Hardwood floor in a barn

Q: I’m going to be putting a hardwood (probably oak) floor down in a barn. This barn has gaps and holes in the siding so it’s kind of exposed to the elements. It’s definitely exposed to the temperature. How should I treat the wood? Should I even bother letting it acclimate?

Thank you in advance.

A: Quite an upgrade. I’d probably give it a couple of coats of Waterlox penetrating tung oil finish and a couple of coats of Marine varnish. All the best with that. I wouldn’t worry about the acclimation either. Let’s face it: this floor is going to take a beating and isn’t meant to look like a piece of furniture.

Related Q: What do we apply to maple flooring that is being laid on an outside wrap around porch, that is covered by a roof? To seal it up well for Wisconsin weather?

A: I would probably go with a couple of coats of Waterlox followed by a couple of coats of exterior marine varnish. Not the choice of wood I would use on an exterior porch.

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