Frequently Asked Questions
General
Is Rubio Monocoat environmentally friendly?
Rubio Monocoat is the reference when it comes to high quality and environmentally friendly wood protection. Our Oils are 0% VOC and are Toy safe certified. We are also the only oiling solution globally to have been awarded the Eurofins Indoor Air Comfort Gold Label Certification.
Does Rubio Monocoat provide a colour matching service?
Does Rubio Monocoat have a visualization app before I apply the colour to my entire floor?
Yes, just click on www.rubiomonocoatkingofcolours.com
How do I add more sheen?
Can I use it on cutting boards?
Do you have an example of this colour on timber?
We do sell a colour fan oil plus 2c on oak. However, due to the numerous timber species, age and batch the finish can vary. We also sell 20ml samples. It is always recommended to try the oil on your timber first. If you purchase a larger quantity at a later stage we do allocate a discount code.
Do you sell samples?
We have various products available in 20ml or 100ml sample sizes. If you later purchase a larger quantity in the same colour we shall allocate a discount code for your purchase.
This link is an example of samples available for Oil plus 2c (indoor use)
Which product is recommended for interior use?
Our interior products are:
Pre Colour Easy and Oil plus 2c
Pre colour easy is a water based stain which gives a more ‘solid’ looking finish but still shows the grain of the wood
Oil plus 2c is the protective layer
Both of these products are available in a variety of colours and any colour combination is definitely personal choice.
Can you mix the colours?
Yes you can mix two shades of Oil Plus 2C as it’s made from the base.
Can it be applied over epoxy?
Yes it can be - we recommend Pure.
Preparation
What grit sandpaper should I use?
Why is it important to use Rubio Monocoat Cleaner?
- The revolutionary technology of Rubio Monocoat Oil uses molecular reactions to ensure that the oil bonds with the wood fibres within 15 seconds. If there is dust on the surface, the oil will bond with the dust. As a result, when spreading the oil with the white pad, a microscopic paste will form on the surface.
- The oil will have bonded with the dust instead of with the wood fibres.
- The cloth should only be slightly damped with Rubio Monocoat Cleaner. In that way the dust will be collected electrostatically.
Why is it important to prepare your surfaces before applying Rubio Monocoat?
Rubio Monocoat oils work best when the surface is prepared correctly. If the surface is not sanded accordingly and the dust not removed with our Rubio Cleaner then the final product will not be flawless and sanding marks will show.
What is difference between Cleaner and Woodprep?
The Woodprep has the additional element of
∙ Reducing sanding errors and any small scratches.
∙ Improves the intensity of the coloured oil through better pigment absorption.
∙ Tannins in the wood are reduced, which decreases the chance of discolouration.
∙ Improves adhesion to naturally waxy and oil-rich wood types
Whereas the cleaner was originally developed mainly for the removal of residue sawdust
Pre-Treatment
What is Pre-Treatment?
A pre-treatment is used to either change the original colour of the wood, or for a creative undertone before the wood is sealed with one of our Oils. Our pre-treatments include: Rubio Fumed & Smoke, Rubio Monocoat Pre-Aging, Rubio Monocoat PreColor Easy etc.
How do I give my new wood an aged look?
By applying Rubio Monocoat Pre-Aging as a pre-treatment, before it is sealed with an oil, one can change the colour of the wood from a lighter to a darker aged look. Rubio Monocoat Pre-Aging will not only colour the hard parts of the wood but also the sap wood.
Interior Protection
What is the spread rate of Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C?
The average spread rate of Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is 30-50 sqm per litre. Your chosen sanding grit will affect the spread rate (With a rough sanding grit (60 / 100) your spread rate will be less than a 150 - 180 grit.
Can I use Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C over an existing finish?
No, Oil Plus 2C must come in contact with raw cellulose in order to work properly.
Can I apply the oil plus 2c to already protected timber?
The scientific formulation of this product determines that it must be applied to bare timber sanded to approx. 150 grit. The oil bonds to the raised fibre of the wood.
Is Oil Plus 2C a 1 coat product?
