Bangkok--23 Mar--Spark Communications
A new alternative solution has been launched into the Thai market for those wishing to provide a long lasting, natural finish to hardwood floors.
The wood oil products produced by German brand IRSA are a new option for those looking for something other than a lacquer finish.
"Our two-component wood oil is extremely efficient to apply and the process only takes around two hours, which is much faster than conventional lacquer finishes. Floors finished with our wood oil can be fully used after just 24 hours of drying time compared with lacquered floors which need up to one week before they can be fully loaded. This is a huge advantage of our product for floor renovations especially in commercial environments like restaurants and offices where downtime must be as short as possible," said Peter Kagermeier, who runs Konzept Worx, the company that distributes the IRSA product range.
After oiling various residential wooden floors in Thailand, his company has recently completed a project for the German Embassy in Bangkok with stunning results and is now using that as a springboard for new projects that are pushing for a natural product that brings out the true beauty of natural wood flooring.
"When I moved to Bangkok 11 years ago, I could not find any oil product for wooden floors nor a service provider that was familiar with this technique to treat my condo's teak wood floor. I eventually decided to import and apply it by myself and got a result that brought out the rich contrast in wood grain and looked much more beautiful than floors treated with conventional products on the market. In the course of time, I saw a good opportunity to integrate this kind of product and service into my interior design business. With IRSA I found a supplier with great references that offers not only the common wood oils, but also oil-hardener systems that allow for an extremly fast application and hardening time at highest quality. On top of that, the material cost per sqm are considerably lower than widely used water-based lacquer solutions due to its low material usage," added Peter.
What are the general characteristics of oiled floors:
1. Oiled floors have a more natural look compared to lacquered ones. The oil enhances the natural appearance of the wood and creates a precious looking, satin finish.
2. Oiled wooden surfaces maintain one of the best characteristics of wood: it can continue breathing. The oil penetrates into the pores, but it does not seal them off as like a lacquer layer does. The open pores can absorb and release air moisture which is beneficial for the indoor climate. At the same time fluids are prevented from soaking into the surface.
3. Oiled surfaces allow for a direct contact with the wood because it does not hide under a layer of lacquer. We touch the real wood when walking on it.
4. All oiled floors can be spot repaired locally which is impossible for lacquered floors. The later ones do need expensive re-sanding of the whole floor. Oiled floors should not need sanding if maintained properly thus extending the life of the floor.
5. The cleaning and maintenance of oil floor is easy, but the correct cleaning product must be used, they contain a small amount of oils that will nourish the floor and thus preserve its degree of protection. Depending on the degree of wear and tear reoiling the surface with maintenance oil refreshes its look.
The most prominent example of an oiled wooden floor under great strain is the airport of Copenhagen, Denmark that has been equipped with the same oiled wooden floor for over 40 years.
For more information about wood oils and their application please contact Peter at
[email protected].