Hi Alicia,

Thank you for using Waterlox on your countertops. Normally, no, there is no need to ‘re-oil’ the tops periodically. They only need to be re-oiled as use would indicate. When folks tell us that their surface is not ‘wearing’ properly, it can either be a sign of not enough material applied in the initial application or the cleaner/cleaning process used is incompatible. Here’s our countertop section of waterlox.com for more information and FAQs: https://waterlox.com/Waterlox-for-Countertops

Here is a guide for refreshing or re-coating a Waterlox finished surface: https://www.waterlox.com/project-help/guide?id=98bf39c67eec4433b7358ddd5c7dcbb5

1. Clean the surface with a TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) and water solution. This step will clean the surface really well. Sand lightly with 320-400 grit or more to get rid of any imperfections or defects.

2. If you sand down to bare wood, add a couple of coats of the sealer used in those areas to build the finish back up.

3. After sanding and vacuuming, wipe down with mineral spirits to clean the surface from any remaining sanding dust. This step will also highlight any additional imperfections and sanding errors that should be taken care of prior to re-coating.

4. Then you can coat the entire surface with the finish product used the first time to tie it all together.

We hope this helps. Please feel free to email us further at info@waterlox.com.