Oiled Wood Floor Maintenance
Hardwood is a very durable and versatile material and has been used for flooring for hundreds of years. In its early days it would have been presented very differently to the engineered and finished product that is available for sale from a wide variety of specialist and D.I.Y stores today.
Most likely when first used as flooring it would have had a rough sawn finish either bare or possibly roughly sanded with a pitch poured over the surface to seal it. It would have been chosen more for its durability than its aesthetic qualities. Today beautifully factory finished products can be purchased over the counter in a variety of finishes and textures.
Oiled wood floor is an increasingly popular choice for the home or workplace, the main reason is that the oiled finish protects the floor and at the same time leaves the surface finish as close to natural as can be achieved without actually leaving it bare.
There are some lacquers on the market that are also very natural in their finished appearance however the main difference between lacquer and oil is that the lacquer is designed to sit on top of the wood surface creating a seal, whereas the oil is actually absorbed into the wood, impregnating the base material.
The benefit of the oil is that once the wood has fully absorbed the oil, the wood itself acts as the seal and the surface appearance is very natural.
In today's minimalistic fashion and design market, natural products and materials appear more and more on the pages of our home and furnishing magazines and web sites. These products range in price range from affordable to luxurious.
Oiled hard wood flooring once laid is relatively easy to maintain. An important factor in protecting the floor is prevention. I would recommend that good quality barrier mats are placed at each point of entry. Much of the everyday wear and tear to wood flooring is caused by a build up of microscopic soils and grit that get transferred by shoes or pets onto the wood from outdoors. Having adequate defence in place greatly reduces the potential wear from this source of contaminate.
Another common cause of damage is from furniture feet, make sure the feet of chairs, tables and any other movable furniture is protected by felt pads.
It's also advisable to ensure the floor is regularly vacuumed to remove all loose dusts and grit, make sure a hard floor vacuum tool is attached so the floor isn't scratched during the cleaning process.
If the floor is very dirty it can be mopped/wiped clean using water and a floor cleaning solution suitable for oiled floors. Make sure the cleaning is done with a damp mop/cloth rather than a wet one. Avoid excessive water upon the floor as it may seep into joints, once damp cleaned it should be immediately dried off with a cloth.
By using the simple process outlined above the floor should stay in good shape for some time. Eventually the oil protection will require refreshing or reapplication, for this it is important that the floor is thoroughly cleaned first.
Most likely when first used as flooring it would have had a rough sawn finish either bare or possibly roughly sanded with a pitch poured over the surface to seal it. It would have been chosen more for its durability than its aesthetic qualities. Today beautifully factory finished products can be purchased over the counter in a variety of finishes and textures.
Oiled wood floor is an increasingly popular choice for the home or workplace, the main reason is that the oiled finish protects the floor and at the same time leaves the surface finish as close to natural as can be achieved without actually leaving it bare.
There are some lacquers on the market that are also very natural in their finished appearance however the main difference between lacquer and oil is that the lacquer is designed to sit on top of the wood surface creating a seal, whereas the oil is actually absorbed into the wood, impregnating the base material.
The benefit of the oil is that once the wood has fully absorbed the oil, the wood itself acts as the seal and the surface appearance is very natural.
In today's minimalistic fashion and design market, natural products and materials appear more and more on the pages of our home and furnishing magazines and web sites. These products range in price range from affordable to luxurious.
Oiled hard wood flooring once laid is relatively easy to maintain. An important factor in protecting the floor is prevention. I would recommend that good quality barrier mats are placed at each point of entry. Much of the everyday wear and tear to wood flooring is caused by a build up of microscopic soils and grit that get transferred by shoes or pets onto the wood from outdoors. Having adequate defence in place greatly reduces the potential wear from this source of contaminate.
Another common cause of damage is from furniture feet, make sure the feet of chairs, tables and any other movable furniture is protected by felt pads.
It's also advisable to ensure the floor is regularly vacuumed to remove all loose dusts and grit, make sure a hard floor vacuum tool is attached so the floor isn't scratched during the cleaning process.
If the floor is very dirty it can be mopped/wiped clean using water and a floor cleaning solution suitable for oiled floors. Make sure the cleaning is done with a damp mop/cloth rather than a wet one. Avoid excessive water upon the floor as it may seep into joints, once damp cleaned it should be immediately dried off with a cloth.
By using the simple process outlined above the floor should stay in good shape for some time. Eventually the oil protection will require refreshing or reapplication, for this it is important that the floor is thoroughly cleaned first.
