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Floors (including Cork & Concrete) and Furniture Finishes

What is the finish like?

Depending on the type of timber, the product used, and the grit that the timber is sanded to, a matte, satin, or semi gloss finish can be achieved. The finish is a result of the scientific blending of natural tree resins and natural plant oils in Livos Hardening Oils such as Ardvos, Meldos, and Kunos. It feels more natural under your feet, unlike the plastic coating feel associated with a varnish.

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How hard-wearing are your finishes?

The natural resins, waxes, and oils in Livos products impregnate the timber and seal it from within. There is no plastic coating on top of the timber to be worn off. A maintenance plan will keep your floor looking great for many years to come.

Rejuvenation is easy if and when required. You don't need to sand the floor (causing dust) or move out of home. There is no hard and fast rule as to how often to rejuvenate. It all depends on the area of the home, your lifestyle, and whether the floors are cleaned and vacuumed regularly.

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What about scratch marks?

Timber is a natural product and will scratch if mistreated. However, on a satin or matt finish the scratch marks are less easily visible than on a gloss finish. Oiled floors can be spot repaired if and when required.

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How do I maintain the floor?

With a little sensible care, your timber floor will be a pleasure to live with. The key is to prevent problems before they occur. The amount of care needed will depend on your location and lifestyle.

Initially, vacuuming is the best method of cleaning. After the initial hardening/curing time, you can mop the floor with the Livos TRENA Neutral cleaner that we supply and recommend. This is a concentrate, so very little is required. To add a slight sheen to the floor, GLANOS Liquid Wax Cleaner can be used. Both these products can also be used on other surfaces like tiles and lino.

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Can your oils be used on cork?

Yes. Cork is sound insulating and warm to the feet, and when treated optimally with an oiled finish, becomes a resilient, easy to care for floor covering. Maintenance is the same as for timber flooring – vacuuming, and occasional mopping with TRENA Neutral Cleaner.

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Are the oils suitable for furniture?

Yes. If the piece of furniture is already painted or stained, you will need to sand it back to bare timber. The oil cannot impregnate timber that is already treated with another product. To treat the furniture, just apply the oil with a cloth or brush, leave it to saturate and remove the excess. Some oils are also available in different colours or stains. KALDET or KUNOS oils can be used instead of painting to achieve a different look.

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How do your oils compare in price to a standard varnish?

At first glance, the prices of some of our products may appear higher than competing products. However, when the coverage rates are compared, Livos Hardening Oils are actually more economical, as the same amount of product covers a larger area. 

You should also take into account the ease of reapplication, and the fact that no toxic fumes are added to your home atmosphere. Compare this to the cost and inconvenience of regularly reapplying a chemical varnish to your floors. Not only that; each time a chemical varnish coating is replaced, re-sanding reduces the thickness of your floorboards. This eventually results in loose floorboards, so the whole surface has to be replaced.

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How do Livos treatments compare in looks to a varnished floor?

A varnished floor has a plastic coating covering the timber boards. These coatings are generally hard, and edge bond the boards together. That is, the coating does not allow the boards to move, which may cause wide, uneven gaps in some floors. So-called water based coatings and urethane based ‘Tung Oils’ also create a coating, however they generally do not edge bond the boards as the coatings are not as strong.

Once synthetic coatings wear off, re-sanding is required to recoat the floors. Floors oiled with Livos Hardening Oils feel more natural under the feet. The colour and markings of the timber are highlighted and the oil allows the boards to move individually.

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Can I seal my concrete floor or slab?

Yes. A fresh concrete floor or slab must be clean and thoroughly dry before a suitable hardening oil such as MELDOS or KUNOS can be applied. KUNOS is available in different colours. Alternatively, you can mix Livos natural oil paint with a transparent oil (1 part paint to 20 parts oil). Livos also makes a natural concrete paint.

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Exterior Timbers

Is there a Livos oil that is suitable for exterior timber decking and outdoor furniture?

Yes. Our fence and decking stain is an oil that impregnates the timber and seals it from within. There is no coating on the surface to crack, peel, or blister in the sun. To rejuvenate, no sanding back is required. Simply ensure the surface is clean and dry, then reapply.

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Does the finish require maintenance?

These are natural products and do require maintenance. To maintain, simply add a thin coat to a clean surface (no sanding required). Rejuvenation will be required every 12-24 months, depending on wear and tear and which side the area is facing,.

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How well does the finish protect against the elements?

The finish is water-repellent, weather resistant, open-pored, and permeable to water vapour. It also adheres to thin coatings of conventional stains.

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Is there a range of stains?

There are different stains available to suit different timbers and climate conditions.

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How do I apply the oil?

Application is easy, whether you're doing the initial oiling or regular rejuvenation. The oil can be applied with a cloth or brush, or by dipping or spraying in dry weather conditions.

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Paints & Tints

What is the difference between Livos and standard paints?

The Livos DUBRON paint is extremely porous and therefore permeable to water vapour. Mould does not build up as walls can ‘breathe.’ The paints are safe to use and to recycle. They have excellent coverage and provide a beautiful colour.

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Is priming necessary?

If you're using the DUBRON 400 Wall and Ceiling Paint, you'll need to prime the surface with GRAVA Primer (undercoat). However, the DUBRON 414 already has primer mixed into the paint.

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What colours are available?

The 17 main colours are: Sunny Yellow, Golden Yellow, Ochre, Red Ochre, English Red, Persian Red, Cream, Natural Umber, Burnt Umber, Linden Green, May Green, Green, Mint Turquoise, Black, Ultramarine Blue, Capri Blue, and Blue Violet.

These tints are non-fading and are mixable in any ratio to achieve different colour shades. 

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Is there gloss paint for doors and trims?

Yes. The VINDO High Gloss and CANTO Natural Oil paints are suitable for interior (VINDO also suitable for exterior) timber and metal surfaces. Suitable priming should be carried out beforehand.

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Cleaning Products and Waxes

Do I need different cleaners for different surfaces?

No. The TRENA Neutral Cleaner is suitable for oiled timber floors as well as for waxed, stained, painted, or varnished surfaces. It can also be used on kitchen benches, lino, tiles, and so on.

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Do I need a cleaner at all?

Livos cleaners are very gentle and help maintain the surface. Only a small amount is required, as the cleaners are concentrates.

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My Linoleum looks dull – what can I do?

You may use either BIVOS Oil Wax or GLEIVO Liquid Beeswax to restore the look of your floor.

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Children's Face & Finger Paints

What finger paints should I use?

You can use SALIS Natural Finger Paints on any absorbent material, such as wood, stone, unglazed clay, cardboard, or paper.  They come in a box of 6 glass containers.

Colours: Yellow, Red, Black, Green, Blue, and White.

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Which make-up (face paints) should I use?

VIDA Natural Make-up is produced from natural raw materials without preservatives.

It comes in a set of 12 colours, with a brush and cotton face cloth.

Colours: Ochre, Red ochre, English red, Persian red, Dark brown, Light brown, Black, Green, Dark blue, Light blue, Violet, and White.

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General

I am chemically sensitive and have not found paints and floor finishes that I can tolerate. Are Livos products different?

All ingredients on all Livos products are openly declared and printed on the tins. This allows you to make an informed decision. Livos products are all plant based, and oils used are food grade (not industrial grade).

However, some people are sensitive to minute quantities of essential oils. For this reason, Livos also have a large range of products that are specially made for people with these types of sensitivities. These products contain no essential oils.

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