Oiled or varnished wooden floor?

While two decades ago, wooden floors with a lacquered finish predominated in interiors, today the popularity of lacquered and oiled surfaces is balanced. Both types of flooring have naturally undergone significant technological development over that time. The coverings come with a surface finish already from production, and regular maintenance is a simple task. When choosing between lacquer and oil, you can now decide based on criteria other than purely practical ones.

In addition to a wide range of colors and wood decor with original grain, you will choose between a matte and glossy surface. Gloss is on the decline, thanks to the trend of large glass areas in the interior, which can cause unwanted light reflection and thus alter the perception of the flooring's real appearance. Today's floors are dominated by matte finishes. It's no longer the case that matte is exclusively associated with oiled surfaces. Matte, and even ultra-matte lacquered surfaces with gloss levels of only 4 - 6%, are available, representing an ideal compromise between natural appearance and low maintenance demands. The Swedish manufacturer Kährs also has such options in its product range. Its ultra-matte finish for the Lux and Lumen collections absorbs light and supports the authentic beauty of the floor, which gives the impression of being made from raw, untreated wood. However, the surface is pleasant to the touch and underfoot, durable, and easy to maintain.

Although the demands for regular care of oiled floors are indeed low, this is still one of the arguments why lacquered surfaces eventually win out. They do not require any special maintenance; to preserve the appearance and durability of the lacquer, it is only good to treat them once or twice a year with a special polish. In contrast, regular oiled surfaces will lose their color and gray without regular treatment, which is done shortly after installation and then once or twice a year. However, this treatment is easy and time-efficient, and there are even oils in spray bottles that can be rubbed into the floor with a soft cloth and then simply polished after a certain period of action.

Even the age-old regular maintenance of oiled surfaces is no longer necessary under all circumstances. Modern floors can be treated with a highly durable wax oil cured by UV light, which primarily increases the material's resistance to water. This surface also requires absolutely no regular renewal or soaking as with traditional natural oil. This is because during UV curing, oil remains more on the surface rather than penetrating deeply into the wood, multiplying its resistance. Therefore, when water is spilled, there is no risk of leaving a stain on waxed oils. For example, this treatment is found in three-layer wooden floors from 1FLOOR FORTE.

As for the mechanical resistance of the floor, the surface finish does not affect it. However, you will notice differences in regular use. While spilled water, wine, and grease can be wiped off a lacquered surface without consequence, stains may remain on a surface treated with standard oil without wax additives. On the other hand, oiled floors have the advantage of easy local repair. Repair kits serve this purpose, and you can find them under the name Kährs Repair Kit from the Swedish flooring manufacturer. The kits contain waxes that can be mixed to match the color of the specific covering, as well as repair lacquers or oils (depending on the surface type) to seal the surface after repair. For larger damage repairs, such as after dropping a heavy object or the formation of cracks, fillers are available.