Replies

1. 
   YesMaam27577 | Sep 27, 2003 04:37pm | #1

   I've not used either, but I have heard a lot of good things about Penefin. I'm also a regular at the Breaktime forum. Penefin has been recommended there a number of times. It is primarily a linseed oil product, and we all know that linseed oil is very good for wood. And I LOVE the look of an oil finish.

   In fact, I just used a linseed oil-based deck stain on my new deck.

   But note that anytime that you use any oil finish (tung or linseed) for a floor, or for an exterior surface, there will be a need for maintenance. Every couple of years, you'll need to apply more of the stuff. (But this is no different than any other finish you could select. Watersealers, stains, even the toughest of porch paints wear.)

   Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.
1. 
   pino | Sep 27, 2003 05:31pm | #2

   THanks for the feedback. I too love the look of an oil finish. As for maintainance, that is actually the reason I am choosing oil. I figure reapplicatio0n of a low lustre oil will aplly easier than some of the higher gloss spar varnishes.

1. 
   YesMaam27577 | Sep 28, 2003 01:37am | #3

   You're right on the mark concerning ongoing maintenance.

   And don't forget that just about any varnish or polyurethane is a "film-forming" product. There are resins that form a film on the surface of the wood. Eventually, that added layer will chip or crack, and the floor will need to be refinished (sanded and re-varnished).

   With hardwood floors in a house, that is not considered to be a problem, since the maintenance interval is 25 years or more. When you move that same floor to an outdoor location, it will last about 4 or 5 years.

   On the other hand, oil polymerizes IN the wood. It soaks in, then a chemical reaction changes its form. As wear and the environment take their toll, you can just clean the floor, then add more oil. There is no film to remove, generally no sanding needed.

   Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.