When investing in premium wood flooring, the finish you choose is just as critical as the wood floor itself, determining how the floor looks and feels as well as influencing its durability, maintenance, and overall longevity.
There are a wide variety of stains, waxes, oils and varnishes marketed for finishing wood floors – each offering a combination of aesthetic benefits and practical protection against wear and tear that can occur as a result of daily living.
At WoodCo, we rely on two main methods for finishing our premium wood flooring - oil and urethane-based finishes. Both of these finishes deliver very robust and durable protection for the floor, but they are quite different in terms of their look, feel and maintenance.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at both methods and explore the reasons why you might choose one over the other.
Why is wood floor finishing important?
Many people think of wood floor finishing as a purely practical step that must be taken in order to protect the wood from damage over time. And it’s true – a good finish creates a barrier against everyday wear and tear, such as scratches, dents, moisture, and stains, ensuring your floor stays beautiful for years to come.
But the finish you choose can also impact the feel and functionality of the floor, influencing factors like sheen level, slip resistance, and even ease of cleaning or maintenance.
When choosing a finish, it’s important to consider the wood species you’re using (and its natural durability), the floor’s location, and your lifestyle needs - high-traffic areas may benefit from a durable, low-maintenance finish, while a more natural, handcrafted look might be the right choice for a less busy, design-focused space.
Oil vs urethane finishes – what’s the difference?
Whether you choose a WOCA-type hardwax oil or a urethane finish for your floor, it’s important to say that you’re selecting a premium grade, high-quality flooring finish either way.
The differences between the two come down to the look and feel you’re trying to achieve, the level of traffic your floor is likely to experience, and the amount of maintenance you’re prepared to do over time. Let’s take a look at the key differences between these popular wood floor finishes.
Oil: The European look
Oil finishes are a common wood floor finish in Europe, but are fairly new in the US market. We typically use hardwax or UV-curing oils to finish our floors, and they are made from a blend of cold pressed vegetable oils (such as sunflower, soybean and linseed oils) and natural or synthetic waxes, including carnauba and candelilla, plus small amounts of paraffin and other additives. This makes them a natural, non-toxic and environmentally-friendly product, typically with a low VOC content. Common brands include WOCA and Cirrinova oils.
These oils protect wood floors by penetrating deep into the wood fibers while leaving a thin layer of hardened wax on the surface. The oil fills up the natural pores in the wood, enhancing its strength and hardness, and protecting the surface from stains and moisture, while still allowing the wood to ‘breathe’ so it can continue to expand and contract naturally.
An oil finish has a low-sheen finish that is velvety to the touch – probably as close to bare wood as it’s possible to get while still affording a high degree of resilient protection against dents, scratches, stains and water damage.
However, this option does require periodic maintenance involving regular cleaning with specific soaps and the reapplication of the oil to repair and protect the wood, and care must be taken not to damage the finish with harsh cleaning products and techniques. If cared for properly, an oiled floor can outlast a urethane finished floor, and has the benefit of being much easier to repair if isolated scratches or stains do occur. UV oils typically deliver a more resilient finish than hardwax oils, because they are cured using a UV light.
Oil finish: Pros & cons at a glance
Pros | Cons |
Oil has a more natural aesthetic that highlights the wood’s inherent beauty, offering a tactile and authentic finish. | Requires periodic reapplication to maintain its protective qualities. This is a simple process but does require diligence. |
Scratches or scuffs can be spot-treated without the need for sanding the entire floor. | |
Made with natural ingredients, releasing fewer VOCs compared to synthetic varnishes and making them more eco-friendly. | Must be cleaned using the manufacturer's recommended cleaners. Generic floor cleaners will strip the oils from the floor. |
Can be tinted, allowing designers and homeowners to achieve specific tones and effects. |
Urethane finishes: Long-lasting protection and shine
Urethanes are a class of synthetic chemical compound that can be combined with other materials to create tough, durable coatings for a wide variety of sealing and waterproofing applications. A urethane finish for wood flooring is a synthetic coating that creates a hard, protective layer on the surface of the wood, almost like a liquid plastic coating.
Urethane coatings for wood floors can be water or oil-based – the former being regarded as superior because of their lower VOC content and resistance to yellowing, which is common with oil-based urethane lacquers.
Urethane finishes offer excellent resistance to wear, moisture, and stains. They effectively ‘seal’ the wood, forming a robust barrier that prevents moisture and stains from penetrating, while also protecting against dents and scratches.
Urethane finishes don’t sink into the wood, so they tend to have a much shinier, ‘coated’ look. Whilst they provide excellent protection even in high traffic areas, and don’t usually need to be maintained beyond routine cleaning, if damage does occur to a urethane-finished floor, it is more challenging to perform spot repairs – typically the floor will need to be sanded back to bare wood and refinished in its entirety.
Urethane finishes: Pros and cons at a glance
Pros | Cons |
Highly durable and perfect for high-traffic areas. | Looks less natural than oil, which may detract from the organic appeal of premium wood floors. |
Low maintenance, requiring little upkeep and lasting for years without the need for reapplication. | Damage to a urethane finish often requires sanding and refinishing the entire area to achieve a seamless look. |
Available in matte, satin, or glossy finishes to suit different design aesthetics. | Synthetic formulations can be harmful to the environment and emit higher levels of VOCs during application. |
Choosing the right finish for your floor
The decision between oil and urethane finish depends on your priorities – there’s no right or wrong answer.
Choose a WOCA-type oil if you value a natural, organic appearance and are prepared for regular maintenance. This type of finish is ideal for luxury spaces where craftsmanship is paramount.
If low maintenance is your priority, a urethane-based varnish may well be the best finish for your floor.
Caring for oiled floors
As we’ve already discussed, urethane finishes are extremely robust and don’t usually require any special care once installed – you can vacuum and wash these floors using your usual methods. But if you choose to finish your floors with an oil, you’ll need to take care not to damage the finish by using strong chemicals or harsh cleaning tools. Here are some tips for keeping an oiled floor looking beautiful:
- Sweep or vacuum regularly using a soft-bristle attachment to remove dust and grit
- Use a damp (not wet) microfiber mop with a cleaning product specifically designed for oiled wood floors.
- Avoid steam cleaners, abrasives, harsh chemicals or general-purpose cleaners, as they can harm the wood or strip the finish.
- Attach felt pads to the bottoms of furniture legs to prevent dents and scratches.
- Place area rugs in high-traffic areas and doormats at entrances to reduce wear and tear.
- Wipe up spills immediately to prevent water damage, as the finish is water-resistant but not waterproof.
- For small scuffs or scratches, clean the area thoroughly and apply a small amount of oil with a cloth or pad, blending it into the surrounding finish.
Want to learn more?
Need expert advice on choosing the best finish for your premium wood floor? Contact WoodCo today to explore options that suit your design vision and practical needs.