How to finish wooden floor?

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This is a daft question, but please bear with me: I am a beginner.
I've got a (very) old wooden floor. It is a soft wood, with a dark finish on top.
I intend to replace some broken/loose/missing boards and then sand the floor. So far so good. Now, what do I do afterwards? I am a confused between stain/varnish/lacquer/wax/sealant/wood treatment. Which one do I need?
Ideally I want something that will protect the wood as much as possible (is it possible?) against stains and scratches. Also, I would appreciate if it would darken the colour, if nothing else to hide the difference between the over 100 year old original wood and the brand-new wickes-something-pine flooring I got to replace the broken ones.

Any advice is welcome.
Thanks
 
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If you sand it, the old boards will look as "new" as the new boards, as long as it's the same timber species, there won't be any perceptible difference.

You can still stain it to make it look darker though.

In regards to protecting against stains and scratches, a lacquer will perform best. But you might find an oil easier to apply and nicer (but less hard wearing), it's personal preference.
 
Thank you.
Oil! I new I forgot one on my list.
So does the lacquer provide both protection and colour? Do I need any primer or just several layers of lacquer?
 
I can't seem to find any "floor lacquer" products. Am I looking in the wrong place? I tried the big ones such as B&Q and homebase. Can you recommend any product that is easy to apply and good quality?
 
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Your best bet would be a retail friendly trade outlet as the retail products from Ronseal and Dulux are not a patch on trade products. They are also very expensive.

Try this link to find a distributor. Most of these will stock a range. Bona is my preferred lacquer, Loba from Lecol is not bad, Junckers average and Morells I personally try to avoid.

http://www.bona.com/en-GB/United-Ki...IMPORT-JUNE/Find-you-distributor-IMPORT-JUNE/

Lacquers tend to give slightly less colour than oils as the products are clear and only contain a tiny amount of VOC (around 5%) where hardwax oils contain around 45- 50%
You only need 2-3 coats and you can choose the sheen from Ultra Matt to high gloss and everywhere between.

Hope this helps.
 
Lacquers tend to give slightly less colour than oils as the products are clear and only contain a tiny amount of VOC (around 5%) where hardwax oils contain around 45- 50%
Beg to differ, and so will the European legislation in regards of VOC in HWO!
 
You're not missing anything, Treatex appears to have a rather high VOC content, products we use, such as Saicos HWO don't.
 
Err
http://www.saicos.de/fileadmin/bild...merkblaetter_EN/03TDS_HardwaxOilsGB_08_10.pdf
435grams per litre is a lot lower!!!!!!
But to work it out the same way as Treatex.
A litre of Hardwax weighs between 890 and 920 grams according to their specific gravity.
Thus as a percentage 435 grams divided into 900grams = 48.3% VOC

Saicos Hardwax oil contains 0.3% less VOC than Treatex

I am not denying that they are VOC compliant, just that the colour they produce is partly down to the product being 48% VOC rather than 5%.

VOC for the uninitiated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatile_organic_compound
 

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