When you’re buying wood flooring, there are plenty of things to take into consideration. Nevertheless, the whole buying process is exciting because you’re looking forward to your new floor being in place and your room looking its very best. However, certain wood flooring decisions can be tough to make. One such decision is whether you are best to choose treated or untreated wood flooring.
In this article, we’ll explore both options and outline what we believe to be the ins and outs of making the right decision for your particular project.
What is treated wood flooring?
Treated wood flooring, as the name suggests is wood flooring that comes in its box ready to lay, complete with the finish of your choice. With a whole host of different treated wood flooring solutions available, it’s clear to see why this is such a popular choice. By choosing treated wood flooring, not only are you highly likely to be able to find the finish of your choice (however obscure that may be), but you’ll also be able to take it straight from the box, fit it and get your furnishings back in the room quicker than you might imagine. In a nutshell, treated wood flooring makes life incredibly simple!
What types of treatment are available?
When it comes to the range of treatments available on wood flooring these days, the simplest way to look at it is that there’s everything from the simplest to the most sophisticated, which means that the only real limit to your project is your imagination.
Wood flooring treatments often start with staining or colouring the wood. Original wood flooring colours can be changed using a simple stain or more complex processes such as smoking or washing. The effect of each different method of colouration gives a different end result, so it’s well worth investing a bit of time exploring which option might work best for you.
Once the final colour of the wood has been established, then the next treatment that the wood flooring board is likely to encounter is things like brushing, tumbling or distressing. These treatments do things like opening up the grain of the wood or making it look like it has had a long life already, even though it’s brand new.
When the wood is at this stage, it then gets its final treatment, which is protection. The most commonly used protection systems are hardwax oil and lacquer. Hardwax oil leaves the wood looking slightly matt and extremely natural. Lacquer finishes on the other hand, even matt lacquers tend to have a bit of a shine to them.
What wood floor treatments are the most popular?
Aged wood flooring is highly popular right now, as is brushed and hardwax oiled. That said, lacquered flooring pretty much never goes out of fashion and is a particularly good choice for people who are concerned about the effects of sunlight on their floor because it comes with the option of a highly effective UV filter.
What is untreated wood flooring?
Untreated wood flooring, again as the name suggests is wood flooring boards that are delivered to you in their natural state. This type of board has neither been re-tinted, brushed, aged, nor protected. What you receive when you choose an untreated wood floor is raw boards that need to be laid and subsequently treated in situ.
What are the advantages of untreated wood flooring?
Many people are fans of untreated wood flooring because it allows them the luxury of laying their floor before having to commit to its final look. There are also some purists who suggest that a finish that is applied to a floor in situ will produce a better end result than a pre-finished floor; this is something that we would debate.
What are the disadvantages of untreated wood flooring?
There’s no getting away from the fact that untreated wood flooring is significantly more labour intensive and time consuming to install than treated wood flooring. Not only do you have to fit your new floor, but once it is installed, you then need to think about starting the treatment process. So, in effect, this approach costs you more, and also means that your room will be out of action for a significantly longer period.
How should you choose?
Choosing between a treated and untreated wood floor, like most things in life, is a highly personal decision. While there is no strictly right or wrong answer to this dilemma, it’s fair to say that most people celebrate the choice of treated wood flooring that’s available today, and we think they’re absolutely right!
If you’d like help to choose the best wood flooring option for your next project, why not get in touch? At Wood and Beyond, we live and breathe wood flooring and love nothing more than helping our clients get the very best floor for their wish list.
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FAQ
What is treated wood flooring?
Treated wood flooring is flooring that comes ready to lay, complete with your chosen finish. The treatment process often includes staining or colouring, distressing techniques like brushing or tumbling, and protective measures like the application of hardwax oil or lacquer.
What types of treatment are available for wood flooring?
Wood flooring can be treated through a variety of processes such as staining, smoking, washing, brushing, tumbling, or distressing. The wood can then be protected using hardwax oil, which gives a natural, matte finish, or lacquer, which often has a shiny finish.
What are the most popular wood floor treatments?
Aged wood flooring, brushed flooring, and flooring treated with hardwax oil are quite popular. However, lacquered flooring remains a timeless choice, especially for those concerned about sunlight effects on their floor, as it often comes with a UV filter option.
What is untreated wood flooring?
Untreated wood flooring refers to floorboards that are delivered in their natural state, without any treatment. These raw boards need to be installed and then treated on-site.
What are the pros and cons of untreated wood flooring?
Untreated wood flooring allows you the luxury of laying your floor before committing to its final look. However, untreated wood flooring is significantly more labour intensive and time-consuming to install than treated wood flooring. In addition, untreated flooring may require the room to be out of action for a longer period of time.