How to cover wood. How to cover a wooden floor - choose a composition with protective properties. How to choose a varnish for rooms for various purposes
From a large number modern flooring for wooden floors many consumers choose the usual colorless varnish. Why him? First, this material retains its appearance wooden base without changing it. Secondly, it is an excellent tool that not only emphasizes the pattern of wood, but also protects it from the effects of loads on the plank floor. Therefore, if you still have not decided how to cover the wooden floor in own house, you can safely choose the varnish.
However, the variety of lacquer products depends on the functional features of the room where it will be used. Therefore, first of all, you need to determine which floor varnish is better. So let's start with classification.
Varnish classification
Attention! It is not necessary to apply a varnish coating in rooms with high traffic. This material will not withstand such loads. In such a situation, it is better to do with the application of various wax mastics and oil impregnations.
Today, manufacturers offer a wide range of products, different types which differ from each other in technical characteristics. Therefore, in each case, one must choose finishing material according to the composition, which is suitable for a certain room. If you are not an expert, then this will be difficult to do. It is better to leave this task to a professional who will install the wooden or parquet floor in your house or apartment.
We turn to the division of lacquer products by class and start with chemical composition. Lucky can be:
- On without water based.
- Water soluble.
- Based on artificial oil resins.
- Primer.
- Acid cured.
They are divided according to other parameters:
natural material
- Technical qualities:
- viscosity
- application method
- strength
- Resist whenever possible various loads- the action of light, mechanical influences and negative environments, for example, high humidity.
- In appearance:
- material transparency
- application in several layers
- Gloss level:
- matte
- semi-matt
- glossy
- semi-gloss
- matte silky and so on
- By degree negative impact on the environment.
Let's look at some types in more detail, after which it will be easier to determine which varnish to cover the wooden floor with.
Water Based Materials
BIOFA oil
Aqueous floor varnish is made by mixing water, a binder, an emulsifier and a solvent. In this case, the latter plays the role of a film-forming component. There are two categories of water varnishes:
- Where the solvent is present in an amount of 5–15% of the total volume of the material.
- The solvent is not used at all.
The production technology of such materials has some peculiarities. First of all, this applies to mixing, which is carried out on high speeds in special equipment such as a stirrer. All material components are in aquatic environment in a broken state. Hence the special application technology. Surprisingly, such a varnish begins to evaporate from the surface of a wooden floor. More precisely, water evaporates, after which the solvent begins to act on binder by dissolving it. However, as the temperature rises, the solvent also evaporates, which leads to hardening of the varnish base.
This class of lacquer products belongs to the category of non-combustible materials, so it can be used in any premises, including fire hazardous ones. In addition, the water-based varnish is odorless, so you can work with it even in rooms where there are people.
However, the advantages of the material are always combined with some disadvantages:
Floor in the kitchen
- Firstly, it is the low wear resistance of the varnish. True, experts, in order to somehow increase this figure, recommend adding special additives to it.
- Secondly, this flooring is very sensitive to changes in the microclimate inside the premises. For example, it is not recommended to operate it at temperatures below +15C.
- Thirdly, there are rather stringent requirements for the tool with which the material is applied to the floor. The best option is a roller, but it is better to refuse a brush, swabs and spatulas.
And the last thing to pay attention to is Preliminary processing wood floor before varnishing. For this, a special primer is used, which comes with varnish. However, in recent years, brands have appeared on the market water material which can be applied without primers.
Lacquers based on artificial oil resins
Opening parquet with varnish
As oil resins, alkyd components are used, which are produced from natural materials- wood or linseed oil. In varnish, alkyd resins play the role of a binder, so this component is one of the main ones. This type of material is significantly different from water. This is especially true for drying.
It takes place in two stages:
- The first is solvent evaporation. After this stage, the film becomes like uncured glue.
- The second is the polymerization of the base material.
This type of varnish has a number of restrictions regarding the indoor climate. For complete drying, you need a temperature not lower than + 20C and a humidity of 50%. These are two very important indicators that affect the quality of the process and the result. By the way, in this mode, the floor covering will dry from 8 to 12 hours. And the last - the varnish during the drying process decreases in volume due to the evaporation of the solvent.
The floor base coated in this way has the appearance of a surface that is non-slip and also very elastic. By the way, the material has a small concentration of toxic substances. It depends on the amount of solvent - white spirit. The advantages of the material include the fact that it does not have a sticking ability. For example, varnish caught between parquet planks will not fix them in any way.
Restoration of old parquet
But the disadvantages include the fact that when applying the material to a wooden floor, two conditions must be met:
- The presence of oxygen, under the influence of which high-quality polymerization occurs.
- Maintenance temperature regime. However, you should not increase the degrees inside the rooms, as fast and poor-quality drying can occur.
And now, as for the question of how to properly varnish a wooden floor. It is not recommended to apply the material in a thick layer. This can lead to wrinkling of the flooring and loss of its attractive appearance. If we talk about such an indicator as wear resistance, then it is lower than that of polyurethane or acid counterparts.
Polyurethane waterless varnishes
This class differs from the rest in excellent operational characteristics, among which the ability to adhesion stands out. This type of material is characterized by high elasticity and resistance to chemicals. Last Feature allows the use of wooden floors in rooms where they work with chemicals.
Assortment of varnishes
And now a few nuances that relate to the question of how to varnish the floor. First of all, you need to pay attention to the moisture content of the wood flooring. If it exceeds 12%, then it is not recommended to apply the material - delamination may occur. Particular attention is paid to moisture. The ingress of water on a freshly varnished surface is unacceptable. After all, a chemical reaction can occur between varnish and water with the release of carbon dioxide. As a result, the surface is bubbling and its quality is poor.
