Floor Finish FAQ's

A concentrated cleaner can be mixed with water then applied by slightly dampening a cloth or mop. It is important to let the cleaner and not the water do the work. Using too much water on a varnish, wax or oil will take a little of your finish off each time it is used which in turn means your floor will have a shorter life. Visit our floor cleaners page to see our range of easy to use products.

Unfortunately not. Wood oils work by penetrating in to the surface grain of the timber and hardening in the surface of the wood. Wood that has been varnished will prevent this from happening and will likely result in a sticky mess on top of the varnish. Varnished floors must be sanded back to bare wood before a wood oil can be applied.

A varnish is the most hard-wearing finish to use for wood flooring. There are 2-part varnishes available which can be mixed with a hardener prior to application, allowing the two to dry together, thereby creating a much tougher and more durable surface finish.

If your wood flooring has been previously varnished, carry out a test area to ensure adhesion and compatibility and then lightly sand to create a key. If the wood floor has been previously oiled, waxed or polished, then the product would need to be completely removed by sanding back to bare wood or using a suitable wood stripper.

The ability to repair scratches on wood floors largely depends on the type of finish the floor has and how deep the scratches are. Minor scratches on oiled floors can usually be repaired with ease. Vacuum the floor first to remove all traces of dust and dirt. Clean the affected area with a dedicated Ph balanced wood floor cleaner. Apply a thin coat of floor oil, preferably the same brand and sheen as the one already applied, and work into the surface of the wood. This will restore the look of the affected area.

The appearance of minor scratches and dull patches on varnished floors can be improved by treating the floor with a varnish maintenance product such as Bona Freshen Up. This product cannot be used on varnishes floors that have then been waxed or polished, unless all the wax and polish is removed first. For varnished floors that have been waxed and polished, we recommend Bona Polish.

Minor scratches on waxed floors can be repaired in much the same way as oiled floors. Clean the affected area first then apply fresh wax, preferably the same brand and type as that already used on the floor. This will restore the damaged area and will blend in with the rest of the floor.

You may be able to find out from the supplier if the wood is already treated and it will certainly help to know as it can impact on what can be advised.

If you are not able to find this out however, then there are a couple of tests that may help determine if there is any current finish. So an oil test, somewhere inconspicuous, leave a small drop of oil on the surface of the wood and leave for 30 minutes to an hour and see how it reacts.

If the oil remains totally unmoved then you are likely to have a varnished finish. If the oil soaks in or moves then this will indicate that either there is oil currently on the floor or if it soaks in totally, that there is nothing on there at all. This is not an exact science but may give some indication of the current finish.

To test for a wax finish simply scratch a nail over the surface and see if any comes away or it marks easily.

Determining if a varnished floor can be repaired can depend on the type of varnish and the extent of the damage. Minor surface scratches and scuffs might be repairable or made less noticeable by cleaning the floor first and using a polyurethane maintenance product such as Bona Freshen Up or Bona Polish. These products in-fill minor scuffs and scratches and apply a thin maintenance goat of polyurethan varnish over the surface. These products maynot however be compatible with all types of varnish so a test area is strongly recommended to test adhesion and effectivness.

If the damage is more extensive, a skilled, professional floor finisher may be able to repair or lessen the impact of the damage. The safest way to deal with a damaged, varnish floor is to sand it back to bare wood and use a highly durable or commercial grade floor varnish.

The dark area where the rug has been is likely due to the floor being protected from sunlight resulting in less bleaching of the wood from the sun's rays. The lighter areas could also be due to the high foot traffic wearing away the original finish of the uncovered flooring area. It's possible that the covered area will always remain darker than the rest unless the whole floor is sanded. If a rug of the same size or bigger is being put back, then this won't be an issue.

Re-oiling the floor should restore the overall appearance and even out many of the colour differences. As the floor is made of Mahogany, our recommendation would be to use Osmo Wood Wax Finish Extra Thin (1101). This oil is very thin and will be able to penetrate in to the wood grain whereas other types of wood oil may not be able to penetrate as well.

