Parquet floor varnish, types of material, features of its choice and main manufacturers. Parquet varnish is an excellent finishing material with protective and decorative properties. Parquet without lacquer or oil impregnation will not be able to last even a year. Therefore, the modern assortment of such compositions is quite rich and diverse, and so much so that it is sometimes difficult to determine which varnish for parquet to choose in relation to a particular room. We will try to understand this issue today.
The main types of varnishes for parquet
Parquet coloring pursues a specific goal - to give the floor covering the necessary properties. Therefore, it is important to know how varnishes differ from each other. Their chemical composition largely determines all other properties. Therefore, we will consider the division of materials by this parameter in more detail.
Priming varnishes
They are used to increase the adhesion of wood parquet with a basic varnish coating. The drying time of the primer varnish is about three hours.
In addition to the main purpose, this material reduces the adhesion of the finish coating of the side edges of parquet strips and provides an even shade of the floor after the final varnishing.
Another important property of the primer varnish after its application is the reduction in the consumption of the base material during the final finishing by reducing the hygroscopicity of the parquet wood.
The primer varnish must be fully compatible with the topcoat. Therefore, when painting parquet, it is recommended to use both materials from the same manufacturer. Otherwise, stains may appear on the floor surface, which can only be eliminated by completely removing all layers of the material.
Water-soluble varnishes
These materials are water-based and are divided into three types: solvent-free, with its inclusion up to 5% and up to 15%. Regardless of the composition, all waterborne varnishes for parquet have excellent adhesion, they highlight the texture and pattern of the parquet floor well. They are non-toxic and non-flammable.
However, these materials have their drawbacks. In particular, one of them is the fragility of a coating made using a water-soluble varnish. To eliminate this disadvantage, the composition of the material includes special additives that increase the wear resistance of the varnished coating.
In any case, it is impractical to use it in walk-through places such as a kitchen or a corridor, but such a coating is suitable for a children's room or bedroom. Here, environmental safety is much more important than mechanical strength.
Water-soluble varnishes are very demanding on the tool designed to work with them. Spatulas, brushes and sponges are almost useless in this case. The best option is a paint roller, although picking it up in the store will take a lot of time. Not all rollers are suitable for applying this varnish to parquet.
Polyurethane anhydrous varnishes
There are two types of anhydrous parquet varnishes: one-component PUR varnishes and two-component DD varnishes. All of them are highly resistant to temperature extremes and UV radiation, are characterized by good adhesion and sufficient elasticity. The latter indicator for two-component parquet varnishes is much higher.
Coatings made on the basis of anhydrous polyurethane varnishes are durable and resistant to mechanical stress. Once applied to parquet, they dry much faster than water-based films. During the polymerization period of anhydrous varnish on the floor surface, it is necessary that the moisture content of the parquet wood does not exceed the permissible values, otherwise the coating may become covered with small bubbles, which are unlikely to decorate it. The normal humidity level is 7-9%. The material can be applied to parquet floors without prior priming.
After drying, the topcoat acquires moisture resistance, it can be washed without fear with water, and also used for railings, fences, street doors, etc. The approximate cost of an anhydrous polyurethane varnish is about 250 rubles / liter.
Alkyd varnishes
The main component of these materials are alkyd resins, which are obtained from natural wood, linseed and other oils. Thanks to them, the alkyd varnish penetrates deeply into the inner layers of parquet blocks. In addition to natural oils, these varnishes contain other components, for example, white spirit in various percentages. Less toxic varnishes with the lowest solvent concentration. The dried alkyd varnish film is very flexible and non-slip. The use of alkyd varnishes for parquet has significant advantages:
- Thanks to the unique property of these materials to highlight the structural pattern of wood, alkyd-coated parquet looks very attractive.
- The varnish does not possess adhesive properties, therefore, its flowing into the gaps between the floor strips is excluded.
- The surface of the floors, covered with alkyd varnish, is not sensitive to vibration loads, fluctuations in temperature and air humidity.
Alkyd varnishes are not devoid of certain disadvantages:
- When dry, the material reacts painfully to an increase in room temperature. Therefore, this process is recommended to be carried out with open windows and doors.
- Alkyd varnish applied thickly on parquet flooring at a time can leave superficial wrinkles.
- The wear resistance of this material is relatively low, although it is often used to cover home furniture as well.
