Parquet oiling

Oil soaks into the wood and leaves it matt, warm to the touch and without a shiny film. An oiled floor looks more natural than a varnished one, and a scratch or worn patch can be touched up locally without sanding the whole room. Oiling parquet means applying oil or hardwax oil to a sanded floor and working it into the wood.

The price is per square metre and depends on the oil type and the number of coats.

How oiling works

• vacuuming the floor after sanding;
• applying the oil with a trowel or roller;
• buffing it in with a pad machine and taking off the excess;
• a second coat, if the maker calls for one;
• drying with the room ventilated.

Looking after an oiled floor

An oiled floor is cleaned with a product made for oiled wood, not ordinary floor cleaner. Every so often, depending on traffic, a maintenance oil goes on. Hallways and kitchens wear faster than bedrooms. If you do not want regular upkeep, varnish is easier.

What to prepare

An empty, sanded room and a colour choice: natural, whitened or tinted. You can buy the oil or agree the brand with the tradesperson. Oily rags can self-ignite, so after work they are soaked in water or taken outside.

Common questions