Floor in need

[Andy RV]

The Fiddles Hard Wax Oil is great stuff as is the Osmo floor oil. I've used both and I think I prefer the Fiddles product but there isn't much in it.

 

The Fiddles is a very thin and solvent rich oil which you paint on then immediately wipe away the excess, if you want to stain the floor this is a great product to stain and finish in one hit.

 

The Osmo is a traditional oil (much thicker than the fiddles) which you allow to soak for a short time them wipe away the excess. I'm not to familiar with the Osmo range to know if they offer a stained version as well.

 

Don't use a varnish as you'll just end up with the same problem a couple of years later, where as with an oil you can keep topping it up to maintain the finish.

 

Have you got any way of telling if the boards are solid oak or engineered oak? If they are engineered a little more care is needed to ensure you don't sand through the veneer into the plywood below.

[prj88]

Looks like varnish to my eye. Is there anywhere you can do a little test sample like under a cupboard?

 

Good suggestion. I've pulled a couple of cupboards away and found this...looks like it's varnish or similar and sadly not patina. Probably explains why its peeling in high tramped areas and not others.

 

So best to sand it off and add Liberon Finishing oil/Fiddes wax oil?

 

I've also checked its solid oak not engineered.

[Woodworks]

"So best to sand it off and add Liberon Finishing oil/Fiddes wax oil?"

 

I would

 

Both oil and wax oil have their merits.

 

Dropped into my mates bike shop today. Oak flooring with a Fiddes wax oil finish. It is holding up well to commercial use but as I mentioned before there is less contrast than an oil finish but still nice. Also the contrast of a fresh finish does fade a bit in time anyway.

[prj88]

Thanks everyone for their helpful comments. I'll do a sample test and then decide of the 2 finishes wax or oil.

 

To complete the loop I'll post back on here to show the finished work.

 

Thanks again