The Most Protected Oak Floor in New Zealand: Real Results from Our Wet Mop Test
- james42230
- Nov 12
- 4 min read
When customers ask great questions, we listen, and we test.
Last week, a homeowner asked us something we had never been asked before:
“If a wet mop was left on your oak flooring, would it leave a water stain?”
It’s a fair question. The client outlined that they new with our competitors product, it certainly left a stain. While we’ve had years of experience with everything from baby bottle spills to pet accidents, we couldn’t confidently answer the wet mop question until now.
So, we decided to find out for ourselves.
Why We Ran the Test on NZ Most Protected Floor
At Marchand, we’ve always said our oak flooring is one of the most protected in New Zealand. Every board we produce is finished with nine layers of UV-cured lacquer (except Clair and Vuitton, they have water based lacquer), a process that seals the surface and enhances both durability and stain resistance.
But rather than just talk about protection, we wanted to prove it. Could our engineered oak really resist prolonged exposure to moisture?
To make it fair, we tested both ends of the colour spectrum, a light board and a dark board, to see if either finish reacted differently, and a water base lacquer and UV based lacquer.
Our Wet Mop Test: How It Was Done
Here’s exactly how we ran our in-house experiment:
Boards tested: one light oak and one dark oak from the Marchand collection (Choc and Clair)
Start time: Friday, 1:45 pm
Moisture source: a standard household mop, wrung out but still noticeably wet
Placement: the mop head was positioned directly on each board and left untouched
Duration: nearly 70 hours, all through the weekend
Photos: taken at three intervals — start, during, and finish
The Results
By Saturday morning there was visible moisture on the boards, but importantly, it sat on the surface. There was no sign of swelling, bubbling, or staining, especially across the edge/joint.
When we removed the mop on Monday at 10 am and checked again an hour later, both boards were completely dry. No marks, no dull patches, no discolouration. The lacquered surface had done exactly what it was designed to do: protect.
After nearly 70 hours of exposure, there wasn’t a single residual watermark. That’s an extraordinary result, not suprising when Marchand is the most protected oak floor in the country.
Why the Nine Layers of UV Lacquer Matter
Not all oak flooring is created equal. Many products in today’s market rely on two to four coats of finish (the next best to us is 7). Some use oil finishes that offer beauty but limited protection.
Marchand’s flooring is different. Each board is finished with nine UV-cured lacquer coats, forming a dense, micro-layered shield against wear, moisture, and staining.
Each layer is individually cured under ultraviolet light, hardening the surface to a smooth, resilient finish.
In technical terms, our lacquer system performs as a barrier coating, preventing water from penetrating the surface fibres of the oak veneer. That’s what makes a 70-hour wet mop exposure possible without damage, a testament to both craftsmanship and chemistry.
What This Means for Homeowners
Life happens. Mops drip. Kids spill milk. Guests kick off wet shoes after a rainy day. You shouldn’t have to worry that a simple mistake will ruin your floors.
The goal of engineered oak flooring should always be beauty with resilience. That’s why we design every Marchand floor to stand up to real New Zealand living, from Queenstown chalets to coastal homes in Mangawhai.
This test shows that Marchand floors aren’t just luxurious; they’re genuinely practical. When you invest in oak flooring, you’re not only buying appearance, you’re buying peace of mind.
The Science Behind the Protection
Marchand board features:
A 6 mm solid European oak wear layer, thicker than (today's) industry standard
A nine-layer UV lacquer finish for maximum surface protection
A multi-ply engineered base ensuring stability and resistance to humidity changes
The UV lacquer system undergoes precision curing that creates an exceptionally dense, closed-pore surface. This stops moisture from seeping in and also makes cleaning effortless — most spills simply sit on top until you wipe them away.
So when we say Marchand offers the most protected oak floor in New Zealand, we mean it — and now we have the proof.
The Verdict: The Most Protected Floor in New Zealand
Our weekend mop test confirmed what we’ve always known: Marchand engineered oak flooring is made to last. Thanks to advanced UV lacquer technology, precision engineering, and the quality of European oak, our boards can withstand the challenges of real life.
Whether you’re building a family home, a high-end architectural project, or a commercial space, the performance of your flooring matters. It’s not just a surface you walk on, it’s the foundation of your space’s design integrity.
At Marchand, we combine craftsmanship and science to ensure every floor performs beautifully, even under unexpected tests like a forgotten mop.
Because quality isn’t just about how your floor looks. It’s about how it lives with you.
Luxury is in the details.
