Do you intend to modernize your room by sanding the floor? Can’t decide if you want to go with a matte or gloss finish? When it comes to flooring finishes, it’s always essential to choose one that complements the whole room’s theme. Trends in the flooring business frequently emerge for what today’s contemporary house should look like.
What is trendy?
Matt finishing on hardwood floors is becoming increasingly popular in houses. If you want a rustic-style room, that looks great on wide plank planks with a surrounding look that has a more rural style. The word rustic has many meanings. When it comes to how the inside is organized and appears, although generally, it gives an old yet warm look.
Matte finish?
Matt finishing may give a harsh appearance with natural beauty and an environmental charm. But let’s not get too caught up in the definition of the rustic style! This is simply to offer you an idea of where the matt finished hardwood flooring would look best in terms of design and aesthetics.
The finish may be used in a variety of settings and structures, despite its versatility. Another advantage is that a matte finish hides the flaws in the woods, such as scuffs, dents, and scratches, making it ideal for parents and pet owners.
Gloss finish?
Matt’s finish gives the floor a flat, natural, unaltered appearance. In comparison, the gloss finish appears shiny and almost like a plastic machine-made covering on top of the floor that bounces and reflects light back at you.
The Matt finishes have a little or no sheen level in it, and the phrase “sheen level” is used to describe the coat’s reflective qualities. A matte finish reflects little light because it absorbs it rather than reflecting off of it. It has more of a sheen than a shine.
Summary
If you’re trying to finish a floor, you need to consider what you want from it. Matt finishes offer an elegant, modern look that is both durable and slick. Matt finishes are presently in vogue, providing your property a cutting-edge appearance with a sleek aesthetic. Our recommended pale look with matt finish is a combination of primer Pall-X 330 Pure or White, recoated with Pall-X Pure.
Oil or Lacquer – Which Floor Finish Suits You Best?
In the world of floor finishes, the choice often boils down to oil-based versus water-based lacquer. Both options come with unique benefits, tailored to different preferences and needs. This blog explores these differences, guiding you to the ideal choice for your floor.
The Aesthetic Factor: A Personal Decision
The look of your floor is a personal statement. While oil-based finishes offer a deep, natural charm, enhancing the wood’s grain and character, water-based lacquers provide a modern, sleek appearance. It’s not about labelling one as better than the other; it’s about what resonates with you.
Performance: Quality Matters
When it comes to performance, the brand and quality of the finish play a crucial role. High-quality brands like Pallmann ensure that whichever finish you choose, you’re picking a winner.
Water-Based Lacquers: Balancing Performance and Aesthetics
Water-based lacquers are evolving in the world of floor finishes, offering a delicate balance between durability and aesthetic appeal. Unlike the older alcohol-based lacquers, modern water-based options have significantly improved in both performance and appearance.
Application Process: Precision and Patience
The application of water-based lacquers requires attention to detail and time. Typically, it involves a coat of primer followed by two coats of lacquer. This process demands patience, especially in occupied spaces, as each coat needs sufficient drying time. It’s not just about applying the finish; it’s about allowing each layer to properly settle and cure for optimal results.
Misconceptions and Realities
There’s a common misconception that water-based lacquers dry quickly and leave a plastic sheen. However, this isn’t the case with newer formulations. These lacquers have been refined to provide a finish that’s both hardy and visually appealing. The key is in the application – too many layers or overly thick coats can lead to an undesired plastic-like appearance.
The Hardness-Elasticity Spectrum
In the realm of lacquers, it’s not just about achieving maximum hardness. What’s crucial is finding the perfect harmony between hardness and elasticity. Imagine a glass floor – incredibly hard but prone to shattering. On the other hand, a cartoon-like material might never break but will dent with ease. Water-based lacquers aim to hit that sweet spot: resilient enough to resist dents and scratches, yet flexible enough to absorb impacts without cracking.
The Verdict on Water-Based Lacquers
In conclusion, water-based lacquers are a testament to the advancements in flooring technology, offering a solution that is both durable and elegant. Their application might require more time and care, but the end result is a floor finish that strikes a beautiful balance between toughness and visual appeal. When applied correctly, they provide a finish that enhances the natural beauty of the wood without the drawbacks of older lacquer formulations. Aftercare is crucial to increase the life span of your lacquer floor.
Oil Finishes: Enhancing Wood’s Natural Beauty with Precision
Oil finishing is more than just a floor treatment; it’s an art that accentuates the natural allure of wood. Recognized as a premium service, it demands exceptional sanding quality, as the oil not only enhances the wood’s beauty but also magnifies any imperfections in the sanding process.
The Mastery of Application
At the heart of our approach is the use of two-component oils, ensuring a finish that is not just visually stunning but also remarkably durable. The philosophy behind oil finishes is longevity; with proper maintenance, it’s conceivable that your floors may never need sanding again. This aspect makes oil finishing an attractive choice, even more so for smaller projects.
The Efficiency in Smaller Jobs
In contrast to lacquer finishes that require idle time between coats, oil application is more streamlined. This efficiency is particularly advantageous in smaller jobs, where the entire floor can be saturated with oil in a single, continuous process. The lack of downtime between applications significantly speeds up the completion.
Essential Steps for Flawless Finish
Before applying the oil, the floor must undergo a water-popping process. This crucial step ensures even absorption across the entire surface. The first coat of oil is allowed to rest on the wood for approximately 15 minutes, promoting deep penetration. A subsequent coat ensures the wood is fully saturated. Any surplus oil is then meticulously wiped off, leaving a perfectly even finish.