Apply the oil thinly working it in to the surface of the wood blocks. Where possible, try to avoid too much of the oil running down between the wood blocks as this may affect the glue or bitumen used to stick the parquet down.

We've got a great range of floor applicators that will save on time, money and back ache!.

Wood oils or more specifically 'hard wax oils' are more durable and water resistant than waxes. Waxes are softer, less durable and are easily stained and marked when in contact with water. It's worth mentioning that although new or freshly sanded pine can look pale in colour, when a clear oil or varnish is applied it tends to draw out the natural orange or yellow of the wood. A way to test this is to wipe over a section of bare wood board with a damp cloth to get an indication of how it will look once finished. To better retain the natural, untreated look of the pine, we recommend using either Fiddes Hard Wax Oil Natural or Osmo Polyx Oil Raw (3044).

This can be tricky on appearance alone as varnishes used to traditionally be high-gloss whereas now, varnishes are available in satin, matt and ultra matt making them look more like an oil or wax finish. This said, and although not an exact science, there are ways to establish what type of finish a floor has.

Always carry out these tests in an inconspicuous area such as behind a door or on the floor under a piece of furniture, as there is potential for the testing to leave a small mark or stain.

Scrape test

Using the edge of a coin or finger nail gently scrape the surface of the floor. If the floor has a wax or polish finish the scraping will remove some of the wax or polish and it will be visible on the coin or nail.

Oil test

Apply a small drop of cooking oil such as Olive Oil to the floor and leave for 30 mins to an hour. If the oil partially or fully soaks in to the floor then this is an indication that the floor has been oiled. If the oil droplet remains on the surface, then it is likely to be a varnished floor.

If it has been over 24 hour since the last coat then a light key over the surface to aid grip is advised. Once lightly sanded, hoover and wipe over with a damp cloth to remove sanding dust and then you are able to apply Bona Mega over the top. Always do a test area first to ensure you like the finish before starting the main project.

Wax is a great product and can be applied over most finishes as well as bare wood. However, you can not apply anything over the top of wax. Varnish will not adhere and oils, including Osmo Polyx Oil, will be unable to penetrate through the wax to the wood of the floor. Unfortunately, any wax currently on the floor will need to be removed before an oil can be applied.

Sanding the floor with a 120-150 grit abrasive is the best way of preparing the floor prior to oiling. Reclaimed boards and especially Pine can be unpredictable and results can vary, because the history of the wood used for the boards.

Depending on the size of the floor i.e. if its a small room. It may be possible to remove the wax with a wax and polish remover such as Woodleys Wax and Polish Remover. This will break down the wax on the wood and allow it to be wiped off with rags. If the wax is old and has many layers, it may require several treatments to get the boards back to bare wood.

Before applying the Polyx Oil, we strongly recommend some test areas in random places across the floor to test the finish produced on the reclaimed boards.

The beauty of an oiled floor is that if the finish becomes worn or damaged, they are very easy to repair. It may be that if a good clean and refresh with the Kit is not doing the job, then lightly sanding the affected area to remove the stains and dirt may be required. This doesn't mean sanding the floor back to bare wood, just enough to remove the dirt and stains. Once done, simply re-oil the sanded area with a thin coat of the floor oil originally used which in this case was Fiddes Hard Wax Oil, taking care to remove any excess with a clean, lint free cloth and allow to dry. This should produce an invisible repair that blends in seamlessly with the surrounding floor

For the sanding, use a 120 to 150 grit sandpaper and sand gently. Take care to remove all traces of sanding dust with a vacuum cleaner or lint-free cloth prior to oiling.

Your application of 1 coat of 3044 (Osmo Polyx Oil Raw) and 1 of 3032 (Polyx Oil Clear Satin) is one way of helping to retain the natural untreated look of your reclaimed Oak floor. This could however still result in some darkening or yellowing of the floor.