By the way, various bases can be used in this class, for example, acrylic, urethane or solvents. Waterless types of varnishes do not require pre-priming of wooden floors. With their help, you can preserve the color of the wood, or you can darken it a little. Other advantages of the material are low light sensitivity, high temperature resistance, excellent elasticity and the ability to use in wet rooms. Today, not only plank or parquet floors are treated with such varnish, but also garden furniture, stairs inside the house, doors, floors in the kitchen and bathroom.
Acid Curing Materials
Acid curing varnish
If we talk about the high durability of the floor covering, then this type of varnish can be safely attributed to this category. Experts recommend using such varnishes in rooms with a high load and high traffic. The stability of the material is due to the content of formaldehyde resins in its composition. By the way, this group includes one- and two-component analogues. In the latter case, a hardener is used as an additive, the content of which can reach 10%.
The advantages of such a floor covering include insensitivity to changes in humidity and temperature, high adhesion ability and the ability to use all known devices, including an airbrush, as a tool for applying. In this case, the question of how to properly cover the surface does not even arise. The only thing you need to pay special attention to is work in a respirator, airing the room for three days and the absence of strangers in it during painting work.
Priming elements
This type of flooring material forms a separate group, because it can only be used in certain situations:
Wood primer
- If you need one hundred percent adhesion of the varnish to the floor.
- For the isolation of oils previously applied to wood floors harvested from exotic woods.
- For isolation of mastics and impregnations.
- If you need to change the color tone of the wood.
- If you need to reduce the adhesive properties of varnishes. This refers to the ingress of material between the planks or boards.
- Reducing the consumption of the varnish itself. The use of primers prevents the base material from penetrating into the wood.
- Primers increase the quality of the floor covering.
- Decreased drying time. With primers, it is no more than half an hour, however, not for all types. The maximum value of this indicator is 3 hours, but even this is incomparable with three days.
Conclusion on the topic
As you can see, today manufacturers offer a wide range of lacquer products. Each type has its pros and cons, as well as its application methods, which have some nuances. But in any case, when the question arises of how to cover a wooden floor in a country house or in a private house, you must choose from the whole variety the floor covering that meets modern standards and requirements. And varnish in this regard is one of the best options for finishing. Of course, the question of what is better to cover is always relevant. However, choosing a varnish, you create a truly natural sexual base - no frills, but natural.
Ruslan Vasiliev
Options for protecting the wooden floor in the house
Wooden houses is an island of calmness and reliability in our vain world. Warm, cozy wooden houses soothe and relax, giving a feeling of peace and comfort. Wooden houses from Kostroma. at first glance, they are very unpretentious and undemanding to design - the aesthetics of the tree itself suggests what and how it should be. Natural materials that dominate the decor of the house create their own special atmosphere.
A wooden floor in a log house is a matter of course. But in order to keep beautiful view wood needs careful care. Previously, the most common option for protecting wooden floors was Oil paint. And, in principle, it is still popular, reliably protecting the tree from deformation, scratches and fungus. There is only one problem - oil paint completely paints over the texture of the tree, is far from ecology and does not look very presentable. But this is the most economical way floor coverings.
If you want your floor to literally shine, opt for an oiled or varnished finish. These types of coatings do not hide the beauty of the wood, emphasizing it and keeping it long years. Modern oils that are used to coat wooden floors have a deep penetrating effect that impregnates the wood, prevents cracking and gives a noble look. With the help of oil, you can change the color of wood, make the coating matte or shiny. As a rule, linseed, sunflower or soybean oils are used, the protective properties of which have been known since antiquity. No less popular are specialized synthetic oils, which include a solvent that allows the oil to penetrate deeper into the structure of the tree.
After covering the floor with oil, it is necessary to wax it to fix the result. True, at the moment there are already oils with wax on sale - it is much easier to work with them and they do not require additional coating. Oil coating is ideal for floors that are constantly exposed to changes in temperature and humidity.
Another option for floor protection is varnish. It covers the tree protective film keeping its original appearance for many years. The varnish protects the wood from fungus and mold, as well as insect grinders. On sale there are three types of varnish on a different basis: oil, turpentine and alcohol. Oil varnishes are most preferred with woodwork. The only drawback of varnish is that it often cracks with temperature changes and does not tolerate rooms with high humidity.
If you want to transform the surface of the floor and give it a more expensive look, you can use stain before varnishing - this will give additional protection to the tree and help preserve it for many years. After treatment, it is better not to use the floor for 10 days, so that the varnish dries well and is not damaged when walking.
Before starting surface treatment, it is necessary to sand the boards, check them for chips and cracks, carefully remove dust and dirt, and only then start work. All these expenditures of time and effort will pay off with interest - and the floor will always delight you with a well-groomed appearance and beauty.
How to cover a wooden floor: varnish, oil or wax? + work technology
wooden elements in interior design bring a feeling of home comfort and warmth. Besides, natural wood always looks expensive. Whatever novelties appear on the construction market, wood will never go out of fashion. All large quantity people, when choosing flooring, prefers the most environmentally friendly of them. And what could be more natural than wood. Such a floor has excellent thermoregulation: it will always be warm in cold winters, and cool in summer heat. It is pleasant to walk on it barefoot, and when proper care it will serve you for many years. It is the need for maintenance that is probably the only drawback of a wooden floor. But it can also be easily eliminated, the main thing is to know how to cover the wooden floor in order to avoid extra hassle.
