Interior Oil Expectations FAQs

The short answer is no to a complex question. Polyurethane provides a protective film that repels water and stains, but it can be difficult to repair once damaged. Its protective coating scratches and wears down over time, making it necessary to sand and recoat the entire floor every few years. In contrast, WOCA Oils penetrate the wood and create a layer of protection from the inside out. Minor scratches and everyday wear and tear can be repaired by applying more oil to the affected area. With the recommended cleaning products, oiled floors have better resistance to stains and water damage. Without proper care, oiled floors can be more susceptible to stains and damage. WOCA Oiled floors do not require sanding when it's time to "refinish". It is a less invasive process than standard refinishing. The process is clean and apply a maintenance coat of oil, only to the areas that need it.

Forever, if the recommended care and maintenance is done.

It depends on many factors, but generally speaking a residential setting should expect to need a maintenance coat of Maintenance Oil Diamond Active in 5-10 years.

A commercial setting should expect to need a maintenance coat of Maintenance Oil Diamond Active in 1-3 years.

An oil finish can tolerate moderate wear from dogs and cats. Scratch and spills can be repaired and cleaned as long as it is done in a timely manner.

For pet accidents, the success in removing them varies depending on many factors. Try cleaning the affected area with Natural Soap first. Repeated cleaning with the Natural Soap may help to fade the stain with time.

WOCA StainRemover could be successful, depending on the severity of the stain. Be sure to follow it with touch up oil to restore the oil finish.

If there is a mild black stain from pet urine, some customers have had success with treating it with Tannin Spot Neutralizer.

There are no guarantees with completely removing pet stains. The last resort would be to replace the soiled floor boards.

No.WOCA Master Color Oil and WOCA Diamond Oil Active are penetrating oils that harden from the inside out. The natural breathable surface is easy to maintain and repairable if and when scratches or mishaps occur.

All WOCA Oils have a matte sheen. To achieve a satin sheen polish in the 2nd coat with patina discs or apply Maintenance Gel as the 2nd coat.

Not really, both types of floor finishes need to be cleaned, maintained and refinished.

With an oiled floor, we are very specific about which products to use to clean and maintain compared to a polyurethane floor.

In the long run, an oiled floor is easier to maintain because refinishing does not require sanding. An oiled floor is cleaned and a fresh coat of maintenance oiled is applied. Only refinishing traffic patterns and specific rooms can be done with oil as well.

In contrast, refinishing a polyurethane floor requires sanding the entire floor and starting over the finishing process.

Yes. Both WOCA Master Color Oil and Diamond Oil Active can be applied to cabinets, trim, doors, decorative beams, or any unfinished interior wood surface. Maintenance is similar but less frequent than flooring, since these surfaces are not exposed to foot traffic or heavy wear.

Yes, both Diamond Oil Active and Master Color Oil can be used on a butcher block, counter, table and other wood furniture. However, they are not rated as food contact safe, like WOCA Worktop Oil is

Master Color Oil is the original WOCA oil, best for residential wood floors. It has a lower solid/higher solvent ratio. Diamond Oil Active is formulated for high-traffic residential and commercial floors, with a higher solid/lower solvent ratio, making it more durable. Both can be used on any interior wood surface, including oak flooring, wood furniture, and trim.