One of the most common questions we are asked is ‘What’s the difference between brushed and oiled and lacquered wood flooring?’ We are also frequently asked if we can supply an unfinished board, so that customers can treat the wood on site or stain it to their own specification. However, the majority of wood flooring is pre-pre-finished, with a factory finish applied before it is delivered and installed.
When it comes to unfinished wood we do offer a fabulous board by Quick Step which is available in several grades and board widths. It is also available in a herringbone design. Pop into the showroom to see samples. When it comes to the protective finish on your wood flooring, we offer two choices. First is brushed and oiled, the second is lacquered. One of the misconceptions about wood flooring is that lacquered is more protective than brushed and oiled. However, they are just as hardwearing as each other but brushed and oiled offers a more natural finish and shows off the grain and knots in the wood. People looking for a Prime grade often go for lacquered as it does appear more contemporary and any minor wood markings are less obvious. The light tends to bounce of the surface of the wood more on a lacquered floor so it can be a better option for darker areas of your home. The main difference is that lacquers form a protective coating over the surface of the wood, whereas wax and oils penetrate it. To give your furniture the best chance of staying beautiful and free of too many marks make sure you use felt pads underneath furniture, don’t drag furniture across your floor, take off stiletto heels, use rugs and runners where possible and mop up any spillages. If you have pets, ensure that their nails aren’t sharp. When cleaning the floor don’t use detergents and a wet mop. Instead invest in a specialist soft cloth mop such as the Bona mop, and use a gentle damp spray rather than water which will sit on the surface of your floor. If you have marks on a brushed and oiled surface, you can spot treat this with a gentle sanding and reapplying oil. We sell maintenance kits for both oiled and lacquered flooring so it’s handy to have these products to hand should you need them. With lacquered flooring, you will more likely need to re sand the whole surface. For more advice on oiled or lacquered wood flooring please contact us and we will be happy to talk you through the difference and show you the wood floor samples in your own home so you can make a good call on what to go for.