New floorboards - wax/treatment?

[EmmaT]

Hi all,
I'm having a new oak floor laid in living room, to replace some disintegrating original boards and a bodge of chipboard or similar, and I need to know how best to protect the new floor.

I'm asking the carpenter who's putting it down to recommend something, but wanted to have some other ideas up my sleeve.

The only problem it, it's a very small house (2 up 2 down victorian cottage), and the living room is between the front door and the rest of the house, so what ever we use, we've got to be able to walk on in pretty soon after treatment. We'll also need to be able to put furniture on it quickly as currently our sofa, table & chairs, TV etc etc are all crammed in our 2m x 4m kitchen! Cosy...

Any suggestions?

 

[Moo]

Try searching for posts by Toby Newell, the site's guru on all things to do with floors.

 

[Penners]

Try searching for posts by Toby Newell, the site's guru on all things to do with floors.

Here's Toby's definitive guide article.

 

[Moo]

Thanks for that, Penners. I looked (not carefully enough) at the Information section but all I saw was the article on sanding and stripping.

My excuse is that I'm still clogged up with the cold that our son thoughtfully contributed to the seasonal festivities.

By the way, talking of son, he has had a wonderful week in the Yorkshire Dales. Lots of bracing walks (rather him than me), cosy evenings by the fire, and even some horse riding. If I can, I'll find out which of the PPUK recommendations eventually came up trumps.

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

I've just laid a new oak floor in my kitchen and finished it with Osmo Polyx wax-oil. Excellent result - went on easily, no brush marks, lovely finish, dry overnight. Also very easy to recoat areas of wear / damage without creating a patchy effect (I know this after putting a large scuff in the finish whilst fitting architrave)
I know that the product is also available in a Rapid version if quick drying is an issue.
I'm becoming a big fan of Osmo products.

 

[bournonite]

Same here

We use osmo all the time in restoration projects - the polyx wax floor stuff is amazing. Cant recommend too highly...
Pete

 

[tumbledown]

Do you think Osmo Polyx wax-oil would be suitable for finishing old oak beams/studs?

 

[EmmaT]

Thanks guys - that's great. Where might I get hold of Osmo Polyx wax oil? Any chance that a builders merchants might sell it?

 

[CHRIS]

where are you?

I know of Brooks Bros in sunny Maldon - Essex.

 

[EmmaT]

Not so sunny Surrey...

 

[CHRIS]

OSMO Uk Ltd.

Unit 2 Pembroke Road
HP20 1DB Aylesbury Bucks. HP20 1DB

Telephone: 0044/1296481220
Facsimile: 0044/1296424090
Internet: http://www.osmouk.com
E-Mail: steve@osmouk.com


TRY THIS NUMBER

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Builder's merchant unlikely, but try in the Yellow Pages for your local trade decorators suppliers - that's where I get mine. Much cheaper than list price. Google to find online retailers.

Tumbledown - yes, I reckon it's good for any interior woodwork. For 'old' oak you might want to use the matt version and just one coat - enough to bring out the colour / texture without visible build up.

 

[charri421]

I can thoroughly recommend OSMO POlyX also. I used it on some freshly sanded reclaimed pine floorboards and it looks fantastic and is easy to clean with a damp cloth when very dirty.

I've just laid the whole downstairs with unfinished oak and intend to use it again.

1 question for OSMO POlyX users, did you go for matt or satin? I used satin on my pine - I hadn't realised a matt was available. Any thought on those who have used both? or used matt?

Cheers

 

[bournonite]

We use matt.... on oak floors.. if you build up about two or three coats, it forms a sortof deep silky / satiny finish - which is not totally matt anyway - thoroughly recommended...

Pete

 

[charri421]

Cheers Pete -

Is that POlyx Clear Matt - as opposed to Polyx Clear Satin?

The clear satin which I've used before leaves a nice subtle sheen, I just wanted to try a bit of matt before I coat 40sqm of new oak - otherwise i's always wonder if there was a better option.

PS - had a nosey at your website, there is some fantastic work there.

 

[bournonite]

Thanks!

Yup - its the matt.. As I say - a couple of coats, and it builds to an almost satiny finish anyway - with wear, you get a slightly shinier walk path across the floor - looks like its been there for years. Try it on a piece of wood first and just make sure you like it - they say 2 coats - I use 2 coats to start with, then if I want more depth of colour to see into the grain of the wood and bring out the knots, a third coat sometimes helps.

Cheers!

Pete

 

[matt]

I have just sanded back some old oak floorboards and have had an initial go at using the satin OSMO polyx on about a quarter of the floor.

I used a normal (but good quality) paintbrush and let it dry overnight - I was careful to keep it thin, but have found the surface of the boards quite rough this morning.

It was also a lot redder than I expected as the boards were quite light to begin with.

I am wondering if I am doing anything wrong as after searching the internet found a number of instructions talking about buffing, or using special stiff OSMO brushes to work the oil in. One specifically said 'don't paint it on, scrub it in' which worried me a bit as that is exactly what I have done! :shock:

I am tempted to give the boards a light sand before the 2nd coat but am a bit wary.

Any advice gratefully received, thanks.

Matt

 

[bournonite]

I wouldnt work it in - we dont. It is so thin that it finds its own way in - you'll only raise the grain doing that. Osmo advise against sanding between coats.

I'm surprised at the scrubbing bit - its not what they say on the tin, and not what any of the folks I know who use it regularly do.. I'd just paint it on and leave well alone. Second coat, after about 24 hours, and let it dry naturally. I'd leave it to settle for a week after that, and then if it needs a light buffing over, do it then. You can make a decision then as to whether another coat is needed...

Pete

 

[Penners]

Osmo advise against sanding between coats.

Does it not raise a nib?

 

[Andrew Bodenham]

Being spirit based Osmo polyx does not raise the grain in the way that a water-based product would.
If you've got a rough finish it's probably due to dust in the surface, or maybe the surface not sanded smooth enough before coating.
When I did mine I sanded to 120G, then vacuumed 3 times to remove (nearly) all the dust. Even so there were a few nibs in the first coat, so I gave it a light once-over by hand with 180G before the second coat, which worked a treat.
No need to scrub, buff or anything complicated, just brush it out thin as per the instruction on the tin.