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Real wood flooring - wax or varnish?

perc
perc Posts: 1,040 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
in In my home (includes DIY) MoneySaving
Hi have just purchased unfinished oak flooring and was wondering what would be the best finishing treatment.

Looking for a matt finish clear one that gives good water/stain resistance.

Varnish or WAX

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
"Those who try to make sense of the world are divided into four categories: scientists, theologians, philosophers, and fools. Correction ... make that one category with three sub-divisions" -- Carlo Kensada

Comments

  • honey06
    honey06 Posts: 289 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    neither

    go for osmo hard wax oil
    http://www.osmouk.com/osmopolyx.cfm?chapter=29

    its fab!!!
    easy to apply, maintain. resists spills & stains, and can be renovated.

    HTH
  • perc
    perc Posts: 1,040 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 15 July 2009 at 5:36AM
    honey06 wrote: »
    neither

    go for osmo hard wax oil
    http://www.osmouk.com/osmopolyx.cfm?chapter=29

    its fab!!!
    easy to apply, maintain. resists spills & stains, and can be renovated.

    HTH

    What finish does this give the wood? Is the clear matt one obvious? Does it greatly darken the wood?

    Thanks.
    "Those who try to make sense of the world are divided into four categories: scientists, theologians, philosophers, and fools. Correction ... make that one category with three sub-divisions" -- Carlo Kensada
  • honey06
    honey06 Posts: 289 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    no, it affected the colour of the floor less than varnish when I have used it, but does bring out the grain. the matt does dry a matt finish- matt and satin varnishes seem still to shiny for my liking.
    I have also stained sanded pine flooring with an oak floor dye and used the osmo to seal & finish and it looks great.
  • perc
    perc Posts: 1,040 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Does it need buffing after application or just rollering on and then smoothing with a brush?
    "Those who try to make sense of the world are divided into four categories: scientists, theologians, philosophers, and fools. Correction ... make that one category with three sub-divisions" -- Carlo Kensada
  • Canucklehead
    Canucklehead Posts: 6,254 Forumite
    Good evening: for technical advice take a look at the Osmo website.
    We've used their products on several projects.

    HTH

    Canucklehead
    Ask to see CIPHE (Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering)
This discussion has been closed.
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