Preparatory stage
New floor
If you've installed new boards, the first thing to check is how deep the nails and screws are. The caps should be pressed a couple of millimeters into the surface of the board. Then these same hats must be coated with sealant or wood putty.
The color of the material should match the color of the wood as best as possible. Now we cover the floor with a starting varnish and leave to dry. The drying time depends on how dry the boards you have used. If the wood moisture is more than 12%, it must be dried for a long time - 3-4 months. In this case, the primary processing is best done in autumn period and then leave the floor to dry until spring. In the case when dried boards were used for laying the floor, it is enough to wait 2-3 weeks.
old floor
Quite often, owners of Soviet-era apartments or old houses with painted wood floors, succumbing to the desire to renew the flooring, are surprised to find that the boards are still in excellent condition. In such a situation, only a few layers of paint separate you from the coveted wooden floor with natural texture. How to remove this same paint? The process is quite simple, but laborious. Although if you manage to find scraping machine with a dust bag - everything will be much easier.
Parquet sander with dust bag
It is not advisable to buy such a unit for a single use, but if you can rent it or ask friends, it will greatly facilitate your work. You can also contact a construction company that provides floor scraping services.
If for some reason you decide to do without the help of special equipment, you will need the following tools:
- Iron, preferably old
- Lots of paper
- Paint remover (washer)
- Several spatulas and a sharp knife
- electric planer
- Bulgarian with a sanding nozzle for wood
- Sandpaper with grit 150-180.
First you need to remove the old paint. To do this, put a sheet of paper on the floor, and a hot iron on it. Under the influence of temperature, the paint lags behind the floor and sticks to the paper. What remains on the floor is removed with a knife or spatula. In places where the paint has eaten into the wood, we use a wash.
After the floor is cleaned, it is necessary to remove upper layer boards using an electric planer, after making sure that the nail heads do not protrude above the floor surface. When working with an electric planer, be sure to wear a respirator.
With the help of a grinder with a grinding nozzle and sandpaper we give the floor the necessary smoothness. But the dust remaining after grinding must be collected - it will come in handy.
Now you need to putty the joints between the boards and possible flaws in the wood. To do this, you can use wood putty of a suitable color or wood dust mixed with PVA glue. wood dust will give the glue the desired shade. In addition, putty cracks and falls out over time, which significantly spoils the appearance of the floor.
When working with PVA, special care must be taken - immediately after applying the composition, all excess must be removed damp cloth.
Now the floor must be covered with a starting varnish and wait for it to dry.
What types of varnish are there?
If you chose lacquer for the finish coat, remember that you need to use only special parquet products. They will give the floor the necessary shine and fill small gaps, from which the surface will look smoother.
Water soluble varnish
Water-based varnish has a number of undeniable advantages. It does not have an unpleasant "chemical" smell, dries quickly and has excellent adhesion. Distinguish one-component and two-component water-soluble varnishes. The first have a fairly short service life, only 2-3 years. After that, the varnish layer is erased, and the floor requires re-polishing. A two-component varnish with a three-layer coating will serve you for about 10 years even with a fairly intense load. But its price is much higher.
To obtain a good result when applying a water-soluble varnish, several conditions must be met: use only high-quality rollers and maintain a constant humidity of about 50% in the room during work. AT winter period use a humidifier when the heating is on.
Alkyd varnish
Such a varnish perfectly emphasizes the structure of the tree, but dries for a long time. Its use is especially justified on a “movable” base, that is, where wood moves as a result of temperature effects or mechanical loads.
Assortment of alkyd parquet varnish
When working with alkyd varnish, it is very important to comply with its consumption rates - no more than 120 g / sq.m, otherwise the surface may wrinkle. It should also not be allowed to fall on the drying surface of direct sunlight or heat it from a central heating battery.
Anhydrous polyurethane varnish
Such varnishes have excellent wear resistance. They can even be used in rooms where it is customary to walk in street shoes - restaurants, cafes, theaters, etc. In addition, polyurethane-based varnishes easily tolerate frequent exposure to chemical cleaners and are not afraid of water.
When working with such a coating, you should carefully monitor the moisture content of the wood, it should not exceed 10%. Otherwise, the hardener may enter into chemical reaction with water, resulting in the release of CO2. This will inevitably lead to the formation of air bubbles under the varnish surface.
Acid curing varnish
We can safely say that such a varnish will create on your floor the most durable coating, which is not afraid of either mechanical or chemical damage. He is not capricious to tools and fits perfectly, creating natural light shades wood. However, special care must be taken when working with such material:
- Mix varnish with hardener immediately before application
- Wear a respirator
- Provide a constant supply of fresh air to the room. Otherwise, severe irritation of the mucous membranes may occur.
Lacquering technology
It is quite difficult to cover the floor with high-quality varnish. It is especially difficult to work with quick-drying water-soluble varnishes. They should be applied only with a high-quality roller, making only translational movements. The varnish is applied across the board and immediately leveled along. Thus, you varnish the surface as if crosswise.
When leveling the varnish, the movements should only be progressive. That is, we apply the roller to the floor, hold it, tear it off and apply it again at the beginning of the first stroke, stepping aside about two-thirds of the width of the roller
With a spatula, as a rule, only the first layer of varnish is applied. This must be done in S-shaped movements quickly enough. The coating applied in this way will be more durable.
