December 13, 2020, 12:59 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

There are several products available for sealing parquet. They all share the characteristic of being applied across the entire floor surface to protect it. This also changes the surface, both visually and to the touch. The focus when sealing parquet is on hard oil or linseed oil, hard wax oil, and parquet lacquer.

Why Should You Seal Parquet?

Wood is a natural product that reacts to various influences, such as stress or moisture. For a parquet floor that is walked on daily, it should remain attractive and robust over a long period. A protective layer seals the otherwise “bare” wood surface. There are different methods for sealing parquet, each with specific advantages and disadvantages.

Related: How often should you sand parquet?

1. Sealing Parquet with Oil

When sealing parquet with oil, a so-called hard oil is typically used, not to be confused with hard wax oil (see below). Alternatively, linseed oil can be used, although it is not as durable as hard oil. Oiling results in a rather matte finish, preserving the pleasant natural “feel” of the wood.

There is a wide selection of hard oils, but it’s important to choose good quality and avoid cheap wood oil containers without resin content. A liter of hard oil costs about 25 euros on average, which should cover at least 15 square meters of parquet flooring. The price per liter decreases with larger quantities.

Advantages

• Hard oil penetrates the wood and hardens quickly.
• Relatively durable with multiple layers.
• Elastic protective layer provides a genuine “wood feel.”
• Natural color and grain are preserved and even enhanced.
• Positively affects the room climate as it is breathable.
• Oils with pigments can color the parquet as desired.
• Easy to renew when worn.

Also interesting: How colored parquet changes the room effect

Disadvantages

• Can wear out quickly depending on stress, with visible paths.
• Needs to be renewed every few years.
• Only works on untreated or already oiled parquet (must not be lacquered).
• Hard oil is sensitive to temperature fluctuations; it should not be too warm or too cold during application. Be sure to follow the instructions on the container.

More on the topic

Tips for Care How to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Beautiful for Decades

Floor Coverings Overview of Typical Types of Parquet

2. Sealing Parquet with Wax

When waxing the parquet floor, hard wax oil is usually used. This differs from hard oil in that it contains wax, which makes the wood more glossy compared to the matte wood oil finish that primarily emphasizes color. The price difference between sealants is minimal; a liter of hard wax oil also costs around 25 euros at the hardware store. However, this amount is slightly more efficient and, depending on the product, can seal about 20 square meters of parquet.

Advantages

• Like hard oil, hard wax oil penetrates deeply into the wood and protects it from within.
• Harder protective layer on the parquet floor than oil.
• Easy-care and robust surface.
• Natural wood grain is emphasized with a glossy surface.
• Easy to touch up when worn.

Disadvantages

• Needs regular renewal depending on stress.
• Somewhat sensitive to moisture, which can lead to discoloration.
• Requires relatively long drying and hardening time.

3. Sealing Parquet with Lacquer

The third option for sealing parquet is applying a layer of lacquer. Special parquet lacquer is available in stores, which serves as an additional protective layer on the wood surface. This creates a high-gloss appearance, similar to a mirror-smooth floor in a dance hall. However, there are no significant price differences here—a bucket with one liter of parquet lacquer typically costs between 20 and 25 euros. This amount only covers about ten square meters, as the lacquer layer is thicker. Therefore, lacquer is the most expensive way to seal parquet. Some parquet lacquers are also two-component and harden particularly firmly.

Advantages

• Strong glossy finish.
• High durability and resistance, remains intact and beautiful for many years.
• Robust yet elastic protective layer.
• Very easy to maintain; moisture is not a problem if there are no holes in the lacquer.
• Wood color usually remains unchanged and does not darken.

Disadvantages

• Comparatively high cost.
• Despite high durability, the lacquer layer can crack.
• If moisture penetrates through a crack under the layer, the wood discolors and the lacquer usually needs to be completely renewed.
• “Wood feel” and barefoot texture are lost under the lacquer surface.
• Not breathable, so it does not positively affect the room climate.