Finishing Wood Floors With Linseed Oil

Polymerized linseed oil is the best of both worlds.

Finishing wood floors with linseed oil.

By not coating the wood or giving it a shiny appearance linseed oil presents the wood in a natural way while still giving it the darkened appearance of staining. It won t give you a super hard and durable finish like polyurethane or varnish but with enough coats boiled linseed oil will eventually build up a beautiful and protective finish. Its strength and durability make it a popular finish for commercial properties but many homeowners like to use. Linseed oil is a penetrating finish on hardwood floors that does not form a sealant on the wood like polyurethane but instead acts as a stain that enhances the look of your floors.

Boiled linseed oil is a popular substance used to coat and protect a variety of different wooden surfaces such as hardwood floors or pieces of furniture. Pure linseed oil isn t practical for wood finishing because it does not dry. Like other hand rubbed oil finishes linseed oil saturates deep into the wood grain to protect against scratches and changes in humidity. The boiled product penetrates into the wood s grain which accentuates the pattern.

While it is true that with a penetrating finish wear does occur directly to the wood modern oil finishes are much more resistant to wear than those originally used to condition hardwood. Boiled linseed oil as a finish. The linseed oil then is warmed to help it penetrate more deeply into the wood. Not just a pre treatment boiled linseed oil works great as a wood finish itself.

Linseed oil also known as flaxseed oil is one of the most popular wood finishes in the world. When linseed oil is applied to a floor the floor first is sanded and the dust cleaned away. Pure and non toxic with quick drying times. Oil based polyurethane consists of linseed oil synthetic resins and plasticizers.

Boiled linseed oil is common as a wood finish but contains some potentially hazardous drying compounds. In addition to creating a wet looking surface linseed oil is water resistant malleable with the expansion and contraction of the piece during temperature changes and it is easy to apply. Also known as a penetrating oil this finish helps to prevent future scrapes and potential water damage. Hardwood enthusiasts accustomed to urethane finishes often express concern that a natural oil finish may leave wood vulnerable to greater wear and tear.

Some manufacturers use petroleum based oil while others use tung oil linseed oil or vegetable based oils.