WHAT IS A PRE-FINISHED FLOOR?

what is a part-finished floor?

Some pre-finished wood floors still require further finishing after installation. These are most commonly oil finishes, but this can be the case with other finishes too. At Broadleaf, we describe this type of floor as part-finished or semi-finished. However, this isn’t always the case with other manufacturers, so always double check before you buy if it isn’t clearly stated on the product description.

What are the different types of wood floor finish?

Hardwax oil

Wood flooring pre-finished with Hardwax Oil has a natural look and offers good durability with relatively low maintenance. They can be easily refurbished if required without the need for the original finish to be sanded back (unless this has worn so far that the colour has become patchy).

Oiled

Oiled wood floors are less durable and will normally need regular treatment with maintenance oil to keep them looking good.

Lacquered

Lacquered wood floors (the professional term for varnish) offer good durability and low maintenance, but they do have a more processed look and will need to be sanded back to bare wood before they can be refurbished.

cleaning & maintenance

However your wood floor is finished, you should always use its recommended cleaning products to keep it looking its best. Avoid generic floor cleaning products from supermarkets, which often contain harsh alkalis that will damage floor finishes over time and make them less resistant to dirt and wear. Whatever you do DO NOT steam clean your wood floor.