Engineered wood floors are specifically ‘engineered’ to be stronger and more durable than standard wooden floors. This mostly comes from its composition, layering precision-cut plywood beneath a high-quality layer of oak or walnut, to create a dense and reliable hardwood flooring solution. Oiling an engineered wood floor can seal the deal. So, to answer the question: yes, you can oil your engineered wood flooring, with several clear benefits. 
The Benefits of Oiling Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered wood flooring can come unfinished, though thanks to its sturdy composition, it will still perform incredibly well under regular household use. However, adding a touch of oil to unfinished floors, or choosing planks that have already been finished, can open you up to a whole host of additional benefits:
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Easy maintenance: Oil finishes make engineered wood floors much easier to clean and keep tidy long-term. In busy households, especially those with children and pets, you need flooring with no fuss, and oil finishes provide a smooth and glossed layer that holds its own over time.
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Resistance to mess and spills: Bare wood is porous by nature, so spills and mess can easily become embedded or absorbed into the grain, causing permanent staining and persistent odours. Oil finishes provide a protective barrier against everyday dirt and moisture, giving you extra time to mop up spillages before they can sink in.
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Longer lasting durability: On top of its moisture resistance, oiling your engineered wood flooring can also provide a layer of protection against dents and scratches, especially in high-traffic areas. Deeper impact damage or general wear and tear is also much less visible thanks to the natural sheen the oil provides, keeping your floors looking newer for longer.
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A more attractive finish: On the topic of keeping your engineered wood floors looking fresh long-term, oil finishes also bring out the natural grain texture and colour in the wood. Certain finishes can accentuate a specific look, from warm to cool and dark to light. Few things beat the rich and luxurious look of an oiled wood floor.
CARE GUIDE FOR OILED FLOORS
Our Range of Oil Finishes for Engineered Wood Flooring
At V4, we use a wide range of oils and lacquers to finish our engineered wood floors, depending on how we want them to look, where they are to be installed, and the level of durability required.
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Natural Cured Oil: We buff our natural oils into the top layer of wood and leave them to air cure and penetrate into the grain itself, to provide root-deep protection against damage, decay, and wood pests.
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Hardwax Oil: Similar to natural oil, and with all the same restorative properties, but with an added layer of wax. This provides extra protection and ease of maintenance.
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UV Cured Oil: Our UV oils are natural oil that has been cured under UV lighting. This bolsters the surface of the lamella but maintains a natural look.
Our range of lacquered finishes is just as vast as our oil finishes, with a number of looks to choose from including UV, Satin, Invisible, and Matt Lacquer.
What Is the Difference Between Oil and Lacquer?
Some of our engineered wood floors are finished with lacquer instead of oil. The two are largely quite similar, and so are often confused. Traditional oil and lacquer could be told apart by their look, with oil providing more of a matt finish and lacquer erring more on the glossy side. But in recent years, formulas of each have been created to limit or enhance the amount of gloss and achieve the desired look no matter which is chosen. The real difference now lies in their durability and maintenance needs.
Oiled VS Lacquered Engineered Wood Floors
Oil is hardwearing in its own right and highly resistant to moisture and damage, however, lacquer is slightly stronger. Our lacquered engineered wood floors are finished with up to eight coats, giving them added strength over oiled alternatives. The second difference between the two is how they are maintained. Oil floors need to be refinished more often than lacquered ones, but new coats of oil are much easier to apply yourself with a paint roller and the right brand of oil. Lacquered floors will last longer between refinishes, between 10 to 20 years, but when the time comes to reapply lacquer, the old layers must be sanded off, making it a less convenient choice for those looking for easy maintenance.
IN-DEPTH MAINTENANCE GUIDES
How to Recoat Your Oiled Engineered Wood Flooring
If you have recently finished your engineered wood floors in oil, or if you have purchased new flooring ready-finished, only day-to-day maintenance will be required. Mop up spills quickly to stop seepage and clean away loose debris to avoid embedding, and your floors will keep up appearances on their own. After about 7 to 10 years, you will need to reoil your floors. By this time, most of the original finish will have wo away. High-traffic areas will need more regular refinishing, but try not to worry – the process is much easier than with lacquered floors. Be sure to use a brand of oil that ideally matches that which was originally used, and make sure that it is designed for engineered wood floors specifically. Once you have that, vacuum loose mess and mop your floors first. Once dry, you can use a paint roller to lay your fresh finish. Work your way across the space in sections, moving towards doors and exits so that you can minimise the need to re-tread your steps across wet oil. Then simply leave your floor to cure for at least 24 hours, but ideally 48 to make sure that the oil has had plenty of time to sink in and do its job. After this, you can enjoy your beautiful floors for another soft-footed decade.
Invest in Oiled Floors That Last
Our selection of oiled engineered wood floors offers a stunning and timeless addition to any home, busy or quiet. An oil finish is not only possible but recommended, as it strengthens the wood against damage and decay more effectively than unfinished alternatives. It is also simple to maintain and reapply as needed. Browse our impressive range and contact us for a free sample today.
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