Water-based wood varnish: characteristics, selection and application.

A relatively new word in the production of paints and varnishes for wooden floors is water-based varnish. Home distinctive feature of this type of varnish is its environmental friendliness. For lovers of eco-housing - this is the best option: quality, reliability, the absence of harmful components, as a result - the absence of a sharp, chemical smell.

Aqueous floor varnish is a mixture of water, binder and other components, which are distributed evenly in small droplets in water with a high-speed agitator.

The whole process resembles dough kneading: a binder, emulsifiers are poured into the water, then the “dough” is kneaded at high speed until it is homogeneous (it should not be distributed into layers), after which a solvent is added as a film-forming component. Hence their features in drying and one of the main differences from other coatings. First of all, the water component dries up (the fastest drying), then the film-forming component dries partially, dissolving the binder, and only after that it dries completely, leaving protective layer on the wooden floor.

In a water-based varnish, as a binder, you can add:

1. one-component: acrylic or polyurethane;
2. two-component: acrylic + polyurethane.

The addition of acrylic or polyurethane gives the varnish its specific properties. So polyurethane gives the coating additional resistance (as a rule, they are used in rooms with high exploitation) to various influences:

• high load;
• spilled alcohol;
• chemical and other influences.

Variety of varnishes of this type

Water-based acrylic varnishes do not create such a strong base, they need more thorough care (they cannot be wetted much), they are more elastic, they do not “scorch” the tree.

Two-component water-based varnishes combine the features of one-component varnishes, eliminating their shortcomings, complementing their own best qualities. For example, acrylic, urethane, etc. are added to polyurethane.

Important. It is necessary to store water-based coatings in a heated room, preventing it from freezing.

In addition, water-based wood varnish may contain (5-15%) or solvent-free.

Features of application to the surface

The use of water-based wood varnish is not limited to wood floors: . The limitation can only be imposed by the climatic component. Main Feature applying varnish is the required temperature and humidity of the room (since it is based on water): the optimum temperature is 18-20 degrees and humidity 50%.

Advice. At lower temperatures, the drying of the varnish is much slower and not as good. To maintain the required humidity in the room, you can use a humidifier, indoor flowers and other hand tools. Dry air leads to rapid drying and deformation of the coating.

Work sequence

If the floors are re-varnished, then the old parquet varnish (water-based or not) must be removed. This is done by looping. The old coating and a little wood are removed so that the surface takes on a matte color.

Then the floors are thoroughly cleaned and washed with a mild soapy solution to remove dust. After they dry, they begin to prepare the floor or other wooden object for applying a water-based varnish for parquet. Since it is based on water, and wood is varnished, in order to exclude the negative impact of water-based varnish (for example, tikkurila), the floor is first coated with a primer. It, as a rule, is sold in stores with coatings and comes in a kit. The base should dry well.

For best results, experts advise applying at least 2 coats of primer.

Water varnish on the parquet floor is also applied in several layers. Their number can reach up to 5-7 layers (it all depends on the thickness of the applied layer, the quality of the paintwork materials, the required strength of the coating).

Water-based acrylic varnish (like other water-based coatings) is applied only with rollers.

A few more tips for working with water coatings:

1. before use, they need to be shaken or stirred well;
2. they cannot be diluted with solvents - only with water;
3. matte or glossy varnish - depends on the quality of the coating;
4. before starting work (if the floor has already been varnished), you need to check compatibility on a small area of ​​​​the floor somewhere under the furniture;
5. when drying, avoid drafts and direct sunlight;
6. to remove bubbles and irregularities during application, the penultimate layer is recommended to be sanded or cycled a little, and then covered with a finishing layer or two varnishes;
7. until the coating is completely dry, it is better to walk in upholstered furniture or in socks;
8. use felt pads on furniture legs.

A little about ecology

It is not always possible to move somewhere during the repair, so you don’t want to breathe numerous and different chemicals during the repair, especially if you have children and pets. Water-based coatings also serve as a way out, since it almost does not smell, is harmless, dries quickly, does not cause an allergic reaction and is environmentally friendly.

There are many companies on the domestic market that represent similar products: Swedish, English, domestic, Finnish (the most famous water-based varnish is tikkurila) and others.