If the varnish is applied with a brush, then this is done in U-shaped movements, always slightly overlapping the previous stroke. Work with one-component varnishes allows you to keep the brush in the container with varnish during short breaks. And when using a two-component, the tool must be thoroughly washed with a solvent after the end of each stage of work.
Oil technology
The oil does not form a continuous film on the floor, but is absorbed into the wood, protecting it from the inside. Such a floor will not be glossy, but its wear resistance will delight you. In addition, this product is absolutely environmentally friendly. In most cases, it does not contain solvents, and if it does, then in minimal quantities. It is possible to impregnate a wooden floor with oil even in high traffic areas, such as a corridor or a living room. There are also oils for external use. They can cover the floor on a wooden terrace.
The oil is much stronger than the varnish shows all the flaws of the wood. Therefore, the coating must be carried out in stages, in full accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. It is important to remove excess oil from the surface in time, otherwise dark spots. It is advisable to renew the coating twice a year - in spring and autumn.
After the first application of oil, caring for a wooden floor is quite difficult - it gets very dirty. And only after a few years, when the wood is already completely saturated, this process will be greatly facilitated. But such a floor is easy to restore, which cannot be said about all other coatings. It is enough just to sand the damaged area and re-saturate it with oil.
Waxing the floor
Parquet wax is produced on the basis of natural beeswax, which makes it absolutely environmentally friendly. This coating can be used over oil impregnation or separately.
Application of parquet wax
To do this is quite simple. It is necessary to apply wax to the floor, let it dry and polish with a cotton cloth. It is necessary to renew the coating, as well as oil, 2 times a year.
Scandinavian wood flooring
Whatever finish you choose for your wooden floor, remember that wood is most afraid of moisture. Even a treated and protected wooden surface should not be moistened unnecessarily. If you stick to this simple rule, the wooden floor will serve you for many years. Not a single, even the most modern artificial surface, can give you so much warmth, coziness and comfort.
How to cover a wooden floor - Choose a means of protection.
And so, any means of protection used by us, with which we will cover the wooden floor, will provide us with protection only from such types of influences as: chemical, moisture, liquids and mechanical damage in the form of scratches, abrasions, and so on. Well, plus, covering the wooden floor to the end "finishes" the look of the room, because it is the basis.
And so, fortunately in the twenty-first century, the choice of floor coverings is so wide that we have to work hard to choose the right type of protection we need. In addition, not every one of them will fit perfectly to our flooring. Therefore, you need to know and take into account such points as:
- 1) The type of wood of your flooring.
It is also worth paying attention to the so-called "appointment" of the room, premises. If you cover the floors in the office, then they will experience a constant load from the crowd, if a modest nursery, then naturally three times less. So if you decide to cover the wooden floor at home, then wax or oil may be enough. This will give the flooring a certain finish, a slight haze and slightly darken it.
But with rooms like the bathroom or the kitchen, it will be a little more difficult. After all, you are constantly cooking in the kitchen, the whole family walks there, you can drop spoons and so on, and the bathroom has constant moisture, which means you need something more powerful than oil or wax. I think that perfect coverage there will be varnish. It retains moisture well, is tolerant of mechanical stress, plus it has a very beautiful appearance, your floor will simply shine.
How to cover a wooden floor - Types of materials.
Types of floor coverings are divided not only by the degree of protection against moisture and other unpleasant loads, but also by external beauty. Oddly enough, most consumers pay their attention only to the appearance, but do not think about the so-called "protection" and durability. And so, by type, the materials are divided into:
- 1) Opaque coatings. This category includes all paints, and any organic mixtures. Alkyd, oil, acrylic, polyurethane, perchlorovinyl paints and, of course, only water-dispersion mixtures are suitable. Alkyd paints are valued by consumers for their good water resistance and low cost, but polyurethane and acrylic paints are valued for their practicality in application and of course quality.
In addition to the main coating, which so perfectly protect our floor, there are also additional materials. Usually they are called “final”, there are a lot of types, but we will generalize with two varieties, the rest is best to learn from a consultant in hardware store where will you shop. Protective equipment is:
- 1) with biocides, most often they are used at home, they protect the tree itself from such troubles as insects, mold and fungus.
So what about wood flooring? - What do you prefer?
You are probably even more confused, and even though earlier you at least assumed something, thought something, now you are generally confused. Let's unravel, there are two types of staining, such as:
- surface coloring, this type of color is most often used when protection is not as important to you as the external, aesthetic appearance of the floor and the wood floor itself. This type of finish is made on final stages repairing your floors. It is usually used in wooden houses from a bar, warm baths, well, in general, buildings made of wood.
Impregnation of a wooden floor with oil.
Most often, oil created specifically for coating or floor treatment is made from natural ingredients, such as soybean oil, sunflower, linseed, but sometimes artificial components are added to reduce the cost, the most popular is polyurethane.
The plot of impregnation divides the oil into two tasks, the first - the oil needs to soak into the pores of the floor as best as possible and harden, and the second to leave a little on the surface, usually a very thin layer remains. Thanks to all this, the floor becomes resilient, strong and, most importantly, reliable. For those who have not seen the treated floors, I will say that after treatment they acquire a silky sheen.
By the way, very important point when you buy oil, be sure to read the label before buying, if it says that the oil "contains a solvent", then I recommend to refuse and look for something else. And so, oil solutions come in different viscosities, to be more precise:
- liquid, usually contain ninety percent natural ingredients.
