The Barrettine balance: Why product selection is so critical for your project

Woodcare and surface products are often designed to offer either convenience or high performance – but you can have both, argues Barrettine Group Managing Director Steve Bailey.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s no surprise that convenience and cost are a major selling point for many professional woodcare treatments. However, at Barrettine, we believe there’s a crucial truth that often gets overlooked: convenience doesn’t always equate to better results.

While speed is certainly a convenience, sacrificing quality and performance can lead to a host of problems down the line. Many products compromise on the quality of the ingredients in the name of convenience, which will result in a weaker finish, reduced protection against wear and tear, or a higher susceptibility to damage from moisture or UV rays.

Striking the perfect balance between high performance, cost and fast drying times is a science – and at Barrettine, with decades of extensive experience in woodcare, we’ve mastered this art.

Prioritising performance

Why is prioritising performance so crucial? The obvious answer is that, if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing correctly – but it’s more nuanced than that.

A few decades ago, a homeowner might choose a builder or tradesman based on who they knew; they might know someone through word-of-mouth, or they might choose someone they know from a friend of a friend.

These days, however, things are different. In a world of online reviews, where homeowners can search online for the best professional in their area, reliable performance is everything. In order to gain a great reputation, builders can’t afford to risk choosing products that don’t deliver. A protective interior wood oil, for example, that doesn’t prevent scratches or isn’t certified Food & Toy Safe (especially when used on kitchen work tops), risks not only dissatisfied customers, but also costly and time-consuming callbacks.

Prioritising convenience or cheaper alternatives and overlooking performance may not only cost trade professionals their time – it may also cost them future business. In the long run, trusting a product made especially for trade professionals – and one that delivers exceptional results – is a must.

Achieving the perfect balance

Here at Barrettine, with over 145 years of experience, we understand the importance of striking the perfect balance. We take pride in formulating high-quality products with convenient drying times that the trade can rely on to perform exceptionally, every single time.

Barrettine’s Armourflex® Hardwax Oil, for example, offers exceptional scratch and liquid resistance for internal timber surfaces, vital for wooden flooring in high traffic areas.

When we were developing this product, we meticulously tested drying times to ensure optimal performance without sacrificing user experience. With Armourflex®, we have struck the perfect balance: exceptional performance and convenient drying times, all at a competitive price.

With a drying time of four hours, our Hardwax Oil dries to a microporous, breathable finish that doesn’t crack, peel, or flake, and is certified Food & Toy Safe, making it perfect for areas like kitchen worktops.

We understand competing products offer drying times as low as 20 minutes – but they are often compromising on the quality (and reducing the concentrations of key ingredients) to produce a product that dries that fast.

So, the next time you’re faced with a wall of woodcare options, remember not to get reeled in with convenience claims and low cost options which will sacrifice quality and performance. Investing in quality woodcare products that balance convenience and performance, and that are trusted by the professionals, will always save you time and give you the better finish in the long run.

For more information, please email sales@barrettine.co.uk or visit www.barrettinepro.co.uk.