Well, and finally - a video that talks about applying Synteko water-based varnishes. We hope you find it useful.

By the way, subscribe to our group Vkontakte.

The unique properties of wood, this amazing material, which has long been used in various fields of human activity, one listing of which can take several pages of printed text, provide this material with wide popularity even today. But any type of wood requires high-quality moisture protection to ensure a longer service life and give the surface a variety of appearance. Acrylic varnish for wood is one of the representatives of a wide family of paints and varnishes, which has excellent technical specifications, broadest colors and excellent environmental friendliness, due to the possibility of dilution with ordinary water, which allows you to remove many restrictions for use.

Acrylic materials are used to impregnate floors, building structures or furniture, for outdoor work or for processing wooden products inside the house. What is the difference between acrylic-based materials, chosen by many professional builders and developers who prefer to do the work with their own hands.

What are acrylic coatings

Acrylic paints and varnishes used for exterior or internal works when processing wood products of various species, metal, glass, stone and many other surfaces, including soft fabric, they are obtained from methyl, butyl or ethyl acrylates - polymers formed by esters of acrylic, methacrylic or cyanoacrylic acid.

For the first time, acrylic polymers were obtained in 1952 by one of the leaders in the manufacture of paints and varnishes, the American company DuPont, which was developing a technology for the production of a new type of material that could compete with nylon, which was popular in those years. The resulting material was easily dyed, resistant to ultraviolet light and acid and alkali solutions, and in a completely dried state practically did not react to prolonged exposure to water.

And who, if not the leader in the production of paints and varnishes, can use these properties to obtain durable varnishes and paints used in industry and everyday life. Acrylic paints and varnishes are widely used in the automotive industry as factory coatings and repair systems, in the construction industry for interior decoration, and in the creation of durable plasters and exterior paints.

The resulting polymeric materials are highly soluble in various types solvents. Organic solvents allow you to adjust the drying time and temperature conditions for applying paints, and water-based varnish is practically odorless and can be used for surface treatment in children's institutions and for painting toys. It is easy to apply to the surface, and after drying it can be removed only with a special solvent.

Varnishes and paints based on acrylic polymers made by various manufacturers have excellent protective properties, which determine their wide distribution:

• Good adhesion to most types of materials, with the exception of some "fatty" polymers such as polyethylene;
• Short drying time
• Compliance with the latest environmental requirements;
• Resistance after complete drying to water and most solvents;
• High strength and elasticity of the resulting film;
• The ability to be absorbed into wood fibers, creating a thick protective layer;
• Long service life, up to 10-15 years when the outer surfaces are coated.

As the reviews show, it is high environmental friendliness that is put in first place by consumers when choosing paints and varnishes.

Acrylic paints and varnishes for woodworking

The universal properties of materials based on polymethyl methacrylate made it possible to create several lines of paint and varnish products that can reliably protect wood from moisture, mold fungi and decay, and to a considerable depth relative to outside. Companies DuPont, Akzo Nobel, Tikkurila, represented on the market by several brands, offer the consumer varnish, stains, impregnations, primers and other compositions for various purposes for processing wooden structures and decorating furniture and artistic wood products. Do not lag behind the world leaders in terms of quality indicators and products of the trademarks Eurotex of the domestic "NPP ROGNEDA" and Sayerlack of the Italian company Arch Coatings, but their price is somewhat lower, which is pleasant for the buyer.

The impregnation primer and varnish from the same manufacturer, included in a certain line of materials, provide the best adhesion and durability, and the variety of products presented by manufacturers allows you to perform all types of wood protection work both outside and inside the house.

The technology of processing wood with any paints or varnishes is divided into several stages, during which materials of different properties are used, made on the same basis.

Impregnations and primers

Impregnations and primers based on acrylics are materials approximately similar in their properties, designed to protect wood products from the appearance of blue, prevent the development of rot, repel wood-eating insects and reduce combustibility. When choosing a primer or impregnation, you should carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations, which indicate exactly what this or that composition is intended for and what materials it is compatible with for further processing. If we consider the impregnations and primers of the brands Pinotex, Eurotex or the Finnish concern Tikkurila, widely represented on the market and enjoying well-deserved popularity, we can see that the materials intended for pre-treatment of wood have a specific purpose and can be combined with a certain type of finishing coatings.