If you listen to the advice of professionals, then it is best, or rather more intensively, to apply oil in places where there is constant movement, in an apartment, for example, a bathroom, kitchen, corridor or living room. Do not be afraid to oil open areas or heated rooms, a pool, bars, in general, everything that comes into contact with moisture will be better covered with oil.
An important factor for me was that such floors are very easy to clean and refresh. I was advised to pour water into a bucket, and add special remedy(ask in stores) and wipe the floor. It is advisable to thoroughly clean the floors from various dirt and dry them before applying this water.
We cover the wooden floor with oil.
Before varnishing the floor, you need to know that this will give your floor a certain three-dimensional appearance. Despite the fact that the floor under such a wonderful coating will shine and decorate both the room and the apartment as a whole, you need to understand that the lacquer coating is not so strong, and if there is severe mechanical damage, the lacquer will move along with the wood. Therefore, I recommend using it as shoes around the house, some kind of soft slippers in them will be comfortable both for you and for the floor.
Regarding which varnish is best for you in terms of price and quality, it is better to contact a consultant in the store. Of all the types of varnishes, which are not so few in specialized stores, I highlight the following:
- 1) Solvent varnishes should be very carefully applied to the wooden floor in a thin layer, it will soak and slightly change the color of the coating. The rooms where you process the floor need to be well ventilated, but not allowed to draft. Otherwise, you will get wrinkles. By the way, these types of varnishes are perfect for the so-called "capricious" wood, and this is ash, beech or maple.
Also, varnishes are also divided into such an interesting factor as glossiness, that is, there are high-gloss, semi-gloss, glossy, semi-matte and matte. I think it is not necessary to explain the meaning of the above words, I will only say that glossy varnish shines by 90 percent, but matte or semi-gloss ones reflect almost nothing. I like it better when the floor reflects light well, when it looks like a mirror.
We cover the wooden floor with paint.
The paint, oddly enough, is able, which has already been proven by practice, to increase the life of the entire floor in several races, it protects it well from mechanical and wet attacks, as well as from fungus, mold and bacteria. What is important is that the painted floor can be painted in several colors.
The best and safest paints are those that do not contain organic solvents, and these are, as a rule, water-dispersion. In practice, they have shown themselves to be very practical, they do not lose their original color for a very long time. If you are painting the floor in the bathroom, then it is better to choose acrylic paints because they are more resistant to moisture. Alkyd solutions are suitable for parquet. Do not forget to clean the floor from dirt before painting, it is very important to ask right foundation for work. In general, when choosing a paint, be guided by its content, those that are water-based are best.
A little earlier, people used this method as applying various compounds containing oils or waxes to the floor. But practice has shown that they protect the flooring very poorly, so now they are used quite rarely.
And indeed, at the present time, asking such a question as “How to cover the wooden floor?” stupid, as the market for building materials is constantly increasing. The main thing is to correctly select the tool for your conditions in the room. Sincerely, the administration of CenterStroiki.Ru about the construction and repair of their own hands.
The wooden floor needs additional protection. This natural material looks beautiful, has been used for tens and even hundreds of years, but only if it is protected from pests and other destructive factors.
How to cover a wooden floor?
Why protect wood?
Many people ask how to protect a wooden floor, and even more consumers are interested in why this should be done. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. In order for the first to be felt, and the second to be invisible, the tree is covered with special protective compounds. There are many of them on the market today.
The advantages of the tree, which are reinforced by the application of a special composition:
- strength, reliability and durability;
- thermal insulation characteristics;
- affordable price and a wide range of products;
- antistatic and anti-allergic effect - the tree does not emit harmful substances during operation;
- damage to individual elements is easily eliminated.
Wood also has disadvantages:
- low sound insulation;
- hygroscopicity;
- susceptibility to abrasion, damage, scratches, damage by insects, rot, rodents;
- Changes in temperature and/or humidity can cause the floor covering to warp.
Lacquered floor Note! Coating a wooden floor with wax, oil, varnish, paint and special primers will protect the material from most negative factors. Among them are rot, fungi, insect damage, hygroscopicity and even deformation.
How to choose a protective composition?
When choosing a material, it is important to pay attention to many factors so that later unsightly areas do not have to be covered with a rug. And the first factor is the age of the floors, that is, how long ago they were laid, and what compositions were used. The choice of coating material and the technology of its application depend on this.
Composition selection criteria:
- Strength. The strength characteristics of the floor must be reinforced.
- Thermal insulation, of course, will not add warmth, but it is simply obliged not to create discomfort when walking on the floor.
- Environmentally friendly and safe - since the materials cover the floorboards in the house, they should not release toxins either when applied or when used. The compositions should not cause allergic reactions.
- Universality - the product must be universal in relation to the conditions of application and operation.
Sanding before protective coating Composition selection
When wondering how to protect a plank floor, you can get confused, because many options have been proposed today. In general, the classification of funds for coverage is as follows:
- Lacquers and paints. Their task is to protect wood from fungi and microorganisms. They perform a decorative function.
- Oils - their purpose is to increase wear resistance and increase service life.
- Wax is a topcoat that is applied over other protective materials.
- Mastic is something between varnish and wax. Used for wooden parquet floors.
Any of these compounds will protect the floor after installation and emphasize the appearance of the material, its natural pattern and texture. They also differ in price, and this or that composition is often selected according to this criterion.
Dye
This is the first thing that comes to mind for those who decide to make wooden floors. This opaque type of coating. Paint is made on the basis of solvents, which give it a specific smell. The most commonly used paints are acrylic and alkyd type. At this material there are a number of advantages:
- Ease of use, it will not be difficult for anyone, even an inexperienced person, to apply paint.
