And the difference in "UV Oiled" vs just plain "Oiled"? And what exactly is "properly maintained"?

@Chess, the difference is that UV oiled floor is finished and dried on factory finishing line with ultraviolet light while natural oiled floor(oxidative oil finish) is air dried. Natural oiled floor present a more natural look and feel. As for how to maintain a oiled floor, uv oiled or oxidative oiled, we like Woca system the best. Here is a link to how to use.

Oil Finish Maintenance Guide

Thanks. Do both types of finishes (UV oil and "plain" oil) require that type of maintenance? I truly have ZERO desire for a floor that requires oiling.

The oiled finishes (either UV cured hardwax oils or natural finished hardwax oils) both require "oiling" and maintenance. The DuChateau floors have been called "thirsty looking" after only a few months. This is upsetting to many people who thought they could get away with "no maintenance" for the first year.

I like to suggest that clients apply the replenishing oil AS SOON AS the floors are installed. This is the recommended application for commercial floors. So we know it should be done in certain circumstances. Depending on the colour of the floor, the coloured finish has to be used - especially with repairs.

Oiled floors require maintenance. There is no way around it. The good news is it can be done by the homeowner at very little cost. It can be done in high-traffic areas or room by room. Repairs can be done by the homeowner as well.

The bad news: it has to be done. Yep. The work has to be done. Either by the homeowner (cheapest way) or by a professional (most expensive way). But it must be done.

Like I said, I always like to start off a freshly laid floor factory finished oil floor with the best chance of success. With factory finished hardwax oils, that means a nice dose of refreshing/maintenance oil put down right after install. It takes about 24 hours for it to "cure" or dry. That's it. Nothing exciting. And it makes the floor much more attractive and homeowners much happier for much longer.

Remember: we have NO IDEA how long those floors were sitting in a warehouse. It could be 2 days (freshly applied UV oil) or it could be 10 months (very dry looking UV oil...means it is time to reapply). So you might as well go ahead and apply more at the time of install and be done with it. It makes for a MUCH HAPPIER situation.

@Alexandra Nickson

Yes, we have full display in our Bloomington MN showroom for years. We sell a few good size orders each year. Their floors are finished with hardwax oil. For all oil floors, there should be no specific time for re-oiling. I would say it more has to do with the usage and how well you maintain your floor based on manufactures' instruction.

@Chess,

I wouldn't be scared by the oiling process. You should not need it for long time to come if the floor has been oiled and ready to use by the manufacturer. Plus it should be an easier process than sanding and refinishing a polyurethane floor.

Unique Wood Floors, Oh resanding and refinishing is not something I will ever be doing - I can promise you that. :-) It's just me in my house, no pets either, so wear is very light. I just don't want an annual task of oiling floors. And SJ McCarthy even said it was best to do it as soon as the floors were installed. OY VEY!

We have rewrote our Oil Maintenance Guide since. Thanks.

Oiled Maintenance Guide

Here is our Hopkins showroom with 6 UV olied textured floors installed 3 years ago. They've been maintained by Woca Oil Soap and Refresher on the monthly basis. Still look like new.

One issue I haven't seen discussed on the oiled floors: how is this supposed to feel under bare feet? We had a couple samples of oil finish in our house a few weeks ago and all family members gave it a good walking over and concluded it felt uncomfortably oily underfoot. Maybe it had just been oiled, I don't know (the rep didn't answer my inquiry).

I don't mind the oil aspect as it seems natural (good) for wood. But for practicality's sake, how does one walk on an oiled floor without bringing oil onto other parts of the house (rugs, tile, etc.)? And doesn't dust, dirt, pet hair, etc. end up getting stuck to an oil finish more than a polyurethane finish? My DH is a longtime restaurant employee and sees oil as the enemy of clean, especially on a floor. Thoughts?