The question often arises whether it is better to varnish furniture or stairs with OLI-AQUA NORDIC or to oil them with OLI-NATURA Scandic-Oil to protect light wood with a raw wood effect. In short: there is no better or worse. It's more a matter of taste and conviction as to which finish one prefers. Each of the two products has advantages and disadvantages. Visually and haptically, they are almost identical. The main difference lies in how differently the two products protect the wood.
What is a raw wood effect varnish or oil?
In our understanding, these are non-darkening varnishes and oils whose purpose is to leave the wood visually in its raw state after protective treatment. The natural color of the wood should hardly stand out after the finish has dried back. Pore markings should also ideally not be visible. Raw wood effect varnishes and oils are preferably used on light wood types such as oak, ash, fir, or spruce indoors. Therefore, they must have high absorption against UV rays, which protects the wood from light-induced aging. The gloss level is usually reduced.
THE NORDIC RAW WOOD EFFECT VARNISH LIES ON THE SURFACE
If you prefer closed wood pores, it is best to choose the film-forming OLI-AQUA NORDIC raw wood effect varnish. This "seals" the wood, lies on the surface, and forms a resistant matte varnish film. The gloss level or the matte finish of less than 5 gloss scatters the light, further enhancing the dull-matte effect. Despite the varnish film, there is hardly any visual or haptic difference to freshly sanded or untreated wood.
OLI-AQUA NORDIC is based on aqueous bio-acrylates with the highest proportion of biogenic raw materials, characterized by sustainability and performance. Depending on the area of application, it is applied to the surface in two layers with a foam roller, a brush, or a spray gun. After complete curing, it forms a dense varnish film with high surface hardness, which makes the wood extremely resistant to mechanical influences and protects against penetrating moisture. For demanding surfaces such as table tops, the water-based varnish can optionally be processed with the B-component »OLI-AQUA Hardener 13.5« to enhance adhesion and improve properties.
Generally, sealing with varnish makes the surface easier to maintain. However, the breathable and moisture-regulating properties of the wood are limited by the varnish layer. If the varnish layer also shows scratches or damaged areas, for example, water can penetrate the varnish layer and enter the wood, leading to unsightly gray discoloration. Damaged areas cannot be partially repaired; the varnished surface must be sanded down.
Caring for and cleaning the matte varnish surface with a raw wood effect is simple: regular dusting and wiping with a damp cloth are sufficient. For stubborn dirt, occasional cleaning with the wiping soap OLI-AQUA CARE should be done.
THE SCANDIC-OIL RAW WOOD EFFECT OIL PROTECTS THE WOOD FROM WITHIN
The OLI-NATURA Scandic-Oil follows the trend of invisible surfaces. Unlike most oils, the water-based raw wood effect oil hardly darkens light wood naturally. This is made possible by vegetable oils in an aqueous emulsion, which are refined in a complex process. So, if you prefer breathable wood, a Scandic-oiled surface is an excellent choice.
Unlike a varnish that seals the wood superficially, raw wood effect oil protects from within: it penetrates the wood, saturates the pores, and cures elastically and toughly upon contact with oxygen. The oil virtually "occupies" the pores and repels water and dirt that try to penetrate the wood from the outside. In this sense, Scandic-Oil does not form a surface layer but rather an open-pored impregnation. Thus, the wood is also directly exposed to mechanical stress. The wood remains breathable and open-pored, which noticeably improves the indoor climate.
Scandic-Oil is easy to apply in two oil coats. After the first oil application, an intermediate sanding is performed to cut the wood fibers that have risen due to the water content in the wood. After dusting, a second oil coat is applied. By polishing off the excess oil from the surface, a natural matte finish is achieved. To further increase durability, Scandic-Oil can be processed with the OLI-NATURA Hardener.
An impregnated wood surface has different care requirements than a varnished one. Wear occurs directly on the wood here. As a result, unoccupied wood pores are exposed over time, and the protective effect diminishes. The wood pores must therefore be refilled again and again with fresh care oil. However, this apparent disadvantage proves to be a significant advantage: since it can always be refreshed by re-oiling, impregnated and oiled wood is one of the particularly durable and sustainable surfaces. Re-oiling is easily possible without sanding. Damaged areas can also be easily repaired, retreated, and restored.
For care refreshment, our OLI-NATURA Refresher is particularly suitable. The surface is cleaned with a damp cloth. Adhering dirt can be quickly removed with OLI-NATURA Wood Soap.
