Finishing Red Oak Plank walls

[keitht]

Hi all. Hopefully someone here can provide some words of wisdom.

I am planning down rough Red Oak lumber to install on the walls of my house. I'm shooting for a rustic look for the rooms.

I need suggestions for a finish that will bring out the grain in the Red Oak. I don't want a hard finish. I was thinking something along the lines of an oiled finished look.

But this will have to cover a lot of area so I need something that is economical enough and not extensively labor intensive. After all, this is not a small peice of wood - it's most of the interior of the house.

Another point: I don't really want to radically change the color or the wood. Just give it some luster and bring out the pattern.

[Bohuntr27]

One of the products I like to use is Watco Danish Oil, if you want to keep the natural look and feel of the red oak.

[GenerationW.W]

I agree, Danish oil would be the look and finish you want but it is pretty labor intense. Food for thought, what ever finish you decide to go with, make sure you apply it before the install. When the wood shrinks and you don't put the finish on before hand, the bare spots stick out like a sore thumb.

[keitht]

The install is well on its way, so I can't go back and undo. The oak is kiln dried if that makes any difference. I don't know how much shrinkage I will get. The dealer said "none."

[FrankC]

Wood moves throughout the seasons with changes in humidity, closer it is to room conditions when installed the less it will happen.