FAQs

Q. Do you offer a wood floor fitting service for your flooring?
A. Not directly - but we have lists of wood flooring professionals that we can put you in touch with so that you can get the most competitive quote direct.

Q. Can you advise on the difference between Osmo Clear Oil Wood Finish and Osmo Clear Woodstain and Protector?
A. The main difference is that the clear oil is ideal for garden furniture - particularly garden table tops. The wood stain and protector contains fungicide to stop mould growth and is suited to external wood doors and windows. It can be used on garden furniture - but not on food areas such as table tops because of the fungicide content.

Q. I want to purchase an oil to apply to skirtings and doors which have previously been waxed - is this possible?
A. You need to be very careful because the wax is likely to prevent an oil or hardwax oil product such as Osmo from penetrating into the pores of the wood. This would leave it sitting on the surface and it may fail to dry. We suggest you sand off the wax back to bare wood and test a small area first.

Q. Do you supply samples of your wood flooring products?
A. Yes - free samples are delivered direct to your home. Click here to request a sample.

Q. How wide can you go with a solid oak flooring plank?
A. We don't like to go wider than around 150mm because above this width there is a risk of cupping and curling across the boards.For really wide boards we recommend a solidengineered board with 15mm multiply with a 6mm single plank top layer - these boards have excellent dimensional stability.

Q. I have been advised to buy Danish Oil for my solid wooden flooring - is this a good idea?
A. Some people do use Danish Oil which, in general, is quite an economic option. However we would always recommend a hard wax oil such as Osmo Polyx Oil, which is a blend of natural oils and waxes.It is not a cheap option as the ingredients are more expensive than Danish Oil but it is an excellent product - very durable and with very good coverage.

Q. Do you have any showrooms with sales people that we can talk to?
A. No, we do not have showrooms. As an internet company we keep our costs low and pass these directly onto our customers. We do not have to pay for expensive showroom premises or commission to sales staff - but we do offer professional, impartial advice over the phone, and free wood floor samples delivered direct to your home.

Q. Can the Osmo Polyx hardwax oil be used on oak kitchen worktops? And if so should it be used alone or in conjunction with anything else?
A. Yes it can - although Osmo also do a 500ml tin of Kitchen Worktop Oil which is specifically designed for the job. It is also advisable to use Osmo Wood Protector first as a wood primer, particularly around kitchen sinks, as this has extra water repellency.

Q. I have a solid oak kitchen floor which was coated with Ronseal Diamond seal, which appears to have worn away. I would like to apply an oil finish - is this possible?
A. First sand off the lacquer back to the bare wood and final sand to 120 to 150 grit and finish in an Osmo hardwax oil. If in any doubt test a small area first in a corner or cupboard area.

Q. I have just sanded my softwood bathroom floor and treated it with Osmo wood protector - is it OK to put Polyx Oil on top of the wood protector?
A. Yes, this is the correct application. Ideally wait until the next day before applying two thin coats of Osmo Polyx Oil on with a natural bristle brush.

Q. Please advise the best way of fixing engineered wood flooring planks to a new floor construction with underfloor heating?
A. Assuming this is a wet pipe system embedded in a concrete screed, the best method would be to use a Sikabond T54 adhesive in a full contact installation where the adhesive is spread directly onto the concrete with a knotched trowel.

Be aware though that, depending on site conditions and thickness of the screed, it can take up to three months (typically) for the moisture level in the screed to fall to the required 4% or less before installation can take place.The Sika MB Primer product can be used to bring this period of time down to one and a half months.

Also, follow the underfloor heating manufacturer's commissioning instructions to the letter - normally the heating system temperature must be raised slowly over a period of time.

Q. I want to finish a hard wood floor that I have sanded down to bare wood in an old victorian house. I want a finish that is easy to apply and low maintenance - what do you suggest?
A. Osmo Polyx Oil is easy to apply. Just brush on with a natural bristle brush in two thin layers, one on day one, leave to dry overnight and apply the second coat on day two.

Maintenance depends on the amount of traffic and wear but in general it's a simple three step procedure:
1. Regular sweeping with a soft broom or vacuuming with soft attachment, maybe every two to three days.
2. Periodically washing with Wash & Care wood floor cleaner with a very well wrung mop, say once a week.
3. Occasional cleaning with Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner to rejuvenate the floor by topping up the wax content, perhaps every three to four months.

Then top up with Osmo hardwax oil - first cleaning the floor and then adding one thin coat. The timeframe depends on the footfall across the floor, its position and wear through shoes etc - but in general this could be anything from one to three or more years.

Q. I'm looking for Ogee profile skirting that is very wide - at least 200mm tall and 2cm depth. Can you help?
A. Yes - we do a standard 145mm x 20mm Ogee profile skirting and through our bespoke milling service we can make skirting in any size or profile that you require.Prices remain competitive on bespoke milled products as long as the quantity is not too small.