- After application, it does not require specific care. The only thing you need is to update the coating from time to time.
- Affordable price - the cost of paints varies in a huge range.
- Durability - if the coating is properly cared for, the question of how best to cover your wooden floor will disappear for a long time.
Lacquered floor - elegant simplicity To keep the coating longer, you need a primer for a wooden floor, it is applied before the paint.
As for the shortcomings, one significant one can be distinguished - this is aesthetics. Against the background of the original and expensive repair, the paint coating of the floors looks ridiculous.
varnish
Lacquer is a transparent compound that, when dried, forms a solid shiny surface, protects from microorganisms, moisture. This material for wooden floors looks aesthetically pleasing and is appropriate for any design decision.
Lacquer is a resin that is dissolved using a variety of volatile components. Its basis is acrylic copolymers, polyurethane, natural and synthetic resins. In the processing of the floor after laying, the following types of material are used:
- Waterborne varnishes. Single and two-component formulations. The latter are stronger, but also more expensive. They have increased resistance to abrasion. This group of varnishes dries quickly and does not give a strong odor.
- Alkyd - their unique property is to emphasize the natural structure of wood. If we talk about the shortcomings, then this is the duration of drying and the difficulty in applying if the room temperature is high.
- Polyurethane varnishes. They are durable and increase the wear resistance of wood. The key requirement is completely dry wood. If the material is not dried, bubbles and blisters will appear on the surface.
Painting the old floor Lacquer is not used for every wooden floor, the restrictions are as follows:
- Do not varnish a floor that has already been coated with oil paint.
- Do not use it in rooms with high humidity.
- Lacquer for internal works do not apply to the floor and others wooden surfaces outdoors.
Oils
Oil impregnation for a wooden floor has proven itself well. Its advantage is that it does not form a hard coating on the surface. The task of the oil is to soak into the wood, thereby increasing moisture resistance and wear resistance. Oil for a new wooden floor fills the pores of the wood, preventing moisture and dirt from penetrating inside. At the same time, the structure of the wood remains the same - the natural color and appearance is preserved.
Note! If there is a desire to tint wood with oil impregnation before laying, then this is real. It can be given any desired color.
Oils are successfully used to impregnate floors in high traffic areas, including public ones. But in spite of excellent performance, the use of such a composition in rooms with changes in temperature and humidity is not recommended. Oil can provoke accelerated destruction of wood.
Application of a protective composition with a roller Among other significant features, a long impregnation period is noted; new layers of oil will have to be applied year after year. But when the process is completed, additional protection wood is not required.
Wax and mastic
Wax is also considered an impregnation, but is mainly used for parquet floors. The technology of applying it is simple: it is smeared on wood with a roller, then rubbed with natural matter.
Wax gives the wood a velvety shade, increases moisture resistance. However, wax does not protect the wood from damage. In addition, the wax coating must be renewed at least 2 times a year.
As for mastic, this is a composition with the characteristics of varnish and wax at the same time. Made from natural or synthetic ingredients. Mastic is cold and hot. It gives the parquet shine and ennobles it. It is used exclusively for wooden parquet.
Applying mastic Preparing the floor for applying a protective agent
In order for the selected composition to effectively protect, the floor must be prepared for application. Preparation measures depend on whether the floor is old or new.
old flooring
If the boards have been in operation for more than one year, then they probably have protection, often it is paint or varnish. Therefore, the first task in preparation is to remove the coating. If defects or damage are found during this stage, the boards are replaced.
To get rid of old paint possible with the help building hair dryer, the surface is heated with it, the paint bubbles and is easily removed with a spatula.
If there is no such tool, the floor can be “patted”. Do it with an old iron through paper ironed small areas boards, the paint should stick to the paper. The rest will have to be sanded and dissolved.
Removing old paint New floor
With the new floor, everything is much easier, the preparation consists of the following steps:
- Check the quality of fastening boards. In this case, the hats of the hardware must be recessed.
- The remaining recesses are covered with a special wood putty.
- Wait for it to dry and sand it.
- Next, apply the selected composition in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Wood treatment with protective varnish Conclusion
Hardwood floor protection is a must. The range, including the price, of materials is huge, so it is difficult to select suitable option will not. Any composition is easily applied, and it will not be difficult to process wood after laying the boards.
Strengthening the natural coating, its decorative processing and application of the finishing glossy finish constitute the main stages of work with wooden floors in order to preserve their integrity for a long time.
Naturally, the goal of all work on a wooden floor is to protect it, ensure the durability of the created coating and give the surface a more aesthetic appearance, pleasing to the eye and touch. Thinking about what you can cover first of all with a new wooden floor in a house, it should be understood that a natural coating requires not only decorative finishing, but also a competent approach to the processing of deep layers of wood. Protective treatment, which increases the strength and density of the wood coating, is carried out in order to preserve it, increase its wear resistance and resistance to mechanical damage, such as, for example, abrasion, trauma from impacts and many other accidental incidents.
How to protect the floor surface in the house
The used paints and varnishes, oils and wax for wood have a positive effect on the elimination of the disadvantages inherent in this type of coating. The problems with the high hygroscopicity of all natural materials that really complicate the process of decorating the surface are. This means that the wooden layer can absorb a certain amount of moisture, and this process will further lead to its swelling, deformation and increase the vulnerability of the coating, to damage to the new base.