Flexibility and Adaptability
One of the unique advantages of an oil finish is its adaptability. Should your style preferences change over time, transforming an oiled floor to a lacquered one is achievable with the use of a specialized bonding agent. However, it’s important to note that the reverse—from lacquer to oil—is not as straightforward and typically requires full sanding.
Embracing the Essence of Wood
Opting for an oil finish is not just choosing a flooring treatment; it’s embracing the essence of the wood itself. It’s a commitment to preserving and enhancing the natural character of your floors, ensuring they remain a timeless and cherished feature of your home.
Environmental Considerations
The shift towards environmentally friendly products is evident in the flooring industry. Water-based lacquers, especially low-VOC options like Pall-X Zero, are leading this change, offering sustainable beauty without compromising quality.
Oil or Lacquer: The Verdict
The decision boils down to personal preference and lifestyle. If a natural, warm look is what you seek, oil finishes are your ally. For a sleek look, water-based lacquer is the way to go. Professional application is key to achieving the best results regardless of your choice.
From Our Experience
As Parkettprofi contractors, we believe in the timeless beauty of oiled floors. They age gracefully, telling stories of the life lived upon them. It’s an eco-friendly choice, minimizing the need for new wood and embracing imperfections as part of the floor’s character.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right floor finish is more than just a functional decision; it reflects your style and values. Whether it’s the natural elegance of oil or the practical beauty of lacquer, the best choice is the one that makes you feel at home.
Contact us at 0203 8076 330 or visit our website to explore how we can transform your floors. Let us help you make a choice that you’ll cherish for years to come.
Please note, this is based on my very personal opinion. You can agree or disagree, there is no right or wrong here. When writing this, it is some sort of therapy to me.
What is sexy or attractive?
To us humans, sexual attractiveness can mean very different things. For most of us, the attraction is often based on some indefinable quality such as body shape and colour. If we get deeper into the subject it may also include character, attitude and respect, etc. In most cases, we judge something to be alluring when we look at it. Perhaps it is a monotone skin colour or a nicely shaped body. Darwin would have us believe that we are simply looking for the healthiest individual, so we can produce healthy descendants but hopefully, it is more than just that. As we all know health can be both physical and physiological, but I feel that subject is a whole separate book.
How do we make ourselves sexy?
We all try to look good every day. We don’t only want to be attractive to our partners or spouses, we also want other people to find us attractive and there is nothing wrong with that – it boosts our confidence. Consequentially we all seek to make ourselves as appealing as possible by being well-groomed, applying makeup and using supplements such as shampoos, conditioners, toners and even vitamins to make us look and feel as good as possible.
There is also another way, but it is not as fast. One can go to the gym to keep yourself trim, toned and active. Along with regular visits to the gym you can choose to eat only healthy and nutritious food to get the inside as healthy as the outside appearance. The problem with the gym and healthy food option are that it will not happen overnight, it is hard work and many fail at the early stages or fail temporarily which puts them back a step or two. It takes hard work determination and tenacity to look and feel good all the time.
Maintaining an attractive look also applies to wooden floors. As with our bodies, they are both made of nature’s finest materials, but they also take a lot of knocks and wear and tear and like humans they gradually get older. Also, unfortunately like some people (hopefully not you, reading this) they sometimes also get walked all over.
More about maintenance, in general, you can read here.
How to make wood floors sexy?
Like our bodies, there are basically 2 different methods of finishing your wooden floor to make it look as attractive as possible: We use Pallmann products mainly.
1. Lacquer (or the makeup approach)
It is a topical coat (should it not be topcoat? Topical means “current” but it may be that this is an expression used in the Industry?).
It will cover any imperfections and is much more forgiving
However, as with makeup, too many coats can make the floor look “plastic”
It will only protect the surface of the floor
It can be shiny or satin
2. Oil (or the gym and healthy nutrients approach)
As with the gym, it protects the outer surface and from within by saturating the wood.
If the sanding process is not done to a high standard it will expose imperfections.
It will also expose the natural beauty and grain of your wood floors –
giving it a more natural finish.
It will also protect the floor surface as it seals and nourishes the wood simultaneously.
If properly maintained it will stay attractive for a very long time.
With us, humans ageing is very personal. No two of us go through the same exact experiences or have exactly the same natural make-up. As it is with humans, so it is with wooden floors. Scratches on oiled floors can add character and the beauty of age. Whilst scratches on a lacquered floor are simply not regarded as pretty. One other thing about an oiled wood floor is that you can top up the oil as you go with patch repairs that seamlessly blend it in with the rest of the floor. On a lacquered floor, when a repair is needed, the only good option is a full re-sand and reseal.
Lacquer or oil?
Both will give you the same result; ‘a beautiful floor’. If you like the highly polished look of a shiny floor – lacquer is a better option. If you like the more natural look then the oil is the better solution. Both require some maintenance as does everything in life. But the maintenance is simple easy and inexpensive, and it does prolong the life of your floor.
There is no right or wrong here. This comparison is not spot on. Lacquers and oils have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Note from the author
Thank you for reading this article. If you read this far it means that you care about your floor. I am just sharing my knowledge here and giving my personal opinion. Recently, I have been through a lot of health issues and I found writing this article very therapeutic. I hope it was also helpful to you. Thank you.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.