The question often arises as to whether it is better to protect light-colored wood with a raw wood effect by lacquering the furniture or stairs with OLI-AQUA NORDIC or oiling them with OLI-NATURA Scandic-Oil. In short: there is no better or worse option. It is more a matter of taste and personal preference as to which finish you prefer. Both products have advantages and disadvantages. Visually and to the touch, they are almost identical. The main difference lies in how differently the two products protect the wood.
What is a lacquer or oil with a raw wood effect?
In our understanding, these are non-yellowing lacquers and oils whose purpose is to leave the wood looking as close as possible to its raw state after the protective treatment. The wood’s natural color should barely become more pronounced once the finish has dried. The wood grain should also be as indistinct as possible. Raw wood effect lacquers and oils are preferably used indoors on light-colored wood species such as oak, ash, fir, or spruce. They must therefore provide high UV protection to protect the wood against light-induced aging. The gloss level is generally reduced.
THE NORDIC RAW WOOD EFFECT LACQUER SITS ON THE SURFACE
If you prefer closed wood pores, the film-forming OLI-AQUA NORDIC raw wood effect lacquer is the best choice. It “seals” the wood, sits on the surface, and forms a durable matte lacquer film. The gloss level, or matte finish, of less than 5 Gloss scatters the light, further enhancing the dull, matte effect. Despite the lacquer film, there is barely any visual or tactile difference compared with freshly sanded or untreated wood.
OLI-AQUA NORDIC is based on water-based bio-acrylates with the highest proportion of bio-based raw materials, which are characterized by sustainability and high performance. Depending on the area of application, it is applied to the surface in two coats using a foam roller, brush, or spray gun. Once fully cured, it forms a dense lacquer film with high surface hardness, making the wood extremely resistant to mechanical influences and protecting it against penetrating moisture. For demanding surfaces such as table tops, the water-based lacquer can optionally be used with the B component »OLI-AQUA Hardener 13.5« to improve adhesion and performance.
In general, sealing the surface with lacquer makes it easier to maintain. However, the lacquer layer restricts the wood’s breathability and moisture-regulating properties. If the lacquer layer also has scratches or damaged areas, water can, for example, seep beneath the lacquer layer and penetrate the wood, causing unsightly gray discoloration. Damaged areas cannot be repaired partially; the lacquer surface must be sanded down.
Maintaining and cleaning the matte lacquer surface with a raw wood effect is easy: Regular dusting and wiping with a damp cloth are sufficient. In the event of adhering dirt, the surface should occasionally be cleaned with OLI-AQUA CARE floor cleaning soap.
THE SCANDIC-OIL RAW WOOD EFFECT OIL PROTECTS THE WOOD FROM WITHIN
The OLI-NATURA Scandic-Oil follows the trend toward an invisible surface. Unlike most oils, the water-based raw wood effect oil naturally causes hardly any darkening of light-colored wood. This is made possible by plant-based oils in a water-based emulsion that are refined in a complex process. If you prefer open-pore wood, a Scandic-oiled surface is an excellent choice.
Unlike lacquer, which seals the wood at the surface, the raw wood effect oil protects from within: It penetrates the wood, saturates the pores, and cures to a resilient yet elastic finish when exposed to oxygen. The oil effectively “occupies” the pores and repels water and dirt attempting to penetrate the wood from outside. In this sense, Scandic-Oil does not form a surface layer, but rather an open-pore impregnation. The wood is therefore directly exposed to mechanical stress. The wood remains breathable and vapor-permeable, which noticeably improves the room climate.
Scandic-Oil is easy to apply in two coats. After the first coat of oil, the surface is sanded between coats to remove the wood fibers that have raised due to the water content. After dusting, a second coat of oil is applied. Polishing off the excess oil from the surface gives it a natural matte appearance. To further increase durability, Scandic-Oil can be used with OLI-NATURA Hardener.
An impregnated wood surface requires different care from a lacquered one. Wear occurs directly on the wood. Over time, this exposes unfilled wood pores and the protective effect diminishes. The wood pores therefore need to be replenished regularly with fresh maintenance oil. However, this apparent disadvantage proves to be a significant benefit: Since the surface can be refreshed repeatedly by re-oiling, impregnated and oiled wood is among the particularly durable and sustainable surfaces. Re-oiling is easily possible without sanding. Damaged areas can also be easily repaired, retreated, and restored.
For refreshing and maintaining the surface, our OLI-NATURA Refresher is particularly recommended. Clean the surface with a slightly damp cloth. Adhering dirt can be quickly removed with OLI-NATURA wood soap.
