Clean, rejuvenate, restore and maintain new and old wooden floors. Perfect for softwood and hardwood, engineered, parquet and solid wooden flooring, these flooring oils, floor varnishes, floor stains, floor paints and floor cleaners provide everything needed to keep wood floors in tip top condition and looking great.
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.
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.
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.
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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 Liberon 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.
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.
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.
