What finishes exist for parquet?

Oiled wooden floor

Applying wood oil is a saturation process: the oil penetrates the wood grain until it is completely filled. This wood oil can be applied manually or by machine. A distinction is also made in the floor’s drying process.

Oxidative oiled wooden floor

The application of the wood oil occurs here in the traditional manner. Each plank is oiled (manually) with very high quality wood oil. In order to achieve the look of an authentic oiled wooden floor, the oil is applied and then wiped away again until optimal saturation of the wood fibres is achieved. To fix the colour, the planks are placed on the drying racks for 5 days where they are allowed to dry in a completely natural manner. The result is a plank with a distinct wood grain, both in the light and the dark tints. Previously, this entire process was carried out onsite, with all of the many practical inconveniences that resulted (dust, rooms that were inaccessible for several days, ... ). Nowadays, the floor delivered ready-made.

UV oiled wooden floor

The oil is applied evenly with a brush or roller in the same direction as the wood fibres. After a short penetration time, this wood oil is rubbed into the wood mechanically to remove the excess of oil. The planks are dried in just a few seconds with UV radiation. A photoinitiator is added to the oil before use. This initiator is activated by the UV radiation and initiates the curing reaction. The planks leave the oil-processing line dry and ready to be packaged.

Hardwax wooden floor

Wax oil, also known as hardwax oil is made from a mixture of different oils and waxes. The wax layer fills the wood pores and forms a protective layer on the floor. This makes the parquet water-repellent and less likely to attract dirt. Unlike oil, the wax not only penetrates into the wood, but also forms a fine layer on the floor which provides a shine. A hardwax floor needs to be polished thoroughly. Too much hard wax on the floor results in greasy streaks and e.g. visible footsteps. If not enough wax is applied, the floor is less protected against dirt and moisture.

Lacquered wooden floor

By applying lacquer, a film is created on the surface of the wood which completely seals off the pores of the wood. Lamett oak is finished with a matt lacquer which mimics the appearance of an oiled wooden floor as much as possible. The lacquer is applied perpendicular to the wood grain using a roller. Several layers are applied, and each layer must dry completely before the next layer can be applied. The total thickness of this layer of lacquer determines the wear-resistance of the wooden floor.