An essential consideration is how wood should be protected and enhanced to retain its natural beauty and durability without future degradation. Two of the most popular ways of doing this is with an oil-based or water-based wood care product.
With various oil-based and water-based wood finishes on the market, it’s essential to understand the pros and cons of each product. They offer distinctly different characteristics both from a practical and a sustainability perspective.
Oil Based Wood Finish
When applied, an oil-based wood finish helps nourish the wood and retain flexibility while forming a protecting, microporous and extremely durable surface that offers great fluid resistance.
Although oil-based finishes may have a higher initial cost, savings are made due to their impressive long-term performance and ease of use.
However, these benefits are only viable if you choose a reputable product, but not all oil- based options are going to deliver the same high-quality finish, so buyers should choose carefully.
Oil Based Benefits
- Ease of application: less effort due to low viscosity and low surface tension
- High coverage: offer far greater spread and often twice coverage
- Smooth finish: good flow and levelling properties resulting in smooth and even surfaces without brush marks when dried
- Longer lifespan: provides a higher quality finish that does not crack, flake, peel or blister
- Minimal maintenance: renovate by applying another coat – no prior sanding is usually necessary
- Long preservation: does not need biocides for in-can preservation during application
- Frost resistant: saving money during transport and storage
- Long shelf life: up to 5 years reducing stock waste
- Non-toxic binding agents
Water Based Wood Finish
Compared to oil-based products, water-based finishes are faster drying, have lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and consequently much lower emissions.
This allows water-based finishes to be well-suited for interior application – as well as exteriors – whereas an oil-based finish will often require good ventilation during the application process.
Water Based Benefits
- Quicker drying times
- Lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Lower emissions
- Milder odour or often odourless
- Lower initial product costs
Oil Based Cons
- Longer drying times
- Higher levels of VOCs
- Higher emissions
- Stronger odour: requires well ventilation area during application
- Higher initial product costs
Water Based Cons
- Can contain harmful additives such as hydrocarbon-based binders such as acrylic or polyurethane
- Harder application process
- Require in-can preservatives: bioactive compounds can cause allergic reactions
- Moderate maintenance required: wood surface will need to be sanded before re-applying
- Loss of material: each sanding process results in the loss of wood thickness and potentially harmful dust
Oil Based Cons
- Longer drying times
- Higher levels of VOCs
- Higher emissions
- Stronger odour: requires well ventilation area during application
- Higher initial product costs
Water Based Cons
- Can contain harmful additives such as hydrocarbon-based binders such as acrylic or polyurethane
- Harder application process
- Require in-can preservatives: bioactive compounds can cause allergic reactions
- Moderate maintenance required: wood surface will need to be sanded before re-applying
- Loss of material: each sanding process results in the loss of wood thickness and potentially harmful dust
Polyx-Oil Tints colours (left) and Polyx-Oil Tints Honey (right) on interior wooden floor
Why Choose Osmo?
Osmo oil-based wood care products outperform other wood finishes and are designed to meet the needs of specifiers working to demanding environmental targets.
Unlike traditional oils or varnishes, they are based on renewable raw materials and the ingredients combination of oils and waxes protects the wood from within while also creating a dirt repellent surface. The fact that, once dry, they are food and animal safe and suitable for children’s toys speaks for itself.
Osmo Wood Finishes
- Durability: higher solid content means more durability
- Forms a protecting, microporous surface: protects wood from inside out and does not form a film.
- Contains harvested natural oils and hard waxes
- Uses inorganic pigments from cleaned and refined natural ores
- Based on renewable raw materials: sustainable, natural, and eco-friendly
- Animal, plant and human safe once dry
- Food safe: specific product only
- Suitable for children’s toys: specific products only
Traditional Wood Finishes
- Contain toxic and petroleum-based ingredients
- Solvents used create high volatile organic compound (VOC) levels
- Negatively effects indoor air quality and impacts health
- Oil penetrates, but does not offer surface protection
- Often less fluid resistant showing water marks if care is not taken
Osmo Wood Finishes
- Durability: higher solid content means more durability
- Forms a protecting, microporous surface: protects wood from inside out and does not form a film.
- Contains harvested natural oils and hard waxes
- Uses inorganic pigments from cleaned and refined natural ores
- Based on renewable raw materials: sustainable, natural, and eco-friendly
- Animal, plant and human safe once dry
- Food safe: specific product only
- Suitable for children’s toys: specific products only
Traditional Wood Finishes
- Contain toxic and petroleum-based ingredients
- Solvents used create high volatile organic compound (VOC) levels
- Negatively effects indoor air quality and impacts health
- Oil penetrates, but does not offer surface protection
- Often less fluid resistant showing water marks if care is not taken
Comparison: Advantages of Osmo
Find a Supplier
Learn more about each product on its product page, and find your nearest Osmo supplier today.
For any technical advice before purchasing, join the Osmo Community on Facebook for a quick response or contact the team directly via email.
