benefits of repairable wood flooring finish
Plastic floor finishes such as polyurethane have become so standard in the United States that many people are surprised to learn they have an option: a repairable floor finish, also known as a penetrating oil or wax finish. Instead of coating the floor with a film, as polyurethane does, these finishes penetrate into wood fibers and protect from within. When the finish wears-as all floor finishes eventually do-spot-repair is so easy that homeowners can keep the finish in good shape indefinitely.
The only problem with most oil and wax finishes is that they need frequent maintenance. Our OSMO Polyx-Oil [link to product] is far more durable. Tests in Germany, where it is manufactured, showed it to be just as tough as polyurethane. Yet it is very definitely a repairable floor finish-with the added benefits of being natural, low-toxic and pleasant to use.
Why plastics are hard to touch up
Spot repairs on polyurethane are difficult for three reasons:
- These finishes don’t bond chemically to previous layers, so touch-ups grip only where the surface has been thoroughly scuffed. But if you attempt to scuff up a spot with sandpaper and then paint fresh finish over the area, you discover the problem: Inevitably, the dried repair shows.
- Particularly with oil-based polyurethane, which gives wood a rich amber tint, color-matching can be difficult.
- The sheen of a patch will differ from that of the surrounding floor, unless the repair is done while the surrounding finish is still relatively new. The problem is that polyurethane looses gloss with heavy wear, and no amount of buffing will restore the sheen to the same level that will show on the patch.
OSMO Polyx-Oil, on the other hand, can be buffed repeatedly to its original luster. Wear spots treated with our Liquid Wax Cleaner buff well too. And when a fresh coat of finish does need to be applied, it's a simple process.