Treating a wooden floor with oil, hardwax oil or lacquer?

Do you want to protect your brand-new floor, or give your current floor a new look? Then you are likely looking for a wood protector. Making a choice during this search can be difficult. After all, there are quite a few options, such as stain, oil, hardwax oil, or lacquer. But what exactly is the difference between these products? And which product is the best option for your floor? In this article, we explain the differences.

Do you want to treat your wooden floor but want to know what the different options are? In this article, we explain all the differences between all the treatments to make your choice easier. There are quite a few options, such as:

• Stain
• Oil
• Lacquer
• Hardwax oil

We will explain what each product is and what the pros and cons are, so you can make an informed decision.

We start with the difference between Stain and Oil. Stain is a water-based wood treatment that ensures wood is protected from the inside out. This provides a treated surface against rain, UV rays, drying out, and dirt. Staining the wood therefore ensures you can enjoy the surface for longer. You can read more about staining wood in the blog ‘staining wood’.

Advantages of wooden floor stain

• Stain is moisture-regulating, so moisture does not penetrate the wood.
• Water-based stain dries quickly.
• It does not smell after application.

Disadvantages of wooden floor stain

• Water-based, so it can crack and peel.
• The treatment does not last long.

Oil for wooden floors gives the wood a beautiful, natural look. The product penetrates the wood rather than sitting on top of it. In this way, the oil protects the wood from the inside out. The wood grain also remains visible, ensuring you truly retain the feeling of having a wooden floor. The oils are available in many different colors, allowing the wood to take on any desired color.

Benefits of oil for wooden floors

• The oil penetrates deep into the surface and does not create a layer on the surface. This allows the wood to continue breathing. The wood grain remains visible.
• The product strengthens the wood's natural power.
• It can be touched up locally and easily. Therefore, the surface does not need to be completely sanded down for a ring or unsightly spot.
• The oil will not peel or crack.

Disadvantages of oil for wooden floors

• The oil offers poor protection against liquids. Care must therefore be taken to avoid spilling water or coffee on the wood.
• Oil requires a lot of maintenance. An oiled floor is, after all, susceptible to stains.

Hardwax oil is a combination of wax and oil. The oil penetrates the surface, while the wax provides even better protection for the wood. It therefore protects the wood from the inside out, just like oil. The wax creates a hard layer in the top pores of the wood. Consequently, it does not create a layer on the surface. The wood grain remains visible, and it is resistant to various liquids.

Advantages of hardwax oil

• It penetrates deep into the surface and does not create a layer on the surface. This allows the wood to continue breathing. The wood grain remains visible.
• The product strengthens the wood's natural power.
• It can be touched up locally and easily. The surface therefore does not need to be completely sanded when it needs touching up.
• The hardwax oil will not peel or crack.
• It offers very good protection against liquids such as water, coffee, and wine.

Disadvantages of hardwax oil

• Once the surface has been treated with a color, another color cannot be applied to the surface without sanding.

Varnish creates a layer on the wood; we call this a film layer. Varnish offers the wood protection from the outside. A key advantage of varnish is that it provides good protection against moisture. Therefore, it is not a problem if a glass of water spills on varnished wood.

Advantages of Varnish

• Varnish offers good protection against liquids such as water, coffee, and wine.
• The varnish protects the surface against wear and tear.
• Another advantage is that it is easy to maintain.

Disadvantages of Varnish

• A major disadvantage of varnish is that it cannot be touched up locally. Touch-ups are only possible after sanding.
• Most varnishes are synthetic-based; this is chemical and not a natural finish.
• The varnish can expand, causing it to peel and crack.