Q. Do you have wood for floors suitable for use with underfloor heating?
A. Yes - our 21mm engineered wood flooring is the most suitable because it has the best dimensional stability and won't expand and contract as much as other wood floors.

Q. I am about to use Osmo hardwax oil, having restored some old floorboards. Before I stain the boards I need to fill then. Can you advise what to fill the gaps with?

A. It depends upon the size of the gaps. Slight gaps are best filled with your own filler paste made up from a mixture of sawdust from the sanding process mixed together with PVA glue.Larger gaps can be filled with a filler such as Osmo Wood Filler (or similar) - but make sure that the filler is compatible with the finish that you intend to use (in this case Osmo Polyx Oil).

Q. There are vinyl tiles under my carpet which are stuck to the concrete floor with bitumen. It's all flaky and the tiles are really easy to get up - can I glue solid wood flooring direct to the concrete?
A. We would recommend putting down MB Primer first rather than getting all the bitumen up off the floor. Then use Sikabond T54 adhesive.

Q. Do you sell to the public via your site?
A. Yes, we do.

Q. I have some old oak doors which are covered with paint. I'm proposing to strip the doors back to the original wood, and once back to the wood I would like to give it a clear coating. What would be the best for oak doors and how many coats will be required to get the best look? I'm after a good quality finish and look.
A. We would have no hesitation in recommending Osmo Polyx Oil in either a matt or satin finish. This will give excellent protection but also a fantastic finish that is very natural and won't hide the oak under a varnish/lacquer surface coating.

Q. I have recently laid a new solid oak floor in my house - which oil/varnish would you would recommend? I'm looking to achieve a natural, satin finish.
A. We would recommend a hard wax oil finish such as Osmo Polyx Oil. This will be durable and practical and unlike a varnish will give you a very natural looking finish.

Q. Which of your products would you advise for applying to interior stripped pine doors?
A. We would recommend a hard wax oil finish such as Osmo Polyx Oil in either a Matt or Satin finish.Sometimes new pine can get a yellowish effect with a clear oil or varnish, in which case you may wish to use one of the Osmo wood wax stains first and then finish with the clear on top.

Q. Can you use the Osmo white foundation on its own for limed washed effect or do you need to follow up with one of the colours?
A. Yes, although you would need to finish with an Osmo Polyx Oil clear on top for protection.Also, the white foundation keeps the wood close to its original colour with only a slight whitening of the floorboard. Therefore you may wish to try Osmo white 3111 as well (available in sample pots) before making a decision.

Q. I am interested in the Osmo Polyx Oil Rapid. What is the minimum wait between applying coats? How long until the floor can be walked on/is resistant to water etc..?
A. The rapid version contains extra driers and will take about four to five hours to dry between coats. Always apply a thin coat as a thick coat could mean it sitting on the surface and not drying properly.

With the last coat applied, it is best to leave to dry overnight. The floor can be walked on - but treat it with kids gloves for the first week to 10 days as it needs this length of time to fully 'cure', to go really hard. Until then it is not completely durable so avoid moving heavy furniture and, if possible, do not vacuum and avoid shoes.

Q. Could you please advise whether Osmo Polyx Matt oil finish is a suitable application for a newly made external oak door and frame?
A. Sorry, it is not suitable because it contains wax and so may flake in the sunlight - but Osmo does a Wood Stain & Protector which is oil only based and is designed for this use.
Alternatively consider the Timberex Timberguard product with UV protection.

Q. Could you please tell me if your exterior wood oil/sealer is good for hard wood garden furniture and will it prevent cracking?
A. We would recommend either Timberguard by Timberex, or Osmo Exterior Wood Oil, or Osmo Wood Stain and protector - so long as it is not being used on a table top.

Q. I am interested in purchasing Sika T54 adhesive for a solid wood floor onto concrete. The house is a new build with DPM throughout. Do I need a further DPM before I apply this adhesive?
A. Sika T54 is designed for exactly this purpose and the MB Primer is not absolutely necessary apart from peace of mind - so long as the moisture content of the concrete is less than 5%. The best solution is to get hold of a good moisture meter and test the concrete - this is particularly relevant with new builds as new concrete screeds can take about 90 days to dry out.

Q. I have some very nice wood flooring in a house I have just purchased and am looking for some more so that I can take it through to an extension that I'm having built. It is veneer laminate of Oak on top of plywood - how can I match this up?
A. This flooring is sometimes called real wood veneer and laminate wood - not to be confused with laminate flooring, which is a picture of wood beneath a plastic layer. The wood you describe is a real wood 'engineered' wood floor. Find the measurement of the width, length and top layer of oak and the finish, it may be possible to match it - this is easier if you are able to send in a sample.