How to waterproof a wooden floor?

Do you know how to waterproof a wooden floor? Wood is a beautiful material. However, you still need to know how to maintain and preserve it. To do this, there are several methods, such as sanding, varnishing, and of course floor oils for effective protection. A waterproof wooden floor also ensures that you will avoid costly floor repairs. When it’s time to think about adding a finishing layer to your floor, consider adding oil to the surface.

Oiled parquet and waterproof parquet

The beauty of oiled wood is undeniable. An oiled wooden floor adds a rustic aspect to your rooms, but besides its aesthetic aspect, oils have many advantages. In addition to beautifying your floor, oils offer surface protection and allow for waterproofing, which ensures a longer durability on your investment. Moreover, a well-oiled and well-maintained wooden floor will no longer need to be sanded. Now discover how to waterproof a wooden floor using different floor oils.

How to waterproof a floor: the different parquet oils

Sanding and varnishing are a good way to preserve aesthetics and offer classic protection for your floor. Learn more about how to remove paint from a wooden floor. However, there is a highly effective preventive product that also allows for wood waterproofing. This involves applying oils to wooden floors. There are currently three different types of floor oil: linseed oil, walnut oil, or tung oil. Before choosing your oil, you’ll first need to answer these questions:

Do I want an eco-friendly oil, or is it not important?
A natural oil or a drying oil with hydrocarbons?
Am I able to take the necessary precautions for an oil with a long drying time and laborious installation?

Some natural oils take up to 7 to 8 days to dry and are difficult to install. You will therefore need to consider additional costs for their installation, as well as several preventive measures to protect them during their drying time. Now discover everything there is to know about this type of oil treatment, their advantages, and why waterproofing a wooden floor is important to ensure the longevity of your investment. Learn more about which options to prioritize for a wooden floor in a bathroom.

Linseed oil

Linseed oil is extracted through a technique of pressing flax seeds. It is an ideal solution for treating a wooden floor, as long as this floor is not outdoors or located in a very humid place. Moreover, linseed oil is easy to install and dries quickly, which makes it a popular choice for oiling a wooden floor. However, since it is an oil of a fatty nature, it deteriorates quickly when installed in a humid place or frequently exposed to water. In a bathroom, it risks molding and blackening. Although linseed oil makes wood water-repellent, it is still vulnerable to water vapor. Its main advantage lies in the aesthetic aspect it gives to wooden floors. It also facilitates floor maintenance.

Walnut oil or tung oil

The best parquet oil for waterproofing a floor is tung oil, also known as China wood oil. It is primarily used for finishing fine wood floors. This floor oil has similar characteristics to linseed oil. It is also known for its quick drying time and ease of application. However, the main property of tung oil is its very high natural drying ability. Although its odor is stronger than linseed oil, it has unbeatable waterproofing qualities. Once applied, the protective coating offers the best protection. Tung oil solidifies through oxidation. As soon as it comes into contact with air, its physicochemical composition changes to form a matte, flexible, breathable, and water-repellent film on the wood surface. Its main advantage over linseed oil is that it does not color the substrate and does not risk darkening or molding when exposed to water vapor or considerable surface humidity and moisture.