Parquet varnish - which one to choose?

Modern parquet flooring from other materials used in this area differs primarily in that it requires careful maintenance. Without oil or varnish, the parquet board will not be able to last even a year, therefore it is necessary to protect the wood with the help of special compounds. Despite the fact that the range of such products is quite large, over the years, preference has been given more to varnish. He copes well with the function assigned to him and looks excellent. Let's try to find out which is the best varnish for parquet, which one to choose, considering the most important factors.

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The main criteria for choosing parquet varnish

It is more often determined with what varnish it is better to cover the parquet, not the owner of the house himself, but the master, who is engaged in the installation of the flooring itself and its processing. But nevertheless, the last word always remains with the owner, so it is better to show due awareness in this matter.

Important! The most important factor influencing the choice of a suitable composition is the main purpose of the room itself and the level of the expected load on the parquet:

• If you don’t plan to overload the floor in the room, only a few people who wear home soft slippers will walk on it, then you can use floor coverings with a slight load on them.
• For the corridor and kitchen, it is better to choose varnishes that provide maximum protection against stress and various contaminants.

Pay attention to the following nuances:

1. What flooring do you want to get in the end - matte, glossy, semi-matt or silky-matte.
2. Indicators of wear resistance, strength, resistance to damage by abrasives. It’s more difficult to choose here, because you should at least miss a little, and you will get the result opposite to the expected one.
3. The speed of complete drying. Remember that it will be necessary to apply varnish in several layers. That is, the faster it dries, the better.
4. Environmental indicators are equally important. Moreover, if it is a living room, it should not have any odors.
5. Resistance to the effects of temperature extremes and sunlight.
6. Technological properties.
7. What kind of wood is made of parquet.
8. Profitability at the highest quality of a product.
9. Compliance with instructions.

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Varieties of parquet lacquers

To choose the best parquet varnish, the first thing to do is to understand the presented variety of these compounds on the market. They are classified by the following parameters:

• Technological properties - viscosity, fluidity, method of application.
• Appearance - transparent or giving the tree a certain color.
• Chemical composition - water-soluble, primer, alkyd, polyurethane based on anhydrous or formaldehyde resins, acid-cured, urethane-alkaline.
• Resistance to mechanical loads, external environment, light, service life.
• Gloss - matte, glossy, semi-gloss, silky matte, semi-gloss.

Now we will separately consider the most popular compositions used today for parquet processing.

Ground varnishes

This category includes compositions that are applied directly under the finish coating, due to which they increase its adhesion to the coating. The widespread use of soil varnishes, primarily due to the possibility of improving the quality characteristics of the upper layers of varnish.

They are also used in the following cases:

• When you need to achieve a perfectly even shade.
• If there is a need to reduce the adhesive action in the side joints.
• When the task is to isolate the natural oils contained in exotic woods.
• When there is a real risk of moisture entering the surface of the dies.

Before applying such a varnish, you must make sure that it is compatible with the topcoat, because if you miss this point, a rather serious problem can arise, which is difficult to fix. The floor will become spotty, and to remove these stains, you will have to completely remove the entire coating layer.

Important! Soil compositions have one remarkable property: they reduce the penetrating ability of the finish coating, thereby significantly reducing its consumption. They dry quickly, due to the entry of solvents into them. Just wait a few hours.

Water soluble coatings

If you do not know which parquet varnish is the best, then the best option for quality and cost is the water composition. It consists of small particles of solvent, water and emulsifiers.

Important! Due to the fact that it is water that is the basis, it dries differently from other coatings: immediately after application, the water evaporates first, but not the solvent. Due to the fact that the solvent evaporates more slowly, the concentration of the composition itself only increases in the aqueous dispersion. Only after overcoming the threshold value does it dissolve, destroying the binding drops. As a result, the varnish film becomes as solid and durable as possible.

Advantages of aqueous formulations:

1. The water base relieves the varnish from a pronounced smell.
2. They are not combustible, therefore they can be used in all rooms without restriction.

Disadvantages:

1. Low wear resistance. This property is possessed by those varnishes that consist of a solvent, water and an emulsifier. But if you add a special additive to them, you can increase the service life.
2. High demands on the choice of application tools. It is inappropriate to use sponges, brushes, spatulas, tampons. The only option is the roller.

Important! Before you begin, you need to make sure that you bought exactly what you need, because, for example, professional products can be applied even without a primer, other options imply its mandatory use.

Polyurethane Anhydrous Varnishes

This type of parquet flooring is simply ideal, in particular for rooms with a high level of traffic. They are incredibly durable, have adhesive properties to wood products. By the number of constituent components, they are divided into:

• One component.
• Two-component.

Both categories of compounds include aromatic compounds that give them an unpleasant odor - more aggressive than conventional varnishes. Their basis can also be different: urethane, acrylic, solvents.

Important! Naturally, during the choice between an aqueous and anhydrous composition, any argument can be decisive. Thus, the anhydrous polyurethane composition dries much faster, since it does not have water. First, the solvent evaporates, then the varnish hardens due to a chemical reaction that takes place inside the composition. When applying and drying such a mixture, it is necessary to protect the varnish film from direct contact with water.

Advantages of mixtures without water:

1. Elastic.
2. Do not need a primer.
3. They are not afraid of moisture during operation.
4. Not demanding on the microclimate of the premises.

Important! It is safe to say that this is the best parquet lacquer, because it can be used even where a lot of people constantly gather.

Oil based alkyd varnishes

Their main component is, of course, alkyd resin extracted from natural raw materials. Due to the content of linseed and wood oils in this product, it is able to penetrate deeply into the structure of the tree.Also, this varnish includes a component such as white spirit, while its concentration can fluctuate greatly. Compounds with a minimum content cannot be called toxic.

Benefits:

1. Giving natural beauty to wood, which favorably emphasizes its structure.
2. The absence of adhesives, due to which, when applied, they do not fall into the grooves between the dies.
3. Resistance to mechanical stress, temperature extremes, changes in humidity.

Disadvantages:

1. They are sensitive to high air temperatures during drying, so you often have to lower it artificially by opening doors and windows.
2. It is necessary to monitor the thickness of the layer during application.
3. They have low wear resistance, so they are often used to cover furniture.

Important! Determining which parquet lacquer is the best, immediately sweep away this option, because it will not allow you to realize all your design ideas and fantasies.

Formaldehyde Acid Cure Formulations

These varnishes are classified as the most persistent. They contain formaldehyde resins, which, contrary to many claims about their harmfulness to health, are actually not so dangerous. Due to the fact that they evaporate quickly, without leaving even the slightest trace on the surface of the floor, they should not be afraid.

Benefits:

1. High adhesion to wood.
2. Resistance to changes in temperature and humidity.
3. A possibility of drawing by any painting devices.
4. Use without preliminary primer.

Disadvantages:

1. They have a pronounced smell, which is why you should work in a respirator and with open windows.
2. The side walls are glued too much in the dies.

Important! Remember that for each case it is appropriate to use a specific varnish coating:

• for the bedroom - water soluble;
• for the living room - alkyd;
• for corridor and kitchen - formaldehyde.

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Stock footage

Now you know what parquet varnish is. Which is better to choose - you can decide by analyzing the above information.