It’s not for nothing that hardwood flooring is one of the most popular floor coverings for a comfortable and welcoming home. Hardwood floors are pleasantly warm underfoot, they can be installed quickly and easily as pre-finished flooring with a click system, and they are surprisingly durable. Hardwood floors are particularly trendy in the form of large format planks, but also with a custom design, they are elegant and contemporary. But choosing the right type of wood and installation method are not the only concerns one would have as a future hardwood floor owner: the choice of floor finish also plays an important role in the aesthetics of hardwood floors.
What is the optimal floor finish?
You already suspect that there are no real winners among the products on the market. Because each product has its advantages and disadvantages. In the end, the choice between oil and wax is a purely personal decision. But you have to decide on the finish for your hardwood floors, and that’s why we give you an overview to make the choice easier.
Oiled floor:
The oil finish doesn’t form a protective coating at all, but helps to harden the wood, giving it color and preventing it from drying out over time. However, this can cause warping and weakening of the hardwood floor. The oil finish has a moderate odor and its drying time depends on humidity and sun exposure. The oil finish takes a long time and must be reapplied with each cleaning. It is not waterproof and must be cleaned carefully to avoid damaging your hardwood floor.
Waxed floor:
Wax is an oil with a wax content and it tends to stain more easily than oil. The surface becomes very resistant to dirt because the wax forms a layer on the wood. However, high-traffic areas wear out and after a while, you need to reseal these areas with wax. This has the disadvantage that layers can build up over time. Additionally, wax is more difficult to maintain, which is why it is rarely used nowadays. There are hybrid solutions with oil and wax mixed. This is an interesting solution because the floors leave fewer marks and at the same time, they are more durable.
Oiled, waxed – which flooring should I choose?
If you’re looking for a more traditional finish, you can opt for wax or oil-based finishes, you have plenty of choices. The wax finish impregnates the pores of the floor and penetrates the wood. Wax can give the hardwood floor an amber color ranging from light to dark, depending on the type of wax used. Although wax finishes harden and form a durable seal on the wood, they need to be repaired over time, making them ideal for low-traffic areas and homeowners who have more time for maintenance. Oil-based finish is one of the most sought-after hardwood floor finishes, but they are expensive to maintain and require a considerable time investment from the owner. For this reason, oil-based finishes are better suited to less used rooms, such as recreation rooms, bedrooms, and showrooms.
