The finishing technique developed by Torben Hansen is very unique. He power washes his wood, removing the mineral content out of the grain surface, but at the same time activating the pores of wood and allowing these pores to accept his micro pigments deeper than pigments ever get into the wood. The end result is a more durable and more resistant to wear surface. When the wood surface gets worn, and needs to be scrubbed in order to get cleaned, often this scrubbing disturbs the coloring process used to finish the floor or the sealer used to seal the floor with. And so you end up with an over-sanded surface that looks damaged, even if it is no longer dirty. Schotten & Hansen floors can be scrubbed heavier than any other floors, and the color, because the micro pigments were impregnated deeper, stays intact. That is what makes these floors, in my eyes, some of the most durable real wood floors ever produced. Considering the fact how soft and natural looking this wood surface is, this truly is an incredible wood surface.

What differentiates chemically colored wood surface from dyed or stained one, is the inverted grain accentuation. Dyes and pigments load up into the grain and wood colored this way is characterized by a darker grain pattern. Chemical treatment reverses this effect, which I think is very appealing. Depending on the exact steps of the processes involved, this lighter grain effect can be almost non-existent, minimal or more pronounced. When the grain pattern, usually accentuated by a wire-brushing effect, ends up showing a different coloring from the base color tone of the surface, we describe this as a cerussed look. Some of the Schotten & Hansen color tones end up looking cerussed, but this effect does not have to be present.

It is a matter of preference and you can request a sample of the more uniform color tone. In general, the most popular colors of Schotten & Hansen, like Oyster, Antique Ivory. Sepia, Driftwood or Smoke, are families of color tones. Meaning that you can have two Oyster color samples in your hand, showing quite a difference of color tones between them. You can chose the spectrum of the color tones your floor will consist of, or chose only one tonality and have your floor be more uniform in color. Processes and formulas are constantly customized by the S&H head colorist. Every single  one of our 16 Oyster projects was ordered from a different color sample or set of color samples. Sort of like being in a great restaurant where you can customize your meal according to your own creativity.