Oil soaks into the wood and protects from within, leaving a natural, matt, tactile surface. Lacquer sits on top as a protective film. Oiled floors feel more like real wood; lacquered floors are lower-maintenance day to day.

In a normal home, a light maintenance oil every 2–3 years in high-traffic areas is typical. It's a quick DIY job — clean, apply thin coat, buff. That's the main trade-off versus lacquer.

Yes, significantly. Because oil penetrates rather than coats, local scratches and scuffs can be spot-repaired by re-oiling just the affected area — no need to sand a whole board or room.