As already mentioned, alkyd varnishes are able to influence the pattern of wood. This property can in some cases be considered an advantage, and in others - a disadvantage. Therefore, when deciding for yourself which varnish is best for parquet, you need to consider different options. If the natural color of the parquet suits perfectly, then it may make sense to choose a different varnish for it.
Alkyd varnishes are perfect for parquet floors on warm, floating floors, as well as those made of sensitive wood.
Acid-curing varnishes
Excellent performance and high wear resistance of coatings made with these varnishes make acid-cured material very popular and in demand. In combination with a reasonable cost, this varnish is an ideal solution for parquet floors with high mechanical loads.
Acid-curing varnishes contain formaldehyde resins. And although they are harmful to health, after applying the material to the floor surface, their components evaporate quickly during the drying of the composition within 3 days, leaving the slightest trace of their stay in the varnish.
The advantages of acid-curing formaldehyde varnishes include:
- Excellent adhesion to parquet wood;
- Resistance to fluctuations in temperature and humidity of the environment;
- Can be applied with brushes, sponges and roller;
- No need for pre-priming the floor.
The disadvantages of such varnishes include their pungent odor, which forces you to work in a respirator and with open windows, as well as the adhesive effect between the parquet strips. Formaldehyde varnish is suitable for use on corridor or kitchen floors.
Acrylic varnishes for parquet have indisputable advantages. They are economical, have no harmful vapors and pungent odor, can be applied evenly in a thin layer and dry quickly. They are often used for varnishing parquet floors in residential premises.
Features of the choice of parquet varnish
Parquet varnishes are divided according to the following characteristics: method of application and viscosity, appearance (there are staining and transparent varnishes), degree of gloss (matte, semi-matt and glossy), resistance to weathering, sunlight, mechanical stress and durability, as well as chemical composition, which in turn divides varnishes into anhydrous polyurethane, urethane alkyd, acid-curing, water-soluble, alkyd and primer materials.
When choosing a varnish for a parquet floor, several criteria must be used. The main one is the environmental safety of the material. Next comes the resistance of the varnish to wear, and the determining factor is the purpose of the room and the possible loads on the coating. For example, to paint the floor in the hallway or in the kitchen, you should choose the varnish that will provide a more durable coating than in a children's room or bedroom. Questions about the cost of the material and the time it takes to dry it on the floor are also very relevant.
It is rather difficult to determine the unequivocally the best varnish for parquet. This title can be claimed by many modern materials of this type. It is best to focus on your coating requirements and the recommendations of professional parquet flooring. They are always able to correctly determine which varnish should be used in each specific case. This is especially true for the primer, since sometimes the contact of varnish with exotic woods causes the activation of dyes or leads to deformation of the coating.
Parquet varnish manufacturers
To facilitate your orientation in the sea of commercial offers, below are the brands of parquet varnishes from the most famous manufacturers:
- BONA PRIME … This is a one-component acrylic lacquer primer made in Sweden, used as a primer for parquet and board floors. The material is compatible with all BONA water-borne varnishes, in a package of 5 liters, one applied layer dries for 1-2 hours.
- B ONA TRAFFIC … A two-component polyurethane-based varnish, used for painting floors with high mechanical stress, has increased abrasion resistance. Its manufacturer is BONA TRAFFIC (Sweden). The material is usually semi-matt and especially matte, available in two packages: varnish - 4.5 liters, hardener - 0.45 liters. The polymerization time is 3-4 hours.
- ARBORITEC DIY … One-component parquet varnish for wooden floors. It has absolute environmental safety, excellent resistance to wear and tear and household chemicals. The manufacturer of the varnish is a Swedish company of the same name.
- ARBORITEC COMPO … It is a two-component polyurethane varnish for parquet, used for finishing wood floors with high mechanical stress.
- PARKETTLACK 35 … Water-soluble covering parquet varnish from the BECKERS company (Sweden), goes on sale in packs of 15 and 1.5 liters. When applying the first layer, its consumption is 1 liter per 8 m2, with subsequent varnishing - 1 l per 10-12 m2 floors with a primer.
How to choose a varnish for parquet - watch the video:
Before varnishing the parquet, first of all, it is necessary to thoroughly study the recommendations of the manufacturer of the selected material, familiarize yourself with the accompanying documentation, expiration date and restrictions on use. You should also check the integrity of the packaging with varnish in order to exclude the possibility of replacing it with a cheap analogue. Good luck with your choice!