Some formulations are intended for indoor use or for treating wood buried from sunlight, because the reduction in UV resistance was the result of improved protection against moisture and mold. Others are designed for processing windows, walls, decorative elements and cannot cope with a large abrasive load on the floor boards. Impregnations and primers containing organic solvents have a specific odor that disappears as it dries. This should also be taken into account when choosing a material, because acrylic solvents are very toxic.

Popular water-based formulations are practically odorless, but it should be noted that such a material dries more slowly and is more demanding on application conditions. The priming of the surface with water impregnation is carried out with a special hard brush, which evenly distributes the material over the surface of the wood, emphasizing the structure of the fibers.

Some materials for pre-treatment of wood with varnish allow not only to give the surface the necessary properties, but also to change the appearance of floor boards, exterior walls wooden house or pieces of furniture. To do this, azure is used, a decorative transparent agent that can emphasize the structure of the tree and give the surface an individual appearance. And Tikkurila, and Eurotex and Rolaks and many other companies offer water-based and organic-based azure to consumers.

The popular azure Rolax Premium (Rolaks premium) is a universal solvent-based product that combines the properties of an antiseptic impregnation, a primer and contains a finishing varnish for the final surface treatment.

The tool dries quickly, creates a durable film on the surface of the tree, and the price of a domestic product is more than attractive. But the presence of a pungent odor of the solvent somewhat limits the use of this tool. Tikkurila and Eurotex offer customers, in addition to solvent-based materials, water-based formulations with excellent protective characteristics. Eurotex Aqualazur and Tikkurila Valtti is a transparent base protective composition that can be tinted to the colors of precious woods, which expands its scope, and increased environmental friendliness allows you to perform all types of interior work without special protective equipment. Water-based aqualazure can be applied with a brush or spray and, if necessary, diluted to the required viscosity with plain water. After drying, a glossy, as if varnished or matte finish is obtained, emphasizing the natural beauty of wood fibers.

The price of impregnations and primers, even from well-known manufacturers, can vary significantly. Tikkurila, Dufa and some other companies produce most of the products at the company's domestic enterprises and the price is lower, and some exclusive materials come from abroad and the price includes all excises, customs duties and transportation. The price of domestic materials of the Eurotex trademark is significantly lower, but those compositions, in the preparation of which imported components predominate, are not much cheaper than their foreign counterparts.

Surface finishing varnish

Varnish has long been used to protect the package and floor boards, furniture and wooden interior items and give them a unique appearance. Since its inception, acrylates have boldly entered into competition with alkyd paints and natural oil varnish and in recent times hold the palm in this competition.

Floor varnish is not suitable for window and door materials. To varnish exterior wooden structures, a composition with high UV resistance is required. Lacquer is matte and glossy, transparent, colorless or containing a certain amount of dye, and all this variety is present in each manufacturer.

Floor varnish

A separate line among the products of most companies producing paints and varnishes for protecting wood are floor and parquet varnishes. It would seem that there is no difference, because acrylic-containing materials make it possible to obtain a durable film on any kind of surface. The difference lies in the properties of the film and it is achieved by using various additives in the base composition. After drying, flooring compositions create a strong, but elastic film that maintains integrity with mandatory changes in the dimensions of the board under the influence of temperature and humidity. Materials intended for parquet create a more durable, but fragile film, and if boards of a wooden floor are coated with such a varnish, it will definitely crack, which will lead to a decrease in protection and damage to the appearance of the coating.

That is why Tikkurila, Rolaks, Eurotex and many other manufacturers necessarily indicate which floor a particular composition is intended for - wooden plank or parquet. Moreover, compositions identical in final properties are offered to consumers on an aqueous or organic basis. For example, Eurotex eco parquet lacquer combines high strength and wear resistance, and high environmental friendliness due to the water base and the almost complete absence of odor make it possible to cover floors in children's and medical institutions with this lacquer.

For ease of application in liquid form, the material has a milky White color, which facilitates application and allows you to get a uniform coating. After pre-drying, the white color disappears and the coating becomes transparent. Tikkurila and Aqualack varnishes from Rolax have similar properties.

