Oak flooring is in use throughout the world, and has remained one of the most popular flooring options, despite advancements in the number and quality of alternative options. Besides their use as a style option, oak flooring is often placed underneath carpets and lino flooring as a means of providing strength to a property. When it comes to exposed oak flooring, there are some considerations that you need to take into account regarding the care and maintenance that oak products require in order to maintain their appearance. When these processes are performed regularly and correctly, you can expect oak flooring to be one of the most long lasting flooring options available.

Oak floorboards can be treated in a range of ways, some of which can massively impact the appearance of the wood, and some which don’t. Various types of treatments, such as varnishing, have been a solution that people around the world have relied on as an effective method for protecting the appearance of oak floorboards so that the burden of caring for and maintaining them is massively reduced. Varnish essentially provides a waterproof surface on top of the wood that enables you to clean up spills without worrying about the wood being stained. It is also a protective layer, to some extent, as it can absorb some of the potential damage to oak flooring, however it is actually more susceptible to scratches and other forms of damage. It is only protective in the sense that it can be repaired or reapplied without significant time or money required. In fact, varnish should be reapplied to some regularity regardless of any damage, as it can age and discolour over time.

For unvarnished woods, there are still options for treating the wood that can provide a degree of protection from water damage and staining. Kiln drying the wood alone accomplishes this to an extent, by sealing the surface of the oak floorboards so that water has a more difficult time infiltrating the fibres. Providing liquid spillages, in particular coloured liquids, are quickly cleaned up, this can be sufficient for preventing noticeable damage to the wood, but if this is not the case, you will find that any damage will likely be surface level. This means that a light sanding of the wood surface will bring a fresh appearance back to the floorboards, making any prior damage unnoticeable.

There are also a range of finishes that can be applied to wood that differ in appearance than varnish that many people find more appealing, in that they still look natural. You can smoke wood, which will stain the surface of the wood in a darker hue that still looks very natural, will help to cover up any prior stains, and will provide some added protection going forward. You can also use various wood-type finishes, such as ones that are designed to make the wood look like walnut of redwood instead of the actual oak floorboards. This will provide a degree of waterproof protection, although not as great as a varnish. Even so, it can be applied subsequent to any damage that may have occurred in order to cover up any stains the floorboards had acquired.