All the Osmo Oils require just two thin coats. Applying additional coats can actually make the finish softer and more prone to scuffs, scratches and stains. This is because the oils are designed to penetrate into the wood and harden within the surface rather than forming a skin on the surface of the wood.

If you like the finish achieved on the test area, with the combination used then there's no reason why this won't work, as long as only two thin coats are applied.

For even less darkening than you have achieved with the 3044 and the 3032 combination, you could try a test area with just two coats of Osmo Polyx Oil Raw (3044).

For help with this project, it could be worth reading our recent blog about grey floor finishes.

We have a great range of grey finishes and some will be better for your floor than others. Pine can be problematic and it's for this reason that we recommend trying samples of various products, on test areas, to ensure that you're happy with the result before starting this project.

There are a number of ways and products that can be used to achieve the finish you desire. You can either stain the floor first then oil or use an all-in-one coloured wood oil. The method used will depend on the depth and strength of colour required.

For a project like this. It might be worth contacting us and speaking with one of our in-house experts about your project.

Floor oils are generally very easy to maintain and repair. You should be able to use the oil originally used to do a top up or maintenance coat (depending on the condition of the wood and following the manufacturers instructions at all times). The floor may require cleaning with a dedicated wood floor cleaner prior to re-oiling. It's interesting to note that only 1 coat of oil was applied when the floor was installed. As far as we are aware, most Hard Wax Oils require 2 thin coats for the best protection and finish.

If you no longer have the original oil used, an alternative hard wax oil can be used. Hard wax oils offer exceptional protection and durability, are scratch, scuff, dirt and liquid resistant. They are available in a range of sheen levels including matt, satin, semi-gloss and gloss finishes as well as in clear and coloured variations.

As we are not familiar with the Saico Premium Hard Wax Oil originally used, we strongly recommend doing a test areas with the selected, alternative hardwax oil before starting this project, to assess product suitability and final finish. Most of the hard wax oils we supply are available in sample or small tin sizes.

If the floor is badly worn, it may benefit from a light sanding to prep the surface. This is just a quick rub-down with a P120 grit sandpaper rather than using an industrial sander to strip the surface. Once sanded, use a vacuum cleaner to remove all traces of sanding dust before re-oiling the floor.

Apply 1 thin maintenance coat then allow to fully dry. If the floor is particularly dry and worn a second thin coat may be required. before applying the second coat, do a small test area in the corner of the room or behind a door to ensure that the floor is able to absorb the second coat. If the test area remains sticky or tacky after the published drying time then it doesn't require a second coat. If it dries completely and looks good then a second thin coat can be applied. Don't be tempted to apply more than 2 coats or to apply thickly as this will cause problems. Apply thinly at all times and wipe off any excess oil with a clean, uncoloured, lint-free cloth.

In terms of long term care and maintenance, simply repeat the above process as and when required. This will usually be once every 2 to 5 years depending on how much foot traffic the floor gets. The great thing is that if the finish wears only in specific patches, these patches can be treated in isolation without having to re-oil the whole floor and will blend in seamlessly with the surrounding floor.

If you require any further assistance with this project, you can send us some photos of the floor and contact us here.

This can be done by applying one thin coat of the Tint Oil or Wood Wax Finish, and one thin coat of the Polyx Oil Anti-Slip on top. Most Osmo products require just two thin coats of oil to be applied to the floor. Applying more than 2 thin coats can result in drying issues and the finish actually being less tough and durable, meaning it can be more easily scuffed, scratched and marked.

White finishes are more complex however and the clear, anti-slip oil should not be used on top of white oils or stains. Using a clear oil or varnish over a white wood stain or oil can result in a yellow or off-white finish. For more information on White finishes, please see our Blog on Beautiful White Interiors or alternatively, contact us here.

Test areas are strongly advised before starting any project to assess product suitability and final finish.

The above recommendation is based on application to barewood.