Another major problem is the exposure of untreated wood materials rotting, insect invasions, which are difficult to get rid of. Processing with appropriate means will solve this problem, but it must be done in a timely manner and the condition of the wood covering should be monitored during its further operation. Lacquer coatings reliably protect the wooden floor from pests and fungal infections. Lacquering is the most common method of processing precious woods. The choice of type of varnish and the method of processing depends on the structure of the wood species used and on the operating conditions of the floor.
High-quality protection can also be carried out with the use of oil. The compositions of modern oil products make it possible to produce floors with bright rich colors, well protected from mechanical influences and bacteriological invasions. The technique of applying the oil and preparing it is not more or less complicated than varnishing, one must choose according to the appearance, according to which one seems more pleasant. It will no longer be possible to varnish a wooden floor covered with oil or a pro-oiled base.
Wax products can also protect the upper wooden layer from cracking, from moisture, from the influence of ultraviolet rays, but they are not able to protect it from aggressive mechanical influences. Wax cannot be considered durable, waxing must be done quite often, at least twice a year and, depending on the degree of wear of the coating, even more often with high traffic in the house.
How varnish is applied
The means used for such protection are being developed on different bases, exist:
- water-soluble varnishes distinguishable by the composition of the components;
- more delicate alkyd, emphasizing the structure of wood;
- providing greater strength than other types of coatings, polyurethane multicomponent;
- acid varnishes on wooden surface view.
On sites subject to precipitation, varnishing is not done, paint composition will certainly suffer from excessive moisture, the surface will become cloudy and crack, other compositions are used for outdoor woodwork.
When working with new floors, preparing them for varnishing, you should carefully examine the attachment points of the floorboards, achieve the same level the entire surface, if necessary, carefully level the existing defects, nail heads. After polishing the floor, a primer varnish is used, which dries quickly, in almost a few hours, and allows a further layer of varnish to lie better on the smoothed surface. The priming varnish must correspond to the brand of the future varnished coating. In addition to priming varnishes, there are other stains and impregnations that allow you to protect wood from fungi and decay, as well as strengthen the surface wooden layer. Then, drying in layers, varnish is applied. These manipulations can take a long time, up to several weeks. The drying rate largely depends on the initial moisture content of the wood. Heavily damp floors may take longer to dry. three months, therefore, experts recommend starting varnishing in the fall, since the likelihood that the wood has dried out over the summer is higher, and the floor can be put into operation faster. Old floors are first cycled, removing the dilapidated top layer, then the gaps are eliminated and then varnished like new ones.
Floor scraping
Lacquering a wooden floor
Lacquered floor
Varnish selection
Having decided to use a water-soluble varnish as a protective layer, you need to read the instructions that came with the product and understand how often it will have to be reapplied. The service life of single-component and multi-component varnishes differ. Water-soluble varnish dries faster than all other types of varnish and therefore is most often used in the treatment of wood floors.
Coatings treated with polyurethane varnishes are considered the longest serving and resistant to mechanical stress in the house. They are used in crowded places if there are animals in the house that can damage the surface.
Long-drying alkyd varnishes treat wood, carefully emphasizing its structure. The appearance of such floors seems the most natural, with a pronounced wood structure.
Acid curing varnishes give the surface special strength, such a coating is not afraid of temperature changes, resistant to moisture.
Floor protection with wax or oil
Wax can protect wood from moisture, scratches and insects. Wax does not save wood from mechanical injuries. The wax surface is obtained with a very beautiful noble sheen, thoroughly emphasizes the structure of the wood species, it turns out pleasant to the touch, and is not afraid of temperature fluctuations. This coverage needs to be renewed twice a year. Modern oils with hard waxes are easy to apply, have pleasant smell and perfectly restore the surface.
Oil formulations do not give the surface such a shine as varnishing. The oils work well with the structure of the wood, penetrating and enriching the layers. When choosing a composition for processing, it must be taken into account that metal furniture cannot be placed on oily surfaces, the coatings will react and blackening marks from furniture legs will remain on the floor. Oily surfaces are also afraid of sudden changes in temperature and are not suitable for holding a warm base.
Wax does not save the wooden floor from mechanical damage Is it possible, after laying a wood flooring, not to cover it with anything
Modern wood floors have high quality processing. Sooner or later, moisture, temperature changes, household use will do their job, and the surface will lose its initial gloss and good texture, so experts recommend treating the floors in order to protect them. As an option, in which varnish, paint, wax are not applied to the coating, the Scandinavian method of wood processing is used. During processing, the coating is carefully ground, cleaned of the resulting dust and washed with water and soapy components. The cleanliness of the surface cannot last forever, such a coating will have to be washed quite often, it will have a high tendency to become dirty, and it will also need to be spared from mechanical stress, chipping and abrasion.
The smoothness of the floor surface, its gloss and resistance to moisture increases due to the treatment, but washing wood flooring always followed with minimal application of moisture, this will help to keep any coating longer.
In order to finally decide on what to cover the wooden floor with, you need to understand what it is for and what properties certain materials used in this type of work have.
Wooden floors have been used in residential construction since time immemorial.
And even in our time of rapid development of construction and finishing technologies With new materials appearing almost every day, wood floors continue to enjoy high popularity and wide distribution.
This is easily explained - the wooden floor in a country house or in a city apartment has not only an attractive appearance, but also the following properties:
- Strength, reliability and durability;
- High thermal insulation characteristics;
- Anti-allergenic, natural ability to "breathe" and electrical anti-static;
- Relatively low cost;
- High maintainability. In case of damage, individual elements of a wooden floor can be easily replaced.
