ABOUT NATURAL OIL

Natural Oil finishes have been common across Europe for quite some time and are used on about a third of the wide plank floors there. Most of the trusted brands we use here in the U.S. were developed by European manufacturers. Natural oil finishes have become very appealing because they offer numerous advantages. Penetrating oil sealers come in two basic varieties, natural oil, and hard wax oil. Both will add value to your home. The specific kinds of oils used and their proportions are what differentiate one brand from another. Most use linseed or tung oil, or a combination of the two, as a base, but soy, sunflower, china wood, safflower, hemp, and other oils are also used. Moreover, some formulas include resins or waxes from carnauba or bees to enhance the durability. One of the outstanding qualities of natural oil is its ability to enhance the beauty of your wood floors with the natural glow it creates. Rather than resting on top of the wood and forming a protective barrier, as urethanes do, oil finishes soak into the wood and bond with it at a molecular level, making the wood itself stronger, but leaving its texture and color unobstructed. Over time, they produce a patina which ages with the wood, so that it never acquires the dull, worn out look that can occur with surface finishes. Natural Oil finishes are surprisingly durable. Scratches, even those made by your dog’s nails, tend to blend in with the texture of the wood because there is no surface layer to contrast with. Moreover, any serious damage to the finish can almost invariably be spot repaired relatively easily, providing a huge advantage over surface finishes. With a properly maintained oil finish, you should never need to sand your floors.

The Joinery Co. sells both UV Oiled floors and Natural Oiled floors. UV Oiling is done in the factory under UV lights. This speeds up the drying time while adding an additional layer of protection to the floor. A UV Oiled floor does not need any special treatment after installation. Just a normal cleaning and maintenance routine is all that is needed. A Natural Oiling means that natural oil has been applied to the unfinished board`s surface by hand. It is then put on special racks to dry. Natural Oiled floors can be treated again and again with additional coats of oil as desired. You can sweep or vacuum your floors as often as you want. However, be careful not to scratch the floor with the vacuum head while you are working. And, always be sure that you are using the soft bristle setting on your vacuum cleaner.

We recommend Murphy`s Oil Soap for quick and easy cleaning of your floor. It comes in an easy to handle bottle with simple instructions. Simply use a clean, lightly damp mop on a dust free area of the floor. Then, repeat this procedure until you have completed the whole area or room. Natural Oiled and UV Oiled floors both do require regular maintenance and cleaning. Murphy`s Oil Soap is easy to use. Once applied, its specially formulated ingredients quickly penetrate your floor and protect it. Maintaining your floor not only keeps it looking good, it actually improves and strengthens your floor as well.