The final step of installing hardwood flooring is the finishing. Refinishing is a process in which the wood is brushed over with a particular product in order to enhance its beauty and protect it.
Commonly, finish products, like glazes, sealers, or toners, are made out of artificial compounds. While they give the wood an elegant look, they have been going out of style for the last couple of years for this reason.
Artificial finish products usually contain volatile organic compounds, which end up polluting the indoor air quality and therefore might cause health issues. Over the years, a healthier alternative has been rising in popularity: natural oil finishes.
Natural oil finishes are produced from renewable sources like tung tree nuts, safflower seeds or flax seeds, among others. You might now wonder when you should use them and how much maintenance they need. Let’s see.
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Use
Although natural oil finishes are new to the United States, they have long been popular in Europe, where they account for one-third of all hardwood finishes. Their appeal goes beyond health,and into aesthetics.
Natural oil finishes bring a new look to your home. They have a natural glow, which enhances the beauty of your hardwood floors. They aren’t artificially glossy, which also helps cover up scratches and dents.
As we mentioned, these types of finishes are also gentle on your health. Natural oil finishes release fewer volatile organic compounds than other finishes, not only improving your quality of life but also reducing your personal pollution.
Maintenance
In terms of maintenance, natural oil finishes also have a lot of advantages. Contrary to other kinds of finishes, you can damp mop natural oil finishes, making the whole cleaning ordeal much faster.
Durability is also a key factor to take into account. You will probably never have to replace natural oil finishes. In the event that some damage is done to the wood, refreshing them is no big hassle.
However, it’s also fair to mention that since natural oil finishes penetrate the wood surface, any damage done to your floor will be done directly to the wood. There will be no protective layer on top of it.
All in all, natural oil finishes are a fabulous novelty that everyone should take into account.