Oil vs. Varnish for Hardwood Floors

Wood Grain Visibliity

• Oil finishes are "penetrating" finishes, meaning that they soak into the wood. Varnish, on the other hand, coats the surface of wood with a protective layer. Since oil soaks into the wood, it leaves the natural pores in the wood visible. Many people like the natural open-grained look that comes with penetrating oil finishes, but some people prefer to use a surface finish, like varnish, that fills in open pores in the wood.

Glossiness

• Varnish is more glossy than an oil-based finish, although oils do leave some sheen to hardwood floors even after they soak in. However, it is possible to brush a varnish finish with steel wool or fine-grit sandpaper to make it less shiny and less slippery.

Coloring

• Both floor oils and varnishes come in pigmented and uncolored versions, but even uncolored oils darken wood slightly as they soak in. However, many people find that this darkening enhances the color of the wood. Varnish, on the other hand, is more capable of protecting wood without altering the color at all.

Application Process

• Varnishes are usually painted onto hardwood floors with a brush in two coats. After applying the first coat, the floor needs to be sanded before applying the second coat. Varnishes are difficult to apply cleanly because dust often settles onto them while they are still wet. Oils finishes require the user to rub them onto the floor and then wipe away the excess. They also usually work best when applied in two coats.

Aging

• Varnishes show scratches very easily, and they are more difficult to patch or reapply than oil finishes. To repair varnish blemishes, the entire floor needs a complete refinishing. This refinishing includes removing the finish, sanding the floor and reapplying the finish. However, waxes can help hide scratches in varnishes. Oil-based finishes are much easier to repair than surface varnishes because they do not require the user to completely refinish the floor. To fix blemishes in an oil finish, apply some extra oil finish to steel wool and buff out scratches and dents with the wool.