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3 of the Best Finish On Oak Timber Floorboards

glenn thompson
2 min read
Glenn Thompson February 7th, 2019
The coatings or finishes options on timber flooring these days is vast.

… and oak flooring is no exception. Timber flooring coatings have come a long way, especially in the last decade.

Below is a list of the most common coating options available on oak engineered timber floorboards today and our experience with them.

In this article
1. UV Cured Oil
2. Natural Oil
3. UV Lacquered Oil

1. UV Cured Oil

We have seen this type of coating being available in Australia for approx. 10 years now. UV cured coatings are sprayed on the oak floorboard in the factory than with UV light curing the coating. The main benefit you get from this coating is a nice matt finish that also highlights the grain. However, if only a thin coat of UV cured coating is applied it can tend to be a little porous. You just have to make sure you get a UV-cured coating that has a nice liberal coat on it. This coating is also a good coating to do spot maintenance on scratches etc.

2. Natural Oil

The Natural Oil coating is probably the oldest way engineered oak floorboards have been coated. Most times this coating is just brushed on in the factory and once installed is recommended to have another coating buffed in before use. This coating allows the user to have a nice matt finish but can also need too many coats of oil reapplied on a regular basis and can be a little more porous than other coating options.

3. UV Lacquered Oil

This new coating on the market seems to have many benefits from our experience with it over the past few years. It is a factory coat that, like the UV Cured coat, aids to bring out the nice wire brushing finish to oak timber flooring but with a slightly higher gloss level. We have found this coating to be a little more moisture-resistant than the two other coating options above but are a bit more involved to do spot repairs. We have found it a very good coating to maintain a good level of matt finish and longevity.

Like many things one coating option may not suit all people. It is best to inspect the finished floorboard to see the coating finish and test it out to see if it fits with your desired outcome. Also speak with your flooring professional about the best cleaning product to use on your chosen oak flooring’s coating.

Other options that you might consider when choosing your next timber floorboards suitability for your home would include a flat or textured finish, colour, and having a degree of natural timber features like knots and gum veins in your floorboards.

We're the experts in traditional, recycled, and engineered oak timber flooring and have been for the last 40 years. We have a deep knowledge of oak timber flooring and a commitment to providing the best possible customer service. If you'd like to learn more about our timber flooring products or have questions you need answered then get in touch with one of our timber flooring specialists today.
glenn thompson

Glenn Thompson

Senior Sales Advisor
Glenn has 10+ years of being a chippy and is quite literally part of the family. Being a builder Glenn knows how important it is to have quality finishes and craftsmanship.
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