Oiled or Lacquered Flooring?

Oil and lacquer are the two most common finishes used in the manufacturing of woods flooring. It's a difference many people overlook until the last minute when buying a floor, but an important one. One is not necessarily better than the other, but you should choose an oiled or lacquered floor according to their advantages and your needs.

Oiled vs Lacquered

Oil

Oiled floors retain an authentic colour, as the oil brings out the natural grains of the timber. With an oiled floor, the wood gets added protection as the oil penetrates below the surface. Scratches from pets or debris will not look as prominent. Indeed, some people think small scratches add character to the wood, but if you do not, then maintenance is easy. The floor can be refinished with oil, either the whole plank or just the damaged spot. This does not require the services of a professional, and can be done by yourself.

Lacquer

Lacquered floors tend to come with a slightly higher gloss level meaning the light reflects more off the surface. However you can get matt finish lacquers as well, meaning the appearance is more that of an oil fishing. Unlike oil, the lacquer sits on top of the wood to act as a protective layer; this makes them good for areas where you anticipate high foot traffic.

They also stand up better to water damage because the lacquer seals the wood. They are not totally water resistant, but if water is spilled on the lacquered floor and is cleaned up immediately, you shouldn’t see any water marks left on the surface.

Lacquered floors require less maintenance in the long term, but are more prone to scratches. Due to the glossy finish, scratches will be more apparent in the light. If you want to repair a lacquered floor, the process is more complicated, and will require the services of a professional.

Cost

Neither an Oil or Lacquer finish floor should be more expensive than the other. The difference in prices you might see would be based more around the specification of the boards, for example a higher grade of oak used or a thicker veneer applied.

Maintenance and repair

Maintaining an oiled floor can be as easy as regular cleaning, or applying more oil. Oiled floors are easily repairable, and can be spot-repaired (you don’t have to refinish the whole plank to repair one little area). This normally involves rolling on a new layer of oil, enough to cover any scratches, whether they are small or severe.  You can keep your oiled floors in shape with our maintenance kits here.

While the frequency of maintenance is higher for an oiled floor over a lacquered one, the complexity of the repairs is far less. Both finishes will show wear and tear when high levels of foot traffic are passing over them, To keep on top of your flooring we recommend you follow the necessary cleaning and maintenance protocols for that particular finish. You should consider this before picking your flooring. However both types of flooring if a full finish restoration is required can be sanded and refinished.

Lacquered floors are more durable to everyday wear and tear, but serious scratches and other damage will be more visible than on an oiled floor, and they are not as easy to spot repairable, so any serious damage could be more problematic to repair.