Best protection for terrace floor?

[eriksen]

We´ve got new teracces in our living cooperative and need to know what will be the best solution in order to protect the wooden floor. Oil or wood stain? And will polyurethan laquer be best as a protection layer at the surface or are there other and better alternatives?

[havabeer69]

if its only a smallish area i'd just use oil and just re-do it every 6 months

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

How exposed are these terraces? I assume they're exterior? Do they see regular UV or rain?

PolyU is the best 'armour' in terms of minor scratching, liquid spills or direct weathering, although you can buy exterior grade Oils as well. (Indeed, with many commercial products the distinction between the two is... grey.)

Oils have the advantage that when it comes time to fix/touch-up areas it's often as simple as lightly sand/clean the affected area and wipe on another coat or two. Whether that be fixing a ding, replacing a board or just making the whole floor shine again.

PolyU isn't forgiving that way. Generally the whole floor needs to be restripped and recoated. As with anything in life, there are exceptions.

It boils down to would I prefer to do a bit of cheap, light maintenance every year or so or do I want a product that may last many years before I need to touch it again?

Basically, I agree with Havabeer.