Yes. the scientific formulation of the product means that the oil bonds to the raised fibre of the wood. (hence the recommended final sand of 150 grit). Therefore a second coat will not have any ‘bonding’ and thus just sit on top and be wiped off as excess.
Can you apply Rubio Monocoat Oil Varnish 2C on top of Oil Plus 2C?
Yes, especially for those high traffic areas such as entrance hallways, kitchen counter tops, stairs etc...
Can I mix different colours of Oil Plus 2C?
Can I cover the floors after they've been finished with Rubio Monocoat oil?
What is Valchromat, and how to protect it?
Valchromat is a wood fibre panel which is coloured throughout and engineered for high physical performance. The fibres are individually impregnated with organic dyes and chemically bonded by specifically developed resins that give the panels their special properties. Manufactured in different colours, dimensions and thicknesses.
To protect valchromat panels, we recommend using our oil based products for eg. Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C and Hybrid wood Protector. You can apply the oil onto the valchromat panels by orbital sander using our blue valcromat pads.
Is Oil Plus 2C suitable for high traffic areas?
Oil plus 2c is sold in approximately 80 countries worldwide and is used in residential and commercial environments. As long as part A and part B (accelerator) is used, this finish is highly durable.
Regular maintenance of our products is also recommended to preserve durability of finish.
Which product can I apply to my oak floor to make it look like a natural matt finish?
We would recommend Oil plus 2c Mist 5% but we do suggest you try a sample first to ensure this is the finish you require.
Do you sell a clear oil?
On most of our products there is a clear non-pigmented option named Pure.
I would like some advice on a suitable Interior product to colour and seal my worktop/ floor/ furniture/ kitchen
Our oil plus 2c product is suitable for this purpose on any type of timber, engineered timber, modified or wood composite
How do I apply Oil Plus 2C?
INSTRUCTIONS:
- SAND SURFACE TO BARE WOOD
- FINAL SAND FINISH 150 GRIT
- CLEAN OFF ALL DUST (WOOD CLEANER ADVISED)
- MIX A+B (USE WITHIN 6 HOURS)
- APPLY OIL WITH PAD (BEIGE/WHITE)
- LEAVE OIL ON FOR 5- 7 MINUTES
- REMOVE ALL EXCESS OIL WITH COTTON CLOTH
- TOUCH DRY IMMEDIATELY
- DRY WITHIN 24-48 HOURS
- CURED 5 -7 DAYS
What is the correct ratio for Oil Plus 2c part A and part B?
This is a 3:1 ratio
E.g. Part A 100ml : part B 30ml
Is Oil Plus 2C a 2 component product?
The oil plus 2c is a 2 component set
Although when 20ml and 100ml are purchased they are sold individually because these are primarily used as testing for colour. Part B accelerator does not change the colour of finish.
The part B is added for quicker drying and curing and for a stronger end result and is therefore recommended when applying oil to surfaces which will be in contact with high traffic, liquids and moisture
You can purchase the part B Accelerator separately
Ratio of part A (oil) to part B (accelerator) is 3:1
Can I buy part A and part B oil plus 2c in 20ml?
Part B is available in various sizes the smallest being 75ml
This is a link to a cart suggestion. I have included 2 size options
https://www.rubiomonocoatonline.co.uk/apps/share-cart?load=ff87e454-380c-4bb6-874d-b9ac38b2236b
Is part B accelerator in Oil Plus 2C necessary?
The oil plus 2c is a 2 component set
Although when 20ml and 100ml are purchased they are sold individually because these are primarily used as testing for colour. The part B does not change the colour of finish.
The part B is added for quicker drying and curing and for a stronger end result and is therefore recommended when applying oil to surfaces which will be in contact with high traffic, liquids and moisture
You can purchase the part B Accelerator separately
Ratio of part A (oil) to part B (accelerator) is 3:1
The surface, or part of the surface, must be covered after treatment. How do I do this?
Basically, this can be done with Oil Plus from 2-3 days after the treatment, and for the RMC Oil Plus 2C from 48 hours after the treatment.
- Use felt or corrugated cardboard (with the even side face down). Never use any kind of tape. Please take into account that you need to add the time the surface is covered to the indicated drying time (which varies depending on the type of oil you used – see the technical leaflet).
