How Oils Affect Hardwood Floors

Protection

• Oils soak into hardwood floors and offer some protection from stains, color fading and scratches. They can also help protect outdoor hardwood deck floors from UV damage and harsh weather. A penetrating oil finish becomes part of the floor as it soaks in, and the oil helps the floor resist water and other spills. Oils contain natural resins, which offer a layer of protection from dirt and moisture over the wood. Some oils, such as tung oil, resist mildew, acids and alkali.

Surface Enhancement

• Oils, even ones without pigment in them, slightly darken wood when they soak into its surface. Many people feel that oils enhance the natural color of wood. Oil-based stains can also bring out contrast and interesting patterns in the wood grain. They can give dull floors more luster without making them too shiny. Since oils soak into wood, they do not leave a surface layer over the wood to obscure the natural wood pores.

Tint

• All oils darken wood at least slightly, but some oil-based finishes come with pigment in them to tint hardwood floors different colors. Even pigmented oil-based wood finishes soak in and leave the natural wood texture visible, so they have a more natural appearance than many tinted surface finishes. The resins in oils help bind pigment to the wood, giving it a long-lasting tint.

Blemish Disguise

• Oil finishes, especially ones with a little bit of pigment, help hide scratches and dents in wood. It's also possible to buff out scratches and dents made in already-oiled wood by rubbing blemishes with steel wool soaked in a penetrating oil finish.