Natural options for covering wooden floors

There was a time when substitutes for natural products - plastics made by chemical processes - were prized and considered the products of the future. Lately, however, people have become much more careful about what they eat and use, realizing that for their own health, and that of the planet, a wise choice is to return to natural products. The trend is increasingly present in our country too, from food to products used for renovating or finishing and maintaining furniture and wood. My aim in this article is to show you that there are also natural options for covering wooden floors.

Natural waxes and oils, for that's what they are, have been used in the past to protect floors and floorboards. This was followed by a period when the natural variety was abandoned in favor of modern solutions with greater resistance over time and a more noticeable sheen. Now more and more people are returning to their use, both for the more natural look of floors finished with these products and, above all, for the fact that they are healthy for the environment and the body.

Basically, wood treatment is done with mixtures of natural oils or blends of natural oils and waxes. Plain wax is used only as a last coat after the oil has been applied. The main oils used are linseed and tung, often blended together in formulations. There are other types of natural oils - soybean, wood, sunflower, hemp, walnut - but they are less commonly used in floor treatment oils.

Sometimes waxes are added to the oil to increase mechanical strength. For example, adding Carnauba wax makes the oil more resistant to scratching and abrasion. The addition of beeswax also makes the oil stronger than without wax.

A much appreciated characteristic of these oils is their ability to enhance and accentuate the natural beauty of wood. Once applied, they do not remain on the surface to form a film, but penetrate deep into the wood, bonding with it. The wood becomes tougher and more resistant to moisture while at the same time being free of the film that takes away the beauty of the grain and alters the color. For those who appreciate the look of natural wood, this is a great advantage. Especially as time goes by, it will develop its own 'patina' which will increase its value.

You might think that the fact that it penetrates the wood without forming a protective film is a disadvantage. I have to point out that, unlike the oils used in the past, modern oils make wood much more resistant to wear and tear, and the lack of the film means that scratches are not so visible and obvious. Even if they do occur, from footwear or pets, they are lost in the natural pattern of the wood.

Repairing such a defect can easily be done on the spot where it has occurred, without the need to work on the entire finished surface. Even if the intervention is local, it will not be visible.

Another advantage of using natural oils is that they allow the wood to exchange moisture with the environment. This is a natural process caused by the difference in humidity between the wood and the environment, causing it to contract and expand. The lack of the film allows the wood to move freely without affecting the appearance.

The oil finish is one without visible sheen. The light is not reflected by the film but rather absorbed, giving a feeling of warmth. For a silky sheen, a coat of wax can be applied over the oiled wood. Apply with a cloth, then polish with a cloth. This will give a silky, very pleasant and natural sheen. It is also possible to obtain a higher gloss. In this case the wax layer is thicker and the polishing is more vigorous. However, such finishes are not recommended because the thick layer of wax makes the floor much less resistant to staining (it can easily stain with water) and scratching.

The use of oils and waxes requires the finish to be refreshed at shorter intervals than a traditional film coating, but the operation is much simpler. It should also be borne in mind that floors finished in this way have low resistance to solvents, alcohol or abrasive cleaners.

Using natural materials to finish floors does not affect the health of the home and its members. I was glad to see that there are companies in our area that distribute such natural finishing products. I found Naturalpaint The relationship with the producers is very open, providing information about where the materials are sourced and the quality of the environment in that place.

Opting for natural products is sure to be neither easy nor cheap. But choose a surprisingly durable finish that maintains the natural look of wood and a healthy environment for you and your family.

Source images: Naturalpaint

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