Floor boards: Wax or varnish?

fluffymuffin

Hello

We have sanded back some floor boards in our dining room and now want to give them a nice finish.

I was going to opt for wax as it gives a nice matte finish and I am not so keen on the shiney lacquered look varnish gives but I am concerned about how hard wearing the wax will be. The room is not one of the main traffic areas of the house but I want it to be easy to maintain. They are pine boards (i think) if this makes a difference from hard wood - I am not sure.

Any advice much appreciated

Debt_Free_Chick

You can buy satin finish varnish, which gives the same soft sheen as wax. I've also used a floorboard finish which was a colour & varnish combined - sorry can't recall which one, but I think it was Cuprinol.

Wax will be very hard work to apply and you'll need to re-do it now and then as it will eventually wear off. Any spillages e.g. cup of tea, water etc can leave a watermark on waxed floors, but not so if you use varnish.

HTH

alec_eiffel

I used a satin finish varnish on my lounge floor - it was clear, I just used wood dye underneath it. I think it was Ronseal...

Mr_Warren_2

If you use wax, you will have from time to time to remove the top layer with a special foot pad/coarse wire wool gadget...re-wax and buff again....I have done it plenty time in my youth and can tell you all the various steps. A very good cardio-vascular exercise if you need one. As recommended above, you can use a varnish with satin finish. I have done this in my entrance hall and its looking as good as the first day after 3 years. I did not stain the wood, just sanded with the heavy equipment and applied the varnish.

Simont_3

Liberon Floor sealer gives the best finish I have seen. I have used this on Oak, Pine and Parquet flooring. This can be purchased by ringing 02380232066.