Characteristics of odorless varnish for wood

comparison table

Based on the rating compiled above, we have organized the main technical parameters of varnishes and placed them in a table. With this organized information, you can track down the most suitable vehicle for you.

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Types of varnishes

The advantage of imported formulations is that they have been on the market for a long time and therefore are more popular than domestic ones. But varnishes of Russian production are not inferior to them in quality. They appeared not so long ago, but they also managed to establish themselves as a top quality product that can be used for work in residential premises.

Water based

This varnish is one of the most popular because of its popularity. The surface covered with it becomes resistant to mechanical damage and does not turn yellow from time to time. The protective film formed by it does not overlap the natural shade of the wood, as it is transparent. Odorless water-based varnish does not emit toxic fumes when dry. When it is applied to a tree, there are no stains, since the technology of its production is based on a self-leveling formula of the components included in it.

Polyurethane base

These varnishes are two-component and are the most common today. This name explains the presence of acrylic and aliphatic hardener in one composition. This combination enhances the resistance to chemical reactions once it cures on the surface and speeds up the complete drying time. They are practical for interior woodwork of exotic species. It is used for furniture, parquet and other structures made of wood, including boards made from its shavings by pressing. Three coats of varnish can be applied in one working day.
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Acrylic base

These are one-component varnish compositions. They are based on natural acrylic resin. The hardening of these varnishes occurs during the dispersion of its components after the evaporation of water included in the composition, as a base solvent. The formation of an elastic film on the coated surface ensures resistance to fading, moisture and detergents. This eco-friendly acrylic resin product is used to coat furniture, wall panels, ceilings, window frames and stair railings.

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Alkyd-urethane

The varnish is recommended for covering all wood surfaces. It is bred with white spirit. It is colorless and transparent. After hardening, forms a gloss on the surface. It is recommended to apply each next layer after 24 hours, despite the fact that the curing time is 2 hours. Alkyd urethane varnish is recommended for finishing work without respirators.

Acrylate water-borne

This varnish is used to cover ceilings and walls made of wood, as well as slabs from wood shavings in living quarters and saunas. The technical parameters of the composition allow it to withstand high temperature conditions. A transparent varnish coating will not change the color of the stain or tinting applied in the preparatory stage of the work.

What varnish to cover the wooden floor

It would seem to cover the floor with varnish, which
can there be options? Actually,
there are a lot of varnish options.
Depending on where it will be
used wood floor. What
the surface will be subjected to loads.
Consider the main types of varnishes and
the best scope of their application. In their own way
the main binder components, varnish
for a wooden floor are divided into the following
views

Alkyd varnish for wood

Is sufficiently resistant to
abrasion. In addition, alkyd varnishes
dry quickly. But the disadvantage of such varnish
is low impact strength.
Since alkyd varnishes are not enough
elastic

Oil varnish

The base of oil varnish contains
natural vegetable resins and oils.
Oil varnishes are not used as a finishing
coating. Oil based varnishes
intended for preliminary
wood coating.

Acrylic lacquer

One of the most affordable varnishes. It is acrylic varnish. At their relatively low price, acrylic varnishes have good elasticity. And since acrylic lacquer is produced only on a water basis, it spreads well. Therefore, acrylic varnish is very convenient to apply to the surface. An important disadvantage of acrylic varnishes is their strength characteristics. Which can be defined as below average.

Polyurethane varnish

Most masters stop
your choice on polyurethane
varnish. It is this type of varnish, masters
are considered the most optimal options,
among other types of wood varnish. This
the choice is due to high strength
the coating that is ultimately formed.
Produce polyurethane varnishes on
organic and water based. Minus
this type of varnish has a pungent smell,
if it's organic. A
water-based polyurethane varnish
is not cheap.

Polyurethane alkyd varnish for wood
sex

By creating this composition, manufacturers have combined the quality of an expensive polyurethane varnish and the cost of a cheap acrylic. Polyurethane-alkyd varnish has a very high strength, slightly lower than that of polyurethane. But much higher than the strength of acrylic varnish.

Epoxy varnish for wood floor

Epoxy varnishes are produced
two-component. That is, ready
the composition has a short duration
"Life". Epoxy varnish has excellent
indicators for all parameters, except
convenience of working with the composition. Work
epoxy varnish is not easy.

Urethane varnish for wood

The cost of urethane varnish is low. Coupled with good strength and elasticity, this makes urethane floor varnish popular in use. Urethane varnish is perfect for floors where large loads are not expected on the surface.