Note: Quick-drying varnish is not suitable for floor treatment. It is impossible to provide high-quality processing of a large surface area in 20-30 minutes. A good parquet varnish must be dried for 4-6 hours before applying the 2nd layer, 12 hours for complete drying and 6-7 days for full curing.

Scuba for the floor, like its "relative", solvent-based can be matte glossy or semi-gloss what you should pay attention to when choosing a material, depending on what kind of coating you need to get.

Most floor varnishes are designed exclusively for indoor use and cannot withstand water and UV exposure for long enough.

With all the positive qualities, one of the disadvantages of acrylic varnishes is the high price. An alkyd composition of the same purpose costs 2-2.5 times cheaper even from one manufacturer, which somewhat hinders the widespread use of acrylic materials.

Outdoor varnishes

To preserve the appearance and strength of wooden structures outside the home, special materials for outdoor use are used, which have high water resistance and resistance to ultraviolet rays, and in a wide range of temperatures. Lacquers made from water dispersion of acrylic ensure the operation of wooden structural elements for 5-10 years, depending on a combination of external factors. There are matte or glossy options to expand the aesthetic properties of coatings.

The Eurotex trademark offers acrylate varnishes of the Aqualac line, consisting of 12 colors, and the Tikkurila company offers Pinjalac Solid 30 Dipp, which can be used to cover wooden lining on the wall of the house or garden furniture.

Exterior materials are very sensitive to application technology and surface preparation. First you need to remove the entire layer old paint or varnish, sand the surface, thoroughly clean it of dust and dirt, and only then proceed to applying varnish. One has only to remain on the surface of a small amount of fat, all the work will be ruined. You can apply these materials for outdoor work with a regular brush or any type of paint sprayer.

Varnishes for interior work

The high environmental friendliness of acrylic materials, as it were, predetermines their use for interior work. Acrylic varnish can cover the floor, furniture, decorative items and kitchen utensils. It is difficult to count how many areas of application of these materials exist and how many different compositions manufacturers offer. Tikkurila alone has about 10 lines of materials for varnishing wooden surfaces. Do not lag behind the Finns and other manufacturers. Trademark Eurotex offers 5 varieties of varnish only for furniture. Matte and glossy, colorless and tinted, and for each of them the manufacturer gives complete instructions and scope.

Difficulties in working with acrylic varnish

Acrylic is a polymer, in other words, plastic. And if it is completely dry, it is possible to remove streaks or remove color defects only mechanically with a sandpaper, if the top layer is matte. A glossy surface will require additional polishing.

You can completely remove the varnish layer by thermal means, evenly heating the painted surface with a building hair dryer or using a special wash. After applying the remover, if the old or damaged coating has been removed, the surface must be rinsed and dried thoroughly before applying a new coat of varnish.

To obtain a high-quality result, it is necessary to follow the rules for using acrylic-containing varnishes. The surface is generously varnished, which is carefully shaded with a brush or roller, given that acrylic dries quickly, especially at elevated ambient temperatures. Here, the advantage is with water-soluble acrylic, which dries more slowly and allows you to fix flaws with a wet rag.

When choosing paints and varnishes for woodworking based on acrylic, you should not immediately buy a jar with a beautiful label that you like in a store. It is better to carefully read the instructions, ask a consultant technical description. A small investment of time is worth it to save yourself from disappointment with the negative consequences of using a quality product for other purposes.

Hello everyone, today I would like to tell you a little about water varnish for wood appeared on the shelves of hardware stores relatively recently, but it was sent to gain popularity relatively recently.

At first, I myself went around the shelves with goods unknown to me, buying alkyd and polyurethane varnishes. But when I got a job in a carpentry workshop, I learned that only water-based varnishes are used for processing.

Main advantage water varnish for wood, it is environmentally friendly. Now most of the developed countries in the world are moving away from the use of alkyd and nitro varnish, and are increasingly giving preference to water-based formulations. Water-based varnishes for wood are absolutely environmentally friendly, as they are made on a water basis.

For example, you need to treat children's furniture, or a kitchen table, of course, you will choose an eco-friendly material, and not a set of chemicals that can get into your body with pieces of food.

