Satin Floor

Satin Floor

Have A Hardwood Floor You Can Be Proud Of With Hard Wax Oil

As many homeowners look to renovate, not relocate, the popularity of natural wood flooring and kitchen surfaces has increased.Synthetic materials could never create the effect and style of a room like a new hardwood floor or some natural wood kitchen cabinets.

Protect Your Investment!

Although natural wood surfaces require a bit more attention and special care, it doesn't have to be a chore.  It doesn't even require a professional's touch to maintain the beauty of the wood.There's a great choice of products available that make it easy for a professional or home do-it-yourself'er to keep natural wood surfaces protected and looking great.

Of course, a durable, long-lasting and easy-to-maintain product is needed for high-traffic areas.  If small children will be crawling around on the floors, the finish has to be non-toxic, as well.  Many types of wood oils are available, but general consensus says that a quality hard wax oil is just the ticket.

Why Hard Wax Oil?

Hardwax oil is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use products around.  Not only is it suitable for use on most interior wooden surfaces including wooden flooring, kitchen worktops, cupboards, skirting, spindles, doors and furniture, but even unsealed terracotta tiles and quarry tiles will benefit due to their porous, wood-like properties.

Matte, satin and satin gloss finishes are currently available, making it perfect for almost any job.Applying the wax oil couldn't be more simple either: use a paint brush, floor applicator, or even just a good quality cloth...just utilise the method best-suited to the job.  There's hardly any smell, and it penetrates the wood to provide a finish that is tough and resistant to wear and liquids.

If Price Is A Factor

The first and most obvious difference is price.  On average, the cost-conscious consumer can expect to save around £13-£14 (based on a 2.5 litre container) by opting for the Fiddes hardwax oil.Of course, buying a larger size results in even bigger savings.  But saving money is no good if you get inferior results, so how do Fiddes Hard Wax Oil and Osmo Polyx Oil match up performance-wise?

Drying Time

Both Fiddes and Osmo wax oil provide a water-repellent seal and are easy to maintain; however, Osmo's Polyx Oil takes about twice as long to dry at approximately 8 hours per thin coat.Osmo do offer a quicker-drying option, but it costs a bit more.

Available Colours

Fiddes comes in 9 satin colours including the popular walnut, whiskey, American and white, and the clear version comes in matt, satin and gloss finishes.

Osmo have clear versions on offer, in addition to the four colours in their foundation wood finish range: light oak, mid oak, dark oak and white.

Colours can be intermixed to create new ones, which helps with colour matching, and both Fiddes and Osmo hard wax oil are non-yellowing.

Ingredients

Osmo Polyx Oil contains natural ingredients only.

Fiddes Hard Wax Oil is probably 98% similar to the make-up of Osmo.

Safety

Both hard wax oils are approved by the EN71 Toy Safety Compliancy Test, making them suitable for application onto children's toys.

History

The original hard wax oil, Osmo Polyx Oil was invented six years ago by the maker of the same name.

Within recent years, Fiddes have formulated their own version, which is now a popular choice with professionals and hobbyists alike.

Ask Your Shop For A Sample

Of course, a decent retailer will gladly let you purchase a sample of whichever wax oil you're considering.  Testing a small, out-of-the-way section of the wood is also a must to ensure you're going to get the finish you desire.  In addition, you should keep in mind that using a coloured hard wax oil is going to give you a different look depending on the type of wood on which it's applied - another reason to make sure you test it out before committing a large area to one particular finish.

If you would like to get an idea how a particular type of wood will look once it's been finished with a clear wax oil, simply use a little water to wet a section, wipe off the excess, then let it dry for about 10 seconds.  The resulting shade is a close approximation of the finish you'll get.

Summary

For more colours and to save some money, use Fiddes Hard Wax Oil.
For 100% natural ingredients and a slightly more durable finish, use Osmo Polyx Oil.

The flexibility and protective qualities of hard wax oil is apparent, so which brand is chosen is not really so important.  When durable, long-lasting protection is needed for wood flooring, cabinets, work surfaces or even children's toys, hardwax oil is a must.

About the Author

Dave "Woody" Woods is well-known for his expertise in the art of wood finishing and getting the best out of natural wood surfaces in the home.  Friends and clients affectionately refer to him as "The Wizard of Wood".

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