On the Job | Step by Step

Au Naturel
Oil finishes offer a natural look and easy application

By Kim M. Wahlgren

t one time, glossy finishes were all the rage, but now

A super-low-sheen finishes are where it’s at, and along with

this trend has come increased interest in oil-based finishes
(not to be confused with oil-modified polyurethane finishes).
These finishes replicate the more natural look of many historical
floors, making oil finishes especially suitable for today’s popular
hand-scraped and distressed floors. That isn’t the only factor caus-
ing interest in these finishes. Some oil finishes are very low-VOC
or even no-VOC, catching the attention of consumers searching for
environmental products.
Photo courtesy of Woodcare USA

That said, these finishes are not for everyone. Requirements vary
depending on the traffic and the finish, but oil-finished floors do
require (in addition to routine maintenance) re-oiling, typically
every two to three years for a residential job.
Application for these finishes varies. Following are steps for a
hardening oil finish. (Make sure you always follow the manufac-
turer’s directions for the specific oil finish you’re using.)

SUPPLY LIST
• Buffer
• Vacuum
• Recommended wood
floor cleaner
• Mop
• Water
Step 1 Step 2 • Bucket
For your final sanding, don’t pick a Mop the floor with the recommended • Moisture meter
grit that’s too fine, which would close wood floor cleaner and allow the • Oil finish
off the grain; you want the oil to be floor to dry completely (typically one
• Paint roller (3⁄8-inch nap)
able to soak down into the grain. In to three hours). Use a high-quality
fact, some contractors find that when mop and have a bucket of clean • Red or tan pad
using a penetrating oil finish, they water available to clean the mop as • Squeegee, or cloth and
can stop at a lower grit than they nor- you go. For exotics such as Brazilian white pad
mally do with surface-type finishes. cherry, you may want to repeat this
• White pad
As always, make sure the floor is step.
cleaned well after sanding.

56 Hardwood Floors Q June|July 2008

On the Job | Step by Step

Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

It’s best to check the floor with a This product is applied liberally with Next the floor is buffed with a
moisture meter to confirm the floor is a paint roller with a 3⁄8-inch nap. You colorfast pad such as a red or tan
dry before proceeding. don’t need to worry about being pad. Those pads are coarse enough
If you wanted to stain the floor, careful with the application as you do to knock down the grain while also
you could do that instead of steps with many finishes. Work in sections driving in the finish.
2 and 3. However, some oil finishes of 250 square feet or less. Once it’s
have colored oils available, making on, allow the oil to sit for 15 minutes,
staining unnecessary. giving it time to penetrate and satu-
rate the floor.

Step 6 Step 7 Step 8

Now the excess oil is removed. On Then a white pad is used to polish The next day, a thin coat of either the
a flat floor, a squeegee can be used the floor until the finish has an even same oil or a paste version is applied.
on most of the floor, with rags where sheen. Now the oil needs to harden, This step evens out the floor and pro-
necessary around the floor edges. which typically takes about six hours. vides some extra buildup. If the same
On a distressed floor, rags are used Many contractors wait overnight be- oil is applied, a small amount can
over the entire floor. Make sure you fore applying the next coat. be poured into the center of a white
have a way to safely dispose of the buffing pad and buffed in.
oil-soaked rags. If the paste is used (shown), a line
A cloth under a buffer with a white of it can be squeezed out about 2
pad (inset photo) could also be used feet from the wall line and buffed in
to remove the excess oil. with a white pad. As it’s buffed, it will
liquefy and spread. Look at the floor
from different angles to find dry spots.

58 Hardwood Floors Q June|July 2008

 On the Job | Step by Step

Oil Basics
T he many types of oil finishes on
today’s market can cause confu-
sion, especially as they become more
popular. Here are a few facts:
• The “oil” used as a base varies
greatly. Some manufacturers use
petroleum-based oil, while others use
tung oil, linseed oil or vegetable-based
oils. In Europe, petroleum-based prod-
Step 9 Step 10 ucts are referred to as “synthetic.”
For a slightly lower sheen, the floor The floor is ready for traffic in six to • Oils penetrate down into the wood
may be buffed once more using a seven hours. ■ instead of creating a film over the top
white pad with a polishing cloth like a polyurethane or waterborne
underneath. Shawn Gorman and David Gribben finish does.
of Washington, D.C.-based Universal • Some oil finishes, in addition to
Floors demonstrated the steps in this penetrating into the wood, also have
article. John Thafvelin of Atlanta- ingredients such as waxes or certain
based Woodcare USA contributed to oils that harden as they dry.
this article. • Oil finishes tend to bring out the
grain of the wood and give it depth.

From Hardwood Floors June - July 2008

Taken by
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EkoShield is the patented process and technology for pre-oiled wood using all natural organic oils
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character of the wood, increases stability and reduces maintenance and renovation costs.
The EkoShield process naturally crystallizes (cures) the oils without the influence of harsh chemicals
or artificial methods. EkoShield enables Ancestral to produce a floor that will not affect indoor air
quality. Ancestral pre-oiled floors contributes no harmful VOCs.
As the leading manufacturer of pre-oiled wood flooring, Ancestral Floors is dedicated to maintaining
the highest environmental standards while encouraging others in the industry to do the same.

Ancestral Floors
875 98 St., Saint-Georges (Québec) G5Y 8G2 CANADA
    s www.ancestralfloors.com

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