Natural Oil Finish vs. UV-Oil Finish
Understanding the Difference and the Long-Term Value of a Properly Maintained Oiled Floor
When it comes to wood floor finishes, the conversation often centres around aesthetics, durability, and maintenance. Two popular options — natural oil finishes and UV-oil/ Lacquer finishes — offer different benefits depending on how the floor will be used and maintained.
While UV-oils and lacquers are often promoted for their low-maintenance appeal, many homeowners overlook the long-term advantages of naturally oiled floors, particularly when they are maintained correctly using the correct cleaning products.
Natural Oil: Building Strength from Within
It is common knowledge that toxins not just from environmental pollution but from building materials used for our homes are harmful. Natural oil finishes use plant-derived oils such as linseed, tung, soybean oil, sunflower and thistle oil which are non-toxic and help maintain a healthy indoor environment.
Natural oils penetrate deep into the wood grain, hardening within the fibre structure of the timber itself. This internal hardening not only strengthens the wood over time but also subtly densifies the surface, making it more resilient to wear and tear. Unlike lacquers or hard topcoats, which sit on top of the wood like a layer of plastic, natural oils bond with the wood rather than on it. The result? A more authentic look and feel that enhances the floor’s natural character.
Over time, if maintained properly, oiled floors develop a rich patina — a visual depth and softness to the eye that simply cannot be replicated with surface coatings. The correct soaps don't just clean; they help feed the wood and continue building that protective, living finish. This method of care is both restorative and protective, ensuring the floor looks better as it ages, not worse.
The lowkey magic of buff & re-oil
One of the standout benefits of a natural oil finish is that it doesn’t require full re-sanding to stay beautiful. If regularly maintained, oiled floors can be refreshed with a simple buff and re-oil — a far less invasive and more sustainable approach than sanding. This process revives the surface, restoring lustre and protection without removing the top layer of wood.
However, it’s important not to let the floor degrade past the point of easy restoration. Like any natural material, wood benefits from regular care. Neglecting maintenance for too long can result in damage that requires more aggressive intervention. But with proper upkeep, re-sanding becomes virtually unnecessary, preserving the original beauty and depth of your floor for decades.
UV-Oil & Lacquered Finishes: Surface-Level Protection
UV-oiled floors are often sold as a low-maintenance alternative. Despite claims, it is not derived from natural oils but is made from chemicals like synthetic polymers and DPGDA. UV oil finishes are more accurately resin-based lacquers or ‘hybrid lacquers’ cured by ultraviolet light, giving them a durable surface straight out of the box.
UV oil finishes are often marketed as combining the natural look of oils with the durability and convenience of lacquer. However, in our experience, UV-oil finishes tend to appear dull and lifeless compared to the rich, authentic appearance of natural oil finishes.
Unlike natural oils, UV oils mostly remain on the surface, behaving more like a thin lacquer than a penetrating finish.
Similarly, lacquered finishes offer surface-level protection but can be less forgiving. Once the lacquer is scratched or worn through, the only way to truly restore the floor is to re-sand, which not only removes the damaged finish but also strips away the wood’s original charm — the very grain and texture that made the floor special in the first place.
A long-term perspective
From a professional’s standpoint, there’s a lot of talk about maintaining UV-oils and lacquers, but in practice, this often translates to re-sanding and starting over.
With natural oil finishes, maintenance is more about preservation and enhancement — not replacement. It’s a more client-empowered approach, where the homeowner has the tools (literally and metaphorically) to protect and improve their floor over time.