Like most other home renovation or decoration projects in your home, your wood flooring also needs some finishing touches before you can consider the installation process complete. Some types come pre-finished, such as laminate flooring for example, but others you may need to finish yourself.
Once your floor is oiled, varnished or lacquered, you can start to enjoy its full beauty whilst also being reassured that your floor will look as good as new for many years to come.
Whether your floor comes pre-finished or not, here’s how to choose the right finish for your wood flooring:
Oil
Oil or hard wax oil finishes are usually easy to apply yourself, and they are one of the most natural-looking options you can go for. It is great for hardwood or solid wood flooring, as it can enhance the natural beauty of the material. The only drawback is that it often requires a fair amount of maintenance in the form of buffing to keep your floors looking perfectly finished.
Laquer
Laquer is basically the same thing as varnish, and is the finish generally used for pre-finished wood flooring. You can choose from high-shine or more matte finish options depending on your personal taste, but you will need to hire a professional to apply it if you have an unfinished floor.
As a laquer finish sits on top of the wood flooring, it protects it from damage, marks and staining. However, this can also mean that any damage the floor does sustain is difficult to fix, but with proper care and cleaning on your part, this shouldn’t be a problem.