Care guide 1 min read

Lacquered Wood Care Guide

Caring for a lacquered wood floor. What the film does, why prevention matters more than repair here, and what to do when the surface is damaged.

Finish sits

On the surface as a film

Look

Matt through to gloss

Repair

By area, not by patch

Strength

Hardwearing day to day

1/ 4

How a lacquered finish works

Lacquer forms a clear film over the timber. You walk on the film, not on the wood. That film is tough, it resists spills well, and it is the reason a lacquered floor copes so well with a family kitchen or a busy hallway.

It also changes what a scratch means. On an oiled floor a scratch is in the wood and can be filled with oil. On a lacquered floor a scratch is a break in the film, and the film cannot be blended in one spot without showing. Repairs are done by whole area, usually wall to wall or at least door to door.

Good to know: This is why prevention matters more on a lacquered floor. It resists more, but when it is marked the fix is a bigger job.

Everyday cleaning

Simple, and easier than an oiled floor.

Sweep or vacuum often

Grit is still the main enemy. The film is hard, but grit is harder.

Use a lacquer cleaner

A cleaner made for lacquered or sealed floors. It cleans without leaving residue.

Damp mop only

The film resists water on the surface, but the joints between boards do not.

No oil products

Oil soaps and wood oils cannot penetrate the film. They sit on it and leave a smeared, dull layer.

Important: Avoid polish and wax on a lacquered floor. They build up, dull the sheen unevenly, and have to be stripped off before the floor can ever be recoated.

Protecting the film

Almost every lacquer repair we hear about traces back to one of these four.

Mats at external doors

Long enough for several steps. This is the single most effective thing you can do.

Felt pads, checked yearly

A pad with grit trapped in it works like sandpaper.

Chair mats under castors

Narrow hard castors concentrate weight and cut straight through a film.

Never drag anything heavy

Lift appliances and furniture. A single drag mark can mean recoating the room.

When the surface is damaged

Be realistic about what can be done at home, because the wrong attempt makes the professional repair harder.

Light surface scuff

Often lifts with the correct cleaner and a soft cloth. Try this before anything else.

Scratch through the film

Touch up products exist, but the repair will usually catch the light differently.

Worn traffic route

Recoating by area. A patch will show as a change in sheen.

Water damage at a joint

Address the cause first. The board may need replacing rather than refinishing.

Our recommendation: Do not sand or abrade a small area in the hope of blending it. Abrading a lacquered surface changes the sheen permanently and makes the eventual recoat more work.

Looking for a lacquered floor?

Lacquer is the easier finish to live with in a busy household. Order a sample and see how the sheen sits in your room.

Browse engineered wood General wood care

Care guide Wood Flooring Care Guide Care guide Oiled Wood Care Guide Care guide How to Clean Wood Flooring Properly

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