Floor varnish or floor oil?

emv

We have a huge wooden floor that we're about to sand, about 120m2. But can't decide what to do next, oil it or sand it? Seems like oil only needs 1 coat so would be faster but it's more expensive (calculations seem to be about the same cost actually, factoring in 2 coats of varnish). Can anyone help?

DirectDebacle

I used Bona on bedroom floors. Lasted about 8 years so far and still looks good. However they are not subject to a lot of foot traffic. Depending on usage oil my have to be reapplied every six months or so, varnish usually a lot less frequently.

suisidevw

Osmo Polyx hardwax oil. The nuts

paddyrg

Varnish floats on top of the wood and seals it from the top only, oil soaks into it and protect deeply, but if you change your mind later, may be harder to sand back/recolour/varnish/stain.

Personally, oil (or shellac/French Polish!) every time as you still feel the wood, not a layer of what's effectively plastic coating the wood. To my mind, why have real wood, then plastic it away under varnish - may as well get laminate ;-)

emv

I've just been advised to use soap flakes as a finish, which is apparently what is done in Denmark to all wooden floors!

ed110220

After much deliberation and conflicting advice I used a floor oil on our 1940s pine (?) parquet about two years ago. It was quite easy to apply and looks good. It does say it will need reapplying every few years especially if heavily trafficked. It's still looking good, though we don't tend to wear shoes indoors.

I think if you use varnish and the varnish wears through it will look bad and be more difficult to fix, whereas if you use oil you can just reapply when it starts looking dull.