décor by giving it a rustic look. If you preserve your oiled wood properly, you’ll never have to sand it.
We’ve designed an oiled floor maintenance guide for you. Use it to preserve the authentic properties of your wood. Eventually, to ensure that your treated wood is protected from wear and tear, you’ll have to add one or two coats of oil. Finishing oils are available in two different gloss levels. Floor oil retailers will offer them to you in a matte or satin finish. We recommend satin oils because they’re of higher quality and because they age better.
What you should know about floor oils is that they come in three types. The first category is synthetic oils. They’re made from petrochemicals. The second category consists of natural drying oils made from natural elements with the addition of a hydrocarbon. The third category contains all the completely natural oils, without any mixture.
How should you go about choosing the right protective oil for your wood? First, you should ask yourself if you want an eco-friendly oil. If you do, you know right away that you’re not going to buy a synthetic oil. Then, how do you know if you should choose a 100%-natural oil or a drying oil with a hydrocarbon? These two kinds of natural oils are similar, but they have distinct attributes. For example, applying a 100%-natural oil – also called a raw oil – may take up to a week to dry. If you’re leaning towards this type of oil, you should know that its application is very delicate and that you’ll need to take all the necessary precautions. In addition to the high price of natural oils, a floor sanding professional will charge extra, since its application is laborious. If you want to expand your field of knowledge, check out the following link or contact us.
It’s true that it’s hard to find yourself with all the wood coatings that are available on the market. We’re aware that a wide range of floor oils is available and that every oil retailer brags about having the best product. That’s why L’Artisan du Plancher Montréal offers to guide you through this universe of possibilities. First of all, no matter which oil you choose, the most important thing is to carry out an excellent sanding of the surface to be treated. Avoid doing this yourself; this work is complex and requires the know-how of a master sander. We recommend choosing an oil with a lead-free drying agent and a plant-based solvent. This is the compromise that comes closest to a 100%-natural non-toxic oil. If you want a solvent-free oil without a drying agent, we recommend doing the work with the product that will suit your needs the best: an all-natural oil. For more information, please consult our section on oil suppliers. You can also click the following link.
An oiled floor lasts a long time! If your oiled floor is cared for properly, you won’t have to sand it for your entire life! However, you should always use the products recommended by the oil manufacturer. Apply one or two coats of oil to your treated surfaces every five to seven years, and about every two to three years in high-traffic areas. Follow our advice and recommendations carefully. When it comes to your stairs, we recommend oiled staircases because they represent a profitable investment. The stairs in your house are very costly to restore. By oiling them, you’ll never have to strip them again. You’ll thus save several thousand dollars. No matter which oil you apply to your flooring, it will give it a warm look. Over the years, it will form a beautiful patina that will make your flooring even more resistant. We recommend consulting our oiled floor preservation guide to learn how to improve the sustainability of the floor oils on your flooring.
In effect, these are the floor oils that are the most eco-friendly coatings. People are increasingly concerned about their environment, because they want to live in a healthy setting. We’re now faced with new environmental challenges. As social awareness expands, the green shift continues to grow. This would partially explain the recent wave of popularity for floor oils. They’re made from all-natural vegetable oils such as wood oil, safflower oil, and linseed oil. They don’t emit any toxic odours or fumes during application, and they comply with Canadian regulations on VOC emissions. The law on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) allows up to 450 g VOC/L.
In short, an oiled floor is an excellent, eco-friendly option that’s economical in the long term. However, you must be willing to compromise: oil doesn’t provide as glossy a finish as varnish! But for its many other benefits, it’s a product that we recommend to our customers without the slightest hesitation. The world of design is starting to make more and more room for these natural oils and their matte finish.
Check out a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of oils here. For those who would like to know more, follow the link here.