Is Oil Plus 2C food safe?
Technically, this asks if the product is safe to ingest, but we understand what you're getting at.
While we do not recommend ingesting our products, it can be safely used on a food contact surface. We even have a Food Contact Compliance from an independent testing institute.
Can I use Oil Plus 2C over our existing finish?
No, Oil Plus 2C must come in contact with raw cellulose in order to properly work.
How do I know whether the floor is sufficiently dry after treatment?
Use a cotton cloth or a small area of the pad to rub over an inconspicuous area of the surface. If no oil sticks to the cloth, the surface has dried sufficiently.
How can I remain my table/worktop spotfree?
Rubio Tannin Primer can be used before applying Oil Plus 2C for horizontal surfaces often subjected to liquids, such as kitchen worktops or bathroom furniture.
What is the shelf life of Oil Plus 2C?
The product can be stored up to 36 months in dry conditions and in its original packaging.
If you mix A and B component both together, the product can only be used for a maximum of 4-6 hours after mixing.
When can I cover my floor after I have treated it with Oil Plus 2C?
You can cover your floor ( with e.g. cardboard) after 12-24h but keep in mind that doing this will temporarily stop the curing. So when you remove the covering, wait 5 more days before cleaning it with water.
Exterior Protection
Can Hybrid Wood Protector be used for indoors?
Yes, RMC Hybrid Wood Protector can be used indoors to treat surfaces like parquet floors, wooden bathroom furnishings and kitchen worktops. These items are often used intensively which is why it’s obligatory to add 10% of RMC Accelerator to the oil.
Can we use Rubio WoodCream for exterior furniture?
We do not recommend using Rubio WoodCream on external furniture. External furniture contains horizontal surfaces and Rubio Woodcream is recommended for vertical surfaces only.
Can we use Rubio WoodCream only on vertical wood?
We recommend using Rubio WoodCream on vertical surfaces only.
Is Part B accelerator required for Hybrid Wood Protector?
Up to 10% Part B accelerator should be added to Hybrid Wood Protector for all horizontal surfaces and also in combination with Sunprimer HWP.
Can Rubio WoodCream be applied on every wood type? Also on cedar?
Rubio WoodCream can be applied on all wood types, also on cedar.
How long does Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector last?
Hybrid Wood Protector oiled wood surfaces will require maintenance and attention more often than interior surfaces due to exterior exposure harshness. The geographical location, the wood type and the colour of the oil will dictate the frequency of reoiling!
In general, a horizontal exposed wood substrate will weather approximately four times faster than a vertical exposed substrate in the same location.
Even though we recommend an annual visual check up, horizontal surfaces like patios and exterior furniture should have maintenance every year, whereas vertical surfaces only every 3 to 5 years.
Maintenance is done with Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector in the original colour. Sanding will not be necessary!
Do we have to apply Rubio WoodCream on each side of the wood? In order to give Rubio WoodCream some tension on the wood?
You can apply Rubio WoodCream on one side if the wood is installed. But if you apply Rubio WoodCream on unstable or thin wood you have to apply it on both sides of the wood.
What is the general ratio of Rubio WoodCream - Rubio WoodCream Softener?
This depends on the transparancy you want to achieve. We recommend a ratio of maximum 1:1 Rubio WoodCream Softener versus Rubio Woodcream.
How long can Rubio WoodCream be exposed in sunlight before it discolours?
It will depend on the climate and orientation. Please consult the maintenance and warranty instructions.
Is the warranty altered when using Rubio WoodCream Softener?
Yes, please consult the maintenance and warranty instructions.
Are Rubio WoodCream and Rubio WoodCream Softener VOC-free?
Yes, Rubio WoodCream and Rubio WoodCream Softener are both VOC free.
Can you expand on self-cleaning?
The self-cleaning effect represents the water-repellent effect that will cause the water drops to pick up dirt from the surface and therefore the surface will be clean.
How long does the WoodCream last?
Rubio provides a 10-year guarantee on: a long-lasting wood protection that will not flake off, colour retention and water-repellent effect. All colours are covered by the guarantee, with exception of the colour Transparent #0.
