PAINT OR OIL IN THE RAW WOOD EFFECT?
The question repeatedly arises as to whether furniture or stairs should preferably be coated with OLI-AQUA NORDIC or oiled with OLI-NATURA Scandic-Oil to effectively protect light-colored wood with a raw wood effect. In short: There is no better or worse option. Each of the two products has advantages and disadvantages. A lacquer lover will prefer Nordic, while an oil fan will oil their furniture with Scandic. It is therefore more a matter of taste and personal preference which finish you prefer.
In the following article, we present the differences between NORDIC and SCANDIC.
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 it did in its raw state after the protective treatment. The natural color of the wood should barely stand out after the finish has dried back. The wood grain should also be as invisible as possible. Lacquers and oils with a raw wood effect are preferably used indoors on light-colored wood species such as oak, ash, fir, or spruce. They must therefore provide a high level of UV protection to protect the wood from light-induced aging. The gloss level is generally reduced.
THE NORDIC RAW WOOD EFFECT LACQUER SITS ON THE SURFACE
Those who prefer closed wood pores are best served by the film-forming OLI-AQUA NORDIC raw wood effect lacquer. It “seals” the wood, sits on the surface, and forms a durable matt lacquer film. The gloss level, or matt finish, of under 5 Gloss scatters the light, further enhancing the dull-matt 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 application, it is applied to the surface in two coats using a foam roller, brush, or cup gun. After fully curing, 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 tabletops, the water-based lacquer can optionally be mixed with the B component »OLI-AQUA Härter 13.5« to improve adhesion and performance.
Generally, sealing with lacquer makes the surface easier to maintain. However, the lacquer layer restricts the wood’s breathable and moisture-regulating properties. If the lacquer layer also has scratches or damaged areas, water can, for example, get underneath the lacquer layer and penetrate the wood, resulting in unattractive gray discoloration. Damaged areas cannot be repaired selectively; the lacquer surface must be sanded down.
Maintaining and cleaning the matt lacquer surface with a raw wood effect is simple: Regular dusting and wiping with a slightly damp cloth are sufficient. In the case of adhering dirt, the surface should occasionally be cleaned with the wiping soap OLI-AQUA CARE.
SCANDIC-OIL RAW WOOD EFFECT OIL PROTECTS THE WOOD FROM WITHIN
Following the trend toward invisible surfaces is OLI-NATURA Scandic-Oil. Unlike most oils, the water-based raw wood effect oil does not naturally intensify the color of light-colored wood. This is made possible by plant-based oils in a water-based emulsion that are refined in a complex process. Anyone who prefers breathable wood is therefore well advised to choose a Scandic-oiled surface.
Unlike lacquer, which seals the wood on the surface, raw wood effect oil protects from within: It penetrates the wood, saturates the pores, and hardens there into a tough-elastic finish when exposed to oxygen. The oil remains in the pores and repels water and dirt that attempt to penetrate the wood from outside. In this sense, Scandic-Oil does not form a surface layer but rather provides an open-pored impregnation. The wood is therefore also directly exposed to mechanical stresses. The wood remains breathable and diffusion-open, which noticeably improves the indoor climate.
Scandic-Oil is easy to apply in two coats. After the first oil coat, the surface is sanded between coats to remove the wood fibers that have risen due to the water content in the wood. After dust removal, a second coat of oil is applied. By polishing out the excess oil from the surface, a natural matt appearance is achieved. To further increase durability, Scandic-Oil can be processed with OLI-NATURA-Härter.
An impregnated wood surface has different maintenance requirements than a lacquered one. Wear occurs directly on the wood here. Over time, this exposes unfilled wood pores and the protective effect decreases. The wood pores therefore need to be replenished with fresh maintenance oil repeatedly. However, this apparent disadvantage proves to be a significant advantage: Since the impregnation can be refreshed repeatedly by re-oiling, impregnated-oiled wood is one of the particularly durable and sustainable surfaces. Re-oiling is easily possible without sanding. Damaged areas can also be easily patched, treated, and repaired.
For refreshing the maintenance finish, we particularly recommend our OLI-NATURA Refresher. Clean the surface with a slightly damp cloth. Adhering dirt can be quickly removed with OLI-NATURA wood soap.