Sealing

Sealing your floors in some way is essential in preserving and enhancing their beauty over time and is required with most finishes. Sealing protects the wood and makes it easier to keep clean. Kitchen floors in particular must be sealed after they have been laid, as opposed to laying pre-sealed boards, as the sealing process will ensure that the joists beneath the floor are also protected from spills.

Varnishes/Lacquers

Hard-wearing varnishes or lacquers are very widely used, particularly on wooden floors that experience high traffic. Such a finish, if correctly applied, can last for years. A minimum of two coats of varnish, but usually three need to be applied, and there is a choice to be made between harder-wearing oil-based varnishes that discolour over time, and their slightly less hard-wearing water-based counterparts.

Oil floor finishes

Using an oil or wax to finish your floors will create a more natural feel. It will harden and darken the wood over time and is not quite as hard wearing as a varnish, but does make it easier to spot-repair your floor should it become scratched. Because the oil is absorbed into the wood, you are still able to feel the grain of the wood which does lend itself to a more natural feeling.

Staining

You may wish to finish your floor in some other way – using a form of lime wash or staining to alter its colour. Usually you will then put an oil or varnish over the top to protect it. Staining can be tricky, and, even though we say so ourselves, we would recommend you use a professional for this job. Bad floor staining jobs can ruin your floor and send you back to the sanding stage in a hurry.