Concrete floor varnish

Concrete floors can also be varnished

Concrete floors can also be varnished and will look just as good as oak or larch parquet flooring. Why varnish a concrete floor? When the base is poured, the so-called "cement milk" is formed at the top, which turns into dust in the shortest time. And varnishing will protect the base from destruction and not breathe unnecessary dust clouds during the entire period of operation. The main thing is just to choose the right composition:

• Polyurethane varnish. An expensive coating with the highest technical and practical characteristics. No toxins, no allergic vapors, quick drying, protection from moisture and non-susceptibility to temperature extremes are the main advantages of the material. In addition, the varnish resists abrasion very well, retaining the original appearance of the base for a long time.
• Composition based on epoxy and bituminous resins also works well on concrete.But for all its practicality, the varnish is afraid of moisture, so it is better to use the composition in rooms where wet cleaning is not expected. The composition dries quickly and has one unique quality - even with uneven application, a perfectly smooth surface is formed.
• Acrylic concrete floor varnishes are as good as polyurethane varnishes, but they are "afraid" of water. But the abrasion of the coating is much higher, and the material consumption is less.

Concrete floors also need proper maintenance, this will keep the protective layer in good condition for a long time.

Clear polyurethane varnish for wood for outdoor use

In order to protect products and various structures made of wood that are located outdoors, you need to use wood varnish for outdoor work. All wooden structures and parts in the open air (stairs and steps, the roof and its components, terrace boards, various gazebos, outdoor furniture and decorative structures made of wood) are highly susceptible to atmospheric precipitation. Snow, rain, strong wind, as well as direct sunlight and various insects have a devastating effect on any unprotected wooden surfaces, so they must be reliably protected.

Polyurethane varnish for outdoor use is a special solution of polyurethane in an organic solvent. No alkyd-type additives or other impurities are added to the varnish. Polyurethane-based varnish creates a special protective coating that penetrates into the wood by 5 millimeters and creates a reliable protective layer with increased wear resistance.

Types of polyurethane varnishes for wood for outdoor use

Polyurethane varnish for wood surfaces is classified into:

• One-component. This type is a ready-made solution. It is characterized by increased indicators of environmental safety. Completely harmless to people and the environment. There is no specific smell. With long-term use, the wooden coating does not fade;
• Two-component. This type consists of a component that acts as a hardener and a base mass. Before use, they must be mixed and prepared to obtain a ready-to-use varnish solution for coating wooden surfaces. Forms a sufficiently strong protective film that prevents the effects of chemical detergents, and also makes the surface very resistant to mechanical stress.

One-component and two-component polyurethane varnish provide excellent protection for surfaces made of various types of wood. They penetrate deeply enough into the wood fibers and provide reliable adhesion.

According to the result, polyurethane varnishes can be further subdivided into:

• Glossy. The treated surface becomes shiny;
• Semi-matt. The treated surface is darker, there is no shine.

Methods for surface treatment with polyurethane varnish for outdoor use

When treating surfaces with polyurethane varnish, you must follow all the recommendations that are indicated in the relevant instructions. This is especially true for two-component varnish. The components must be mixed, strictly observing the proportions, otherwise the varnish will dry very quickly or, on the contrary, it will be very liquid. Two-component; the varnish has a fast hardening, so you need to calculate the required amount of varnish and do not prepare it in large quantities.

Before starting to apply the varnish, the surface must be carefully prepared. It should be flat, smooth and clean. Therefore, the first thing we do is clean and polish it. The surface must be completely dry. It is strictly forbidden to apply varnish on a damp surface. After surface preparation, varnish can be applied. You can use a synthetic brush or mohair roller. It is recommended to apply varnish in the direction of the wood grain, and not vice versa.Optimum ambient temperature when applying varnish should be within 18-24 degrees. It is recommended to apply in 3 layers. After each applied layer, you need to maintain a period of time so that the varnish layer has time to dry. The last layer usually dries about 7-8 hours. In cloudy weather with lower temperatures, the drying period will be longer.

Selection requirements

When choosing a varnish for wood, it is imperative to take into account its properties, as well as the conditions in which the processed varnished products will be used.

The main criterion that will definitely affect the choice is the place of use. Depending on whether the object is indoors or outdoors, you will need to choose a varnish for interior woodwork or for exterior.

The second indicator should be the requirements for the future surface of a wooden object. Depending on the purpose of the product, the surface can be glossy, matte, semi-matte. Sometimes a tree needs to be painted, that is, made colored, and then varnished.

When deciding what kind of surface to be, it is necessary to take into account that greasy fingerprints and scratches are very clearly visