The oak boards we stumbled upon were in relatively good condition and did not require replacing. The surface, however, was in a state which can be described as ‘far from perfect’. The main problem here was the worn finish. Penetrating oil finishes enhance the grain and make the surface look more natural but require more frequent maintenance. Because of this, we advise our clients to go for varnishes/ lacquers because they offer better overall protection.
In this particular case, though, the client valued the qualities provided by the oil finishes and had no desire to use anything else. Of course, we did as the customer requested by sanding the old, worn finish and applying coats of oil. As a result, the distressed surface was fully restored for two days. We used oil with a low sheen level. A matt finish will reflect less light and make it easier to hide small flaws and imperfection, especially when exposed to heavy traffic.