Table of Contents
- Water-repellent and resistant Against common...
- Non-abrasive and does Not crack, Flake, peel or...
- Maximum of 2 coats on raw wood, 1 coat for...
- 500 ml covers approximate 12 meter square per coat
In this post, we are going to discuss what finish to use on new oak doors. There are many different choices and it can get pretty confusing. Not only that, there are various misconceptions about each of the different finishes which makes choosing one or the other even more difficult. In this post, I am going to try and clear up any confusion you may have about the various options and help you make an informed decision when it comes to selecting the right finish for your new oak doors.
The importance of selecting the right finish for your door
It is important to select the correct finish for your new oak doors. Selecting the right finish will not only show off the beauty of the wood in terms of its colour and grain pattern, but it will protect it for many years to come from bumps, knocks, stains and the damaging effects of UV.
How to choose the right finish for your door
The best way to choose the right finish for your new oak doors is to read other peoples recommendations, reviews of suitable products and make an informed decision.
However, I am sharing my experience with you today, to hopefully save you the time and effort in carrying out this research by sharing my experience with you and providing you with a recommendation that will be sure to provide a perfect result for your new oak doors.
The most common types of finishes for interior doors
Some people prefer to use danish oil, tung oil or linseed-based oil for finishing their doors. All of these are good options, however, in my experience and from the research that I have done, Osmo is by far the most recommended brand of door finish, especially when it comes to oak doors.
Reasons to use oil based finish for interior oak doors
If you are looking to keep the oak visible (and why wouldn’t you?) then an oil-based finish is best as it will soak into the wood rather than coating it. This will add to the protection of the fibres of the oak and provide a far better and longer-lasting finish.
How to apply finish to oak doors
Which method of application you use is a personal choice, but in my opinion, you have two main options for applying finish to your new oak doors:
Flat brush
Osmo themselves recommend that you use a flat brush similar to their own Natural Bristle Brush. This way you can coat the doors in even strokes, reducing the amount of overspill and splashing.
Brushes tend to be more durable than foam rollers and are certainly more easy to clean.
- Osmo Quality Brush 60mm
- For use with Paint, Hard Wax oils etc
Microfibre roller
Alternatively, you could use a microfibre roller set. This reduces the chances of brush strokes or stray bristles being left in the finish and provides even coverage.
Rollers in general are great for covering large areas as they absorb a lot of finish and as such, this is a great alternative to a brush application.
- wooden oil
- Theoretical Coverage: 30 - 100m2 per 1 litre for...
- Application Temperature: Over 5°C
- Cleaner: Clean tools with Osmo Brush Cleaner
- Add Osmo Decking Cleaner to mop water (dosage...
Preparation and application
With any new timber, before you apply a finish, you should always give the door a quick sanding all over with non-clogging 180-220 grit sandpaper. This way, you are sure of a smooth finish.
Once you have applied the first coat, wait at least 24 hours for the finish to fully soak into the wood. You will notice that the surface of the wood has now become rough again. This is because the oil has soaked into and raised the wood fibres.
Therefore, it is important to give the door another light sanding before applying a second coat of oil.
The video below provides a great demonstration of how best to apply Osmo oil for a professional finish.
https://youtu.be/Z88jg1q7Sm8
Conclusion
To ensure that your new Oak doors look great and last for a long time, not only does your choice of finish matter, but it is how you apply that finish too.
I have always used Osmo Wooden Door oil and have been delighted with the end results, so you can’t go far wrong with my recommendation. Try it yourself and see.
- Water-repellent and resistant Against common...
- Non-abrasive and does Not crack, Flake, peel or...
- Maximum of 2 coats on raw wood, 1 coat for...
- 500 ml covers approximate 12 meter square per coat