However a regular maintenance is needed. Please consult the maintenance and warranty instructions for all details.
What are the general maintenance instructions for the WoodCream?
In general we recommend a yearly visual check-up just after winter season. Please check for the presence of the following three points:
a. Dirt & green deposits; clean with low pressure water and soft brush
b. Fading out of colours
c. Diminishing pearl effect
If necessary (concerning point b./c.) apply a maintenance coat according the instructions. The frequency of maintenance depends on the weather conditions:
· In normal weather conditions: every 5 years
· In extreme weather conditions: every 3 years
· In ideal circumstances, this can take significantly longer: up to 10 years
Normal climates: when the colour fades, apply a maintenance coat of Rubio WoodCream with Rubio WoodCream Softener in a ratio from 9 parts Rubio WoodCream and 1 part Rubio WoodCream Softener to 1 part Rubio WoodCream and 1 part Rubio WoodCream Softener in order to achieve the desired result. Consult the technical data sheet for more information.
Frequency according to exposure, geographical situation, solar orientation of the treated wood, wood type, and desired shade. Waterfront, seaside, pilling, wetland, and marshland … sometimes requiring a more frequent maintenance.
How many layers Rubio Woodcream do you need to apply?
Can be applied in 1 or 2 layers depending on the look you want. A second layer can be applied after at least 3 hours.
Do you have any Woodcream application tools?
Yes. We have a specially developed Rubio Woodcream brush made of polyester fibre to make sure you don't leave any brush marks and that the product doesn't dry on the brush easily. You can use the brush on both smooth and rough surfaces.
Rubio Woodcream Brush is available in 3 different widths: 1”, 2” and 3”.
What is the total drying time for the Rubio Woodcream?
Depending on the climatic conditions: ± 12 hours
Maintenance
What product should I use to clean small spots on my floors or furniture?
Rubio Monocoat Surface Care is the handy, ready to use version of RMC Soap. RMC Surface Care is suitable for fast cleaning of small floor surfaces and local spots on wooden floors, tables, counter tops etc.
What should I do if the colour of my wooden flooring starts to fade?
Rubio Monocoat Universal Maintenance Oil is a universal maintenance oil used for protecting and refreshing the color of oiled wooden surfaces. The maintenance frequency depends on the intensity of the floor traffic. It is advisable to apply this treatment just before the colour fades. RMC Universal Maintenance Oil will nourish the wood, give it a fuller look (satin sheen) and increase the fluid resistance. Maintenance with the RMC Oil Plus 2C in its original colour should be done when the treated surface starts to show too much wear and tear or if the colour needs to be repaired.
Can I use over the counter cleaner(s)?
No, most over the counter cleaners have solvents or caustic qualities that could strip the protective properties of the finish. We only recommend using Rubio Monocoat maintenance products.
What is the recommended maintenance regime of Oil Plus 2C?
- Regular use of Universal soap which removes all dirt and grease thoroughly, without leaving a film. Keeps the matt, natural look of the wood. (no more than once a week)
- Refresh Eco refreshes and restores all wooden surfaces that have been treated with oil. Depending on wear and tear, Refresh Eco can be applied several times a year at certain areas. This may be necessary if the surface feels dry. Refresh Eco is not pigmented. This product should not be used on floors.
- Universal Maintenance Oil is used for protecting and refreshing the colour of oiled wooden surfaces. The maintenance frequency depends on the intensity of the traffic. It is advisable to apply this treatment just before the colour fades. Universal Maintenance Oil will nourish the wood, give it a fuller look (satin sheen) and increase the fluid resistance. Maintenance with the Oil Plus 2C in its original colour should be performed when the treated surface starts to show too much wear and tear or if the colour needs to be repaired.
What’s the difference between Refresh Eco and Universal Maintenance Oil?
Refresh Eco - Depending on wear and tear, Refresh Eco can be applied several times a year in certain areas. This may be necessary if the surface feels dry Universal maintenance oil - protecting and refreshing the colour of oiled wooden surfaces. It will nourish the wood, give it a fuller look (matt sheen) and increase the liquid resistance