Treatex^® Hardwax Oil Traditional FAQs

Why hasn’t my surface dried within 3-6 hours?

The most common reason for slow drying is over-application which can increase the drying time by anything up to 8 hours. If you are applying Treatex^® Traditional Colours cloth off any excess product to shorten drying time. Increase warmth and ventilation to decrease drying times.

How can I clean Treatex^® Hardwax Oil from brushes and rollers?

Rollers and brushes can be cleaned using white spirit.

What should I do with cloths covered in Treatex products?

Any cloths/towels that become impregnated with our products should be allowed to dry out flat to avoid self combustion.

What can I do if the surface becomes dull?

This dullness is often caused by incorrect cleaning methods or materials. Use Treatex^® Floor Care for cleaning and maintenance. This will bring back the usual sheen to the surface.

I have applied two coats of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil Matt but have now decided I would prefer a Satin finish. What Can I do?

You could simply apply one coat of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil Satin. Alternatively for a better finish clean the floor with Treatex^® Refreshment Cleaner using a buffing machine and a soft pad. Rinse clean and allow to dry for approximately 3 hours then apply one coat of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil Satin.

Can I apply Treatrex^® Traditional Colours on top of clear Treatex^® Hardwax Oil?

Treatex^® Traditional Colours must be applied before clear Treatex^® Hardwax Oil. The pigments need to penetrate in to unfinished timber.

Do I have to apply clear Treatex^® Hardwax Oil Clear on top of Treatex^® Traditional Colours?

Two coats of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil Traditional Clear should be applied on top to protect the coloured pigments used in Treatex^® Traditional colours.

What is the approximate coverage of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil?

Coverage is highly dependant on the type of wood and method of application. Coverage is approximately 20 square metres per litre, 1 coat.

I have noticed from your instructions that you recommend sanding the floor prior to application. Would this be necessary on a newly installed floor?

Treatex^® Hardwax Oil is not a grain filler and therefore (within reason) the finish is only as good as the prepared surface. As long as the surface is smooth (as if sanded with 120 grit paper) you will have no problems.

My tin of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil has a skin on it. Can I still use it?

Treatex^® Hardwax Oil will skin over in an open tin, remove the skin, stir well and use as normal.

Can I alter the sheen level of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil?

Yes, all products in the Treatex^® Hardwax Oil range are compatible and mixable.

Can I apply Treatex^® Hardwax Oil over other finishes?

You must try a test area to see how Treatex^® Hardwax Oil reacts with other finishes. It will go over most but not all.

Can I use Treatex^® Hardwax Oil outside?

No, frost will break down the wax.

Can I use Treatex Hardwax Oil in my bathroom?

Yes, but insure your floor is totally water resistant. The wood may move if it gets wet.

Will Treatex^® Hardwax Oil prevent my dog scratching my floor?

Dog traffic can be very tough on a floor, especially when the dog is large. If a dogs claws are newly cut then the edges of the claws are very sharp and may cause scratches. A dog with claws naturally worn by walking is far less likely to scratch the finish. However the timber may still be dented depending on what type of wood you have.

Can I use Treatex^® Hardwax Oil over under floor heating?

Yes Treatex ^® Hardwax Oil can be used over under floor heating. Once dried surfaces treated with Treatex ^® Hardwax Oil are resistant to high temperatures.

Can Treatex^® Hardwax Oil be used round a fire place?

A dried surface treated with Treatex^® Hardwax Oil does not ignite unless in contact with direct flames and even then does not assist the spread of flame. Timber finished with Treatex^® Hardwax Oil is really difficult to burn.

Can I use Treatex^® Hardwax Oil near my swimming pool?

If you are lucky enough to have an indoor swimming pool then yes, the high wax content offers protection against many chemicals including chlorine.

Can Treatex^® Hardwax Oil be used to seal porous stone?

Treatex^® Hardwax Oil can be used to seal porous stone like slate but being an oil it can change the colour of stone. You must try a small test application first to see the effect because once applied it is impossible to remove Treatex^® Hardwax Oil from stone.

I am about to finish two rooms and an interconnecting hallway with Treatex^® Hardwax Oil. Is there a best place to start?

You should always start furthest away from the door and work out of the room.

How should I apply Treatex^® Hardwax Oil in relation to the board direction?

Our product can be applied in any direction to start with but finish up and down the boards.

How can I avoid overlap marks?

Rollers saturated with Treatex^® Hardwax Oil should be rolled out on an untreated area before crossing a treated area

If I start application with a brush round the edges first, will roller application later be ok given that the two areas will be drying at different times?

Do not work too far ahead as the edge will start to dry and then the roller will "pull" the finish up again. As a rule you should not go back over wet Treatex^® Hardwax Oil after about ten minutes as it will have started to dry and will not settle out properly.

Can you recommend a product to fill blemishes prior to coating?

Any 2 pack stainable filler, follow the manufacturers instructions for application. Please note any filler will colour differently to the bare wood.

We had a new oak parque floor fitted 18 months ago, with an oil finish. We are developing small cracks between blocks - will Treatex^® Hardwax Oil fill these gaps?

Treatex^® Hardwax Oil will not fill between the blocks, it will run down between the blocks. It sounds like you need a stainable filler but beware filling can make a mess of a floor if done incorrectly. Usually floor would be filled first, sanded right back and then finished. Filler can alter the appearance of wood.

I have old pine boards finished with shellac which I would like to refinish with Treatex^® Hardwax Oil. I heard you could use methylated spirit to remove the shellac, is this correct?

If you use a solvent to remove a finish the solvent dissolves the finish. This means whilst it will appear that all of the shellac will come off a lot of it will get rubbed into the wood. This might lead to uneven absorption of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil which could mean appearance might not be uniform and the finish may not be as durable as usual. We would recommend sanding the floor to remove the shellac.

I have a wenge work surface that I would like to apply Treatex^® Hardwax Oil to. What is the best way to do this?

Apply Treatex^® Hardwax Oil thinly as any scratches will be highlighted by dark surface of wenge. Better to thin with Treatex^® Isoparaffin as this helps Treatex^® Hardwax Oil penetrate wenge surface. Rolls royce result can be achieved by over applying one coat - allow to dry for 24 hours and sand back using 150 grit paper to the wood. You should end up with a silky smooth finish. Apply a further thin coat of Treatex^® Hardwax Oil. This allows the wood to take all the oil it can but by sanding back the finish (not the wood) you only end up with a thin coat of wax on top of your surface.

Is Treatex^® Hardwax Oil matt oil completely clear when dried on green oak beams ? I am trying to avoid the pigmentation which can come from, say, pure linseed oil.

Treatex^® Hardwax Oil matt will have some impact on colour depending on the timber used. Best way to estimate this impact is to wet the timber with water - this will give you a reasonable indication of what Treatex^® Hardwax Oil will look like when dry. If your are still uncertain we suggest you purchase a sample pot and do a test on an inconspicuous area.

I have a floor with a built in fish tank. Should I remove the fish before finishing the floor with Treatex^® Hardwax Oil?

We recommend removing the fish until Treatex^® Hardwax Oil is fully dried.

I spilt Treatex^® Floor care on my formica kitchen work surface and it was left it to dry solid. How can I remove this?

You could try nail polish remover but be warned this may damage your work surface.