Environmental friendliness is not the only plus, the process of work is also an advantage. Water-based varnishes are practically, or even completely odorless, they can even be used at home, without the use of special air ventilation systems.

Also, water-based varnishes dry much faster than other types of varnish. On average, one layer dries completely in 1 hour, there are exceptions, for example, 30 minutes or 1.5 hours, it all depends on the manufacturer.

Manufacturer and prices

Almost all major varnish manufacturers have a series of water-based varnishes for wood in their catalog. Basically, varnishes are colorless, but also with the possibility of tinting them. Tinting is necessary to give a certain color, for example, imitating oak or maple.

Today, a water-based scuba lacquer for wood is increasingly used in the furniture industry. These formulations are used as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional high volatile organic compound (VOC) varnishes made with organic solvents.

According to statistics water formulations on the this moment account for up to 50% of the total volume of varnishes produced worldwide. What, in addition to environmental safety, is good for water-based paints and varnishes (LKM), what is their composition and what are the features and applications, we will now find out.

Main characteristics

For comparison - varnished and ordinary surface

Modern water-based varnish for wood is a wide range of different products that, depending on the modification, can be used to treat the surface of furniture, to treat parquet, to apply to the exterior or interior decoration building objects, etc. ().

Important: Water-based paints and varnishes differ from solvent-based analogues by a high content of dry residue (up to 40% on average). As a result, the price of dispersed coatings is lower than the cost of analogs made with the addition of a solvent, with a similar level of hiding power and strength of the finished coating.

The modifications of water-based varnishes presented on the market differ not only in the scope, but also in the composition. The composition is responsible for such qualities as hiding power, intensity of penetration into the pores of wood, adhesion of the applied layer, appearance of the applied and dried layer, hardening intensity, resistance to environmental factors, etc.

Dispersion coatings based on water, in accordance with the type of binder components and filler, are divided into the following modifications:

• Acrylic compositions- are distinguished by low cost, in comparison with other types of dispersion varnishes, but, on the other hand, are characterized by mediocre wear resistance indicators.

The use of such compositions is limited to applying to the surface of parquet and furniture operated indoors at stable temperature indicators.

• Acrylic polyurethane compounds are also inexpensive, but are more resistant to abrasion and other mechanical stress. Such varnishes, as well as fully acrylic counterparts, should be used for the treatment of indoor surfaces.

But the finished coating based on a mixture of acrylic and polyurethane practically does not deform during sharp temperature fluctuations. Therefore, such compositions are the best solution for treating various surfaces in country seasonally used houses.

• Polyurethane compounds the most wear-resistant, since the finished hardened coating is elastic, which eliminates the formation of microcracks during impact and sharp temperature fluctuations. The only drawback of polyurethane varnish is the high cost, which, however, is justified. high quality coatings.

In accordance with the complexity of the composition, water-based varnishes for wood can be divided into two main modifications:

• One-component formulations- are sold ready for use and can be immediately applied to the surface of the wood. May be applied by spraying or rolling.

This type of coating is characterized by excellent hiding power, fast hardening and adaptability to grinding with various abrasive materials. One-component water-based coatings can be used as single-layer and multi-layer coatings.

During spraying, the use of professional and semi-professional compressor spray guns with an average diameter of the nozzle opening is allowed. One-component water-based varnishes dry quickly, forming a hard film that is resistant to mechanical stress and aggressive chemical compounds.

Important: One-component water-based varnishes dry quickly, and therefore it is advisable to apply them in a thick layer. This is done in such a way that the applied layer dries over the entire thickness, only after complete alignment. As a result, the coating will be even without pronounced reliefs.

Single-component compositions on sale are presented in the form of glazing and colorless modifications, and therefore you can choose the variety that is suitable for the planned finishing or painting work.

• Two-component formulations purchased primarily for professional use. On sale, these products are represented by dry mixtures, which are diluted immediately before use.

Two-component compositions, as well as one-component counterparts, can be applied to surfaces by spraying or rolling. Ready-to-use varnish is a finely dispersed emulsion with a liquid consistency.

The applied and cured coating is resistant to most inorganic solvents, as well as resistant to mechanical stress, including abrasion and impact.

