Today, most new wooden floors are made of oak. It is a very aesthetic type of wood, but requires care when you wish to maintain it. You may be wondering how to protect an oak floor? You will see which product to choose to protect your oak floor while being environmentally friendly. Then we will describe different products for maintaining a parquet floor and then we will focus more specifically on the technique of sealing an oak floor.
WHICH PRODUCT TO CHOOSE TO PROTECT AN OAK FLOOR?
PREFER A WATER-BASED PRODUCT FOR YOUR OAK FLOORING
To begin with, you should know that the wood protection is the same for a solid oak floor as for a glued parquet containing oak and other woods. Only laminate parquet does not require protection. To find out more about the types of parquet, you can read our article on choosing a wooden floor..
First of all, we advise you to choose a water-based product. These products are more environmentally friendly. They do not release volatile solvents during application and drying. If you choose a water-based product to protect your oak floor, it will be more pleasant for you because there will be no or very little odour when drying. This means that you can apply the product even in winter, when you have little time to air the room where your oak floor is located. Moreover, most of these products will not stain your wood. So waterborne products are a good option if you want to preserve a light oak floor for example.
SEALERS, OILS AND WAXES: PROTECTIVE PRODUCTS FOR OAK FLOORS
There are various products available to maintain an oak floor. The most common are sealers, oils and waxes.
Waxed floors are less common nowadays. Indeed, waxing makes it possible to maintain floors that are not subject to a lot of wear and tear. We do not recommend it for floors that are frequently exposed to shocks, scratches or stains. Wax such as Parquet & Furniture Wax CPM800 is an ideal solution for the maintenance of floors that are not exposed to a lot of stress.
We do not recommend using oil to maintain your oak floor, especially if you wish to preserve the natural colour of the wood. Indeed, the major disadvantage of oil is that it darkens the wood. This product may be suitable if you wish to darken your oak flooring only. The oil penetrates the wood deeply. Choosing an oak floor oil is an almost definitive choice. It is very difficult to go back and apply another finish.
The sealers are a surface protection for an oak parquet floor. They are sometimes called parquet varnishes because this term is more evocative for the general public. Compared to a varnish, sealers contain harder and more effective resins. They are, in a way, parquet varnishes formulated with a high-performance resin. The sealers will waterproof your oak floor, making it resistant to scratches, stains and humidity.
The protection of an oak floor by a parquet sealer is long-lasting. In contrast to oils, which must be applied annually, the maintenance of a sealed oak floor is done several years after the application of the product.
HOW TO SEAL AN OAK FLOOR?
1. PREPARE THE OAK FLOORING
If your wood has already received treatments in the past (oils, sealers, waxes), you will need to sand your oak floor before sealing it. If you have a rough oak floor, you will just need to dust off the surface beforehand.
Sealing an oak floor requires a few precautions. Indeed, oak is a tannic wood. It contains chemical substances (tannins) which are released when a finishing product such as a sealer is applied. These substances can cause black or yellow stains on your oak floor. To prevent these substances from being released, you should block them with a tannin-blocking product. We recommend using Anti-Tanins Primer PAT400.
2. THE APPLICATION OF THE PARQUET SEALER
Oak floor sealers are applied in several coats on clean wood with no old finishes. The Parquet Glazer VP500 requires 3 regular and full coats. This may seem rather long, but the result obtained will be as good as your involvement.
After the installation of your oak parquet varnish, your floor can be used very quickly. You will be able to walk on your floor again 24 hours after the product has been laid. However, you will need to take a few precautions. For example, you should avoid covering the oak floor with carpets or moving furniture.
HOW TO CARE FOR AN OAK FLOOR?
CLEANING AN OAK FLOOR ON A DAILY BASIS
The maintenance of a solid oak (or glued) floor is very simple. All you need to do is dust it regularly. To remove encrusted stains, you can use a cloth dampened with black parquet soap. We recommend Liquid Black Soap SN800. In order not to damage the wood, it is best to avoid cleaning a solid oak (or laminated) floor with a lot of water, as water is the enemy of wood.
At the entrance to your home, remember to place a carpet, you will limit the intrusion of elements that can damage your oak floor. Also place felt pads on your furniture such as chairs for example. In this way, you will preserve the vitrification of your oak flooring for longer.
After a few years, if the condition of your floor deteriorates, you will need to lightly grit the surface of the oak parquet protected by Parquet Glazer VP500 and apply a new coat of this product. The renovation of an oak floor takes place a few years later. You do not have to apply a new coat every year.
