AIBU x 3 - wooden floor in kitchen and water

[cantreachmytoes]

We have just moved into a new house. It is a rental property. The kitchen and dining room are open plan with hardwood floors (don't know what sort of wood). We obviously saw this when looking at the place. When we moved in (10 days ago) we noticed that this floor had been sanded down and it looked like it had been waxed or oiled. We then noticed a lot of white spots on it near the sink and found out that they were caused by drops of water (we had already bought a rug to protect sink area before moving in, but the drops were in a 1.5m radius of the sink).

DH has been emailing the property manager back and forwards, with photos, saying the floor isn't sealed if this is happening and essentially being told he's lying! The owner emailed to say she'd seen pictures of it when it was finished and thought it was "lovely", again implying that we are making a fuss about nothing.

We haven't washed the floor because know its going to make a total mess of it and informed them we will not be held liable for any damage as we have repeatedly told them of the problem. Now property manager is coming to look at it tomorrow.

As I understand it, there is a difference in care of a waxed or an oiled wooden floor. AIBU to think that if the floor shouldn't have water touching it we should have been told and also that given that we've written official emails (after starting with friendly notes) that we shouldn't be liable for the existing and subsequent water marks, because they have not informed us of anything particular about the floor (almost the opposite in fact)?

And finally AIBU in thinking that only an idiot would put a finish (anybody know what??) on a wooden floor in a kitchen that can't have a single drop of water on it - especially AFTER knowing that at least one child will be there?

[mrscumberbatch]

Hopefully property manager will see issue when he comes out tomorrow.

Unfortunately if they're going to seal it, it could be a right pain for you!

[whois]

Yeah totally stupid to put that kind of flooring in the kitchen!

[quoteunquote]

It should be treated with hard wax oil,

we are puzzled here (high end construction) as to what is on your floor,

In any area which is high use and/or near water we would put at least six coats(that about twice the recommend) of hard wax oil on, if you do this a hard wood floor is fine in a kitchen.

with the hard wax oil, you can easily clean and add more coats, and if it's scratched, then a light sand and more coats, great flooring.

ecover floor wash is really kind to wood flooring, and is what we would recommend to clean a hard wax oiled floor.

[cantreachmytoes]

Thank you! We really thought we were going mad! Sounds like INBU which is a great thing to wake up to!
Fingers crossed the property manager's eyes work better when it's in front of him for real rather than on a screen!

[quoteunquote]

please update when you find out what the problem is, as I would love to know what they have put on the floor, sounds most odd.

[MOTU]

We have this type of flooring, like the poster above said, it needs many coats o seal but once done is an excellent finish-I'm guessing the landlord I trying to cut corners and didn't do the job properly!!

[EyesCrossedLegsAkimbo]

I have reclaimed oak on my kitchen floor, I put several layers of oil on it seven years ago. It still looks good and has suffered an awful lot of abuse (dogs, kids, red wine etc). I can't begin to guess what your floor is coated with. Hope you get it sorted out ASAP.