Important: When purchasing foreign-made two-component coatings for furniture or parquet, make sure that their characteristics comply with DIN 68861, DIN-Norm and Teil 1B standards.

To date, the range of two-component water-based coatings is represented by a wide range of specialized primers and varnishes for sanding, materials for multilayer application, top varnishes, tinting and structural systems, varnishes for melamine coatings, UV curing varnishes, etc.

After we have decided on the main types of varnish in accordance with the composition, we will consider the types of water-based paintwork materials in accordance with the specifics of the application.

Compounds for parquet treatment

The water resistance of the lacquer ensures the safety of the wood

Acrylic water-based wood varnishes are the best treatment for a wide range of flooring including art parquet, parquet board, floorboard, etc.

The main advantage of using these products is the absence of a toxic odor, which is typical for coatings made on the basis of inorganic solvents. As a result, it is possible to process floor coverings directly in the room, without worrying about ventilation and safety equipment such as, for example, a protective respirator.

Again, the low price of these varnishes allows you to process large areas without fear that the repair will be ruinous.

Among the advantages of water-based parquet varnishes, we note the following:

• absence of a specific smell both at the stage of application and during the curing process.
• fire safety due to incombustibility and resistance to critical high temperatures.
• fast drying and, as a result, the possibility of applying several layers of coating during one daylight hours.

However, along with the characteristic advantages, there are obvious disadvantages, among which we note:

• the need for regular application of parquet care products.
• the formation of sagging, if the application of coatings is carried out in excessively dry air.
• inexpediency of use when processing exotic wood species with a beautiful texture, since the agent is applied only to a pre-primed surface.

Instructions for applying water-based parquet varnish are as follows:

• We prepare the base with a belt grinder so that before applying the varnish, the parquet base is brought to the same level and does not have rough and uneven areas.
• The gaps between adjacent boards can be filled with a special putty. After filling with putty, we carry out final grinding and finally clean the base from dirt and dust.
• Apply a water-based primer. We prime with a thin even layer so that the product is completely absorbed into the tree without stains.
• We mix the varnish, since during storage the dissolved fillers and pigments could settle to the bottom.
• We apply a layer of varnish. When processing parquet, the use of a roller is allowed. We drive the roller in even stripes in one initially chosen direction.
• Wait 3 hours between applying the first and second coats. For your information, the first layer dries to the touch in 1 hour, but this time is not enough to move freely over the finished coating.
• Before applying the second coat, the first coat of lacquer can be sanded to eliminate possible irregularities. If the coating is perfectly smooth without sagging, the second layer can be applied without preliminary grinding.
• After the second layer has completely dried, the coating can be treated with parquet care products in order to protect the surface from dust, moisture, etc. Approximately two weeks after applying the varnish, the coating acquires its final operational and aesthetic qualities.

Application of furniture water-based varnishes

If it is advisable to use two-component varnishes for parquet processing, which can be diluted immediately before use, then for furniture processing it is advisable to purchase one-component compositions that are ready for use.

Instructions for using furniture water varnish are as follows:

• The surface to be treated is thoroughly cleaned of the remnants of the old paintwork. This is done first with coarse, and then with fine-grained sandpaper.

In order for the surface to turn out to be even without a pronounced relief, grinding should be done not with your own hands, but with the use of tape or.

• After polishing the surface, the lint-free cloth is dipped in white spirit. With this rag we wipe the surface along the wood fibers, thus removing wood dust and dirt.
• Next, apply the first coat of varnish with a brush or roller. The layer should be thick, but without smudges. As a result, the coating will be able to even out and dry without the formation of sagging.
• After complete drying of the first layer (on average 1-2 hours), apply the second layer. If necessary, a final third layer can be applied.

Conclusion

Now you know what water-based varnishes are, what their composition is and how they are used for their intended purpose.

Any questions left? More useful information can be found by watching the video in this article.

The wooden floor is in great demand among the population, and water based varnish is a great innovative coating solution of this type gender. The floors of many restaurants, offices, public corridors, etc. are covered with water varnish.

The composition of such a varnish is a mixture of water with binders. Training water varnish for use it resembles dough kneading: binders and emulsifiers are poured into the water, which are kneaded until a homogeneous mass is formed. Then a solvent is added to this mixture, which is the film-forming part.

