How to varnish cover the wooden floors? How and what to cover the wooden floor in the apartment?

Absolutely all varieties of wooden floors in order to extend their service life require additional finishing. There are several means intended for this purpose. The most popular option is varnish. Sometimes such a surface is also treated with wax, oil or paint. About how to varnish cover the wooden floors, we'll talk further in the article. Also, we will take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of other tools and how to use them.

How to choose a varnish?

At the moment, the industry produces several varieties of varnishes, suitable for finishing wooden floors:

1. Polyurethane. This kind of varnish is usually used in rooms with high humidity. Among other things, it is resistant to abrasion, the ability to withstand significant temperature changes and ease of application. Of the disadvantages, it can be noted only that before drying, it releases harmful substances.
2. Acrylic lacquer. Floor coating based on water. It is considered environmentally clean. The cost of this variety is not too high, however it does not differ from the abrasion resistance. Do not use acrylic lacquer in rooms with high humidity.
3. Nitroles. They are distinguished by their high strength, quickly dry out and stand low.
4. Oil varnishes. Can be used for painting surfaces on the street (floor terraces, verandas, fenders, etc.), because they have good elasticity and hardness. To drawbacks can be attributed long drying.
5. Polyurethane-acrylic. They are inexpensive, but, like acrylic varnishes, they can be used only in rooms with not too much traffic.
6. Alkyd. This variety has good moisture resistance and durability. The disadvantages include an unpleasant odor arising during the performance of work.
7. Spirits. Ecologically clean, but not too resistant to abrasion and afraid of moisture.
8. Epoxy. Wear-resistant and are inexpensive.
9. Urethane. These varnishes are not afraid of moisture and relatively durable. However, they have the same drawback as alkyds - they release harmful substances into the air during application and before solidification.
10. Urethane-alkyd. The surface covered with this varnish varnish is difficult to scratch. In addition, urethane-alkyd varnishes are not at all afraid of moisture and are very resistant to abrasion.

So, how to varnish and how to cover a wooden floor? Let's look at all this in more detail.

How to choose a varnish for premises of different purposes

Thus, to cover the floors in rooms with large cross-country capacity it is worth using polyurethane or urethane-alkyd varnish. How to varnish cover the wooden floors on the veranda, terrace or porch? It is better to use oil on the street. In premises with high humidity, polyurethane, alkyd, urethane or epoxy will last longer. In children's rooms, bedrooms and those rooms where elderly or sick people live, it is better to use environmentally friendly acrylic or urethane water-based varnishes.

Choice of varnish by type of wood

What varnish is better to cover the wooden floor, depending on the type of material? The question is also very important. If the wrong choice is made, instead of protecting, giving shine and emphasizing the natural structure of the tree, you can simply ruin the floors. For example, they can change the hue to unnatural.

First let's see how to varnish cover the hardwood floors. For them, the means that create a sufficiently elastic film are usually used. It can be, for example, a polyurethane, urethane or urethane-alkyd varnish. You can not use these varieties only for oak floors, because, when they are processed, they become dark. Coniferous wood species are treated with alkyd, urethane or urethane alkyd varnishes. Pre-wash the boards with resin.

What tool to apply a varnish on a tree

So, how to varnish cover the wooden floors, we have found out. Now let's see how to do this work. The tool for varnish application is selected depending on its variety. This information is usually indicated on the package. This can be a spatula, roller, brush or spray. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations are mandatory. The fact is that the thickness of the lacquer layer and, consequently, its longevity directly depends on the type of tool. Most often, the floors are treated using a brush.

How to coat a wooden floor with varnish

The surface of the floor must first of all be absolutely clean. It must necessarily be vacuumed, and then wipe with a damp cloth. Then the floors should be dried. At the next stage they are covered with a primer. This can be both a special tool purchased in the store, and the same lacquer, which will be processed, but diluted with an appropriate solvent in a ratio of 1: 3. After drying, the primers begin their main work. The varnish is applied along the fibers of the tree, trying to get as smooth and smooth layer as possible.

When processing, make sure that air bubbles do not appear on the film. It can completely ruin the appearance of such a beautiful surface as a wooden floor. With your hands we cover it with a lacquer gently, from time to time, moving lightly along the very top of the film with the tip of the brush. This way all bubbles will be completely removed.

Usually two to four layers of varnish are applied to the floor. A larger number can hide the natural structure of the tree.

Helpful Tips

We hope, how to cover the wooden floor with varnish, you now understand. Finally give a couple of tips.

Sometimes the floors, even after the drying of the varnish layer, remain slightly sticky. In this case, they just need to be thoroughly rinsed with water using some household detergent.

It is very important to properly store the brush between the layers. To the varnish on it is not withered, it must either be lowered into a solvent, or wrapped in a cloth moistened by it, then additionally wrapped with polyethylene.

Wax for wood

Varnish - flooring is very popular. However, other types of wood preservatives are sometimes used. It can be, for example, wax. Being applied in two layers, this means increases the natural color of the wood and its shine.

In addition, the wax, like varnish, serves as a protective barrier against mechanical damage to the floor, absorbing water and spoiling chemicals of all kinds. Typically, the wax is applied to the surface with a soft cloth. In doing so, it is carefully rubbed into the wood. Some varieties must be applied with a brush. After the wax dries, until the surface is completely solidified, it must be polished with a clean cloth to a perfectly smooth state.

Oil for wood

Special antiseptic oil is also a popular protection for the tree. There are several of its varieties. For example, teak oil is used for processing hardwood. Like the Danish, it is often used to finish the floors of terraces, verandas and fenders, because it is moisture resistant and is not afraid of temperature changes. The most popular option is flaxseed oil, which can be used for floor treatment in virtually any room.

Apply this tool with a soft brush in the direction of the fibers. It is important not to leave untreated areas and rub it as carefully as possible. After the oil is absorbed into the wood, the excess is cleaned with a clean rag (it needs to be applied abundantly). Half an hour after the treatment, the floor surface needs to be polished. This is also done with a rag.

So what to cover the wooden floor in the apartment? Lacquer? Waxing? Oils? If you need the most stable coating, you should choose a varnish. However, it should be borne in mind that to mechanical damages such a film is not too stable. To obtain the most natural surface, use oil or wax. This coating, among other things, is almost impossible to scratch. However, it wears out quickly enough.