12 Oct 2026
·
6 min read
Oiled or lacquered: why we always oil our oak
Lacquer looks perfect for a year. Oil looks better every year after. Here is how we choose a floor finish, and how to look after it.
Most of the oak we specify ends up underfoot, and floors get walked on, spilled on and slid across by children in socks. Lacquer seals the wood under a hard film. It looks perfect for about a year, and then every scratch shows as a white line that can only be fixed by sanding the whole room.
Why oil ages better
Oil soaks into the wood instead of sitting on top of it. Scratches are softer and darker, and a worn patch can be sanded and re-oiled on its own in an afternoon. The floor slowly darkens and picks up a sheen from use.
How to look after it
Wash with a soap made for oiled floors, not a general cleaner. Re-oil the busiest paths once a year, usually the hall and in front of the kitchen worktop. That is the whole routine.