Water based varnish assumes the content of acrylic or polyurethane as a binder component. Polyurethane makes the floor surface more resistant to high loads, acrylic cannot boast a similar result. Acrylic surfaces need more care, and a mixture with the presence of polyurethane is perfect for varnishing the floor surface in a room with increased use. The use of a two-component binder alleviates this drawback.

• environmental friendliness;
• in some types of paints there is no unpleasant smell at all;
• quick drying of the surface;
• The only downside is the high price.

Important: Water-based coatings must be stored in a well-heated room that is free from excessive moisture.

Use this varnish type recommended in rooms that do not experience a significant operational load. It is quite suitable for a bedroom, a nursery, or a rest room. After the lacquer components have dried, a transparent protective film is formed on the floor surface, which is capable of rubbing against other objects, resistant to detergents and water.

Before applying varnish, the surface of the floor should be treated. It must be thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt, and also subjected to grinding. If previously the floor is already coated with lacquer, you need to carefully clean and sand it until a matte finish appears.

The use of this type of varnish is recommended in rooms that are subjected to frequent mechanical stress, and also have the risk of chemicals getting on the surface. This varnish is a more complex mixture and it is desirable that this consistency be applied by professionals. Very popular in this segment of the market is two-component water-based varnish from the manufacturer Tikkurila. It has all the necessary qualities and demonstrates high rates of resistance to external influences.

This varnish type characterized by fast drying. The presence of water in it contributes to this, since it evaporates much faster than inorganic substances. It also makes it easier to clean the tool that was used to work. The protective functions of varnish are exactly the same as those of other types of varnish: resistance to friction, impact, exposure to sunlight and moisture on the surface.

The varnish type has a wide range of shades, and in addition to floors, it is also suitable for painting wallpaper, primed drywall, plaster and concrete.

How to apply varnish on the surface?

After you have cleaned the surface of dirt, sanded it and replaced the paint mixture, you can proceed directly to varnishing process.

You can also wash the floor with a solution of soda before applying.

For quick drying of the paint, you should adhere to the temperature regime. The air temperature in the room to be painted should be 15-20 degrees Celsius. Subject to this condition, the varnish will dry during the day, but the full operation of the premises is possible only after three days.

As a tool for performing this work, a roller, brush, or spray gun is usually used. A spatula can also be used to apply the primer and the first coat. When working with a brush, U-shaped movements should be carried out on the floor surface. Working with a roller involves cross-shaped movements, when the varnish is applied to the surface with the first movement, and smeared over it with the second.

Important: if bubbles form on an unvarnished surface, then most likely you have got too thick a layer of the substance, or you have chosen the wrong tool. Polish the low-quality surface and apply a layer of varnish again.

Try to strictly follow the instructions that come with the purchased product. Floor varnishes differ from each other in their characteristics, so each varnish has certain individual characteristics.

Acid varnishes have attractive durability, but be aware that they are too toxic. Follow the safety regulations. Alkyd varnishes also have increased toxicity.

Water based varnish is safer and no less effective tool for painting floor surfaces. Remember that when working with these substances, the temperature of the air in the room should not be allowed to drop.

If stripes begin to appear on the varnished surface, add a solvent to the mixture, which will speed up the work and prevent the varnish from drying out so quickly.

Aqueous varnish may contain 5% or 15% solvent in its mixture, and may also be sold without solvent.

Interesting facts about water varnish, water based varnish:

• varnish with a polyurethane binder should be used for problems with mold and microbial attack;
• if the surface is rough, then most likely dust has got on the surface during painting;
• some varnishes cannot be used when painting exotic woods, so make your choice carefully in the store;
• in rooms where children regularly stay, it is recommended to paint only with a water-based parquet varnish.

Outcome: Water based varnish has good indicators of environmental friendliness, durability and resistance to external influences. It is characterized by the type of binder that it contains, and can be one-component and two-component. To ensure the resistance of the floor to external influences, attention should be paid to the presence of polyurethane as a binder.

When working with floor varnish, you should pay attention to the air temperature in the room, as well as carefully prepare the floor surface for painting.