However, as you know, any medal has two sides. The construction of a wooden floor in a house, on a balcony, or, for example, in a bathhouse, is fraught with certain disadvantages.
The fact is that no matter how high-quality a tree is, it has low noise-absorbing properties, high hygroscopicity, is prone to decay, abrasion and damage as a result of mechanical and impact loads, as well as deformation, under the influence of moisture or temperature changes.
That is why wooden floors in a house, bathhouse, bathroom, on a veranda, balcony or garage are best covered with varnish or a layer of some other protective material.
This will not only increase the service life of wooden flooring, but also significantly increase its consumer characteristics and properties.
But the choice of coating material must be approached as carefully and scrupulously as possible, since not all types of wooden floors and coating materials are successfully combined with each other.
Types of paints and varnishes for flooring
As a rule, when choosing how to cover a wooden floor in a city apartment or in a country house, the consumer considers two options: paint and varnish.
In fact, today's market offers a much wider variety of materials than just varnishing the floor in a private house (on a veranda, balcony, bathroom, garage, etc.).
There are a variety of types of coatings, taking into account the specifics of the room and the operating conditions of the floor.
You can easily choose a coating, for example, for a bathroom or for a floor in a bath, you can choose a composition that is best suited for a floor on open veranda or, for example, in the garage.
Let's take a closer look at the different types of coatings.
Floor paint
Today, there are several types of paint for wooden floors. They are usually divided into two such large groups as organic-based paints and water-dispersion mixtures.
In addition, the composition of the paint may include fire retardants that increase the fire resistance of wooden floors, and biocides that effectively prevent the occurrence of decay processes, the appearance of mold, fungus and pathogenic bacteria.
Organic-based paints (such as acrylic or polyurethane) are easy to apply, can last quite a long time if applied correctly, and do not mask the natural grain of the wood.
And acrylic paints are famous for their moisture resistance and durability.
However, it must be understood that the floors of living rooms in an apartment or country house, as well as flooring mounted on an open veranda or balcony, are subjected to much less intense loads than, for example, in a corridor, in a kitchen, in public institution, in a technical building or in a garage.
And the paint for the floor in the corridor in the bathroom, in the shower or in the bath must also successfully withstand the increased concentration of moisture.
In addition, even if it is correct to cover the floor in an apartment or in a country house with a layer of paint, then you need to be prepared for the fact that this new layer will quickly and unevenly wear out, crack or peel off, no matter how high-quality the coating is.
Floor varnishes
Coating a wooden or parquet floor with varnish is one of the most popular types of floor protection and finishing, both in a city apartment and in a country house.
Being a solution of natural resins or polymers of synthetic origin, in combination with various types of solvents, floor varnish is able to effectively protect a wooden floor from decay, mold and fungus, as well as give it a spectacular appearance.
There are several types of varnish, depending on the composition and type of solvent:
- oil;
- turpentine;
- alcohol;
- water;
- polyurethane;
- organic.
However, varnishing a wooden floor is possible only in those rooms in which there is no excess moisture.
Therefore, varnishing is not used to protect wooden floors in the bathroom, in the bathhouse and in other rooms with high humidity.
Lacquer is practically inapplicable on an open veranda, loggia or balcony.
At the same time, most varnish compositions have such a disadvantage as the fragility of the structure and relatively low resistance to mechanical and shock loads.
Therefore, varnishing the floor in a garage, in a barn or in any outbuilding is impractical.
Oil floor protection
The technology of coating wooden floors with oil-containing compounds has been known for more than one hundred years.
How uniquely beautiful, durable and luxurious an oil floor can be can still be seen in the Louvre, in the Hermitage, in many medieval castles, palaces and museums.
Oil, penetrating deep into the structure of the tree, provides high protection flooring, its strength, durability and aesthetics.
In addition, floor oil has high moisture-repellent properties, which allows it to be used for the floor in the bathroom, in the bath, on the open veranda and in general - in the country.
However, the coating of a wooden floor with compositions based on various kinds oils - linseed, sunflower, soybean and so on - is relevant not only in a country house, but also in urban housing, for example, on a balcony, on a loggia or in a living room.
But in outbuildings or, for example, in a garage or veranda oil formulations use is not rational simply from a financial point of view, given how laborious process is the maintenance of such floor protection.
But oil-based floor coverings have a number of fairly significant drawbacks. Firstly, they perceive heat and temperature changes very poorly.
Therefore, for wooden floors in a house, in a country house, in a city apartment or, for example, on a balcony, under which it is planned to install any heating system, it is best not to use an oil coating.
In these cases, it is best to varnish the floor surface.
In addition, caring for an oil floor is a rather time-consuming and expensive process.
Therefore, to cover the floor with oil-containing compounds in the garage, on the open veranda, and indeed in the country, is, frankly, a controversial decision.
It is better to use paint or the same varnish.
But for the floor in the bathroom, in the bath, in other rooms characterized by a high percentage of moisture, this coating is suitable never better.
Floor protection wax
Where the coating of a wooden floor with paint or varnish does not achieve the desired effect and does not provide adequate protection, wax-based compositions are used.
Usually they will include in their composition, in addition to beeswax itself, also linseed oil, as well as a variety of polymer and composite additives.
Waxed floors are highly water repellent.
Due to this, such coatings are often used in the country or to protect the floor in the bath, or in the sauna and in city apartments - for example, for the floor on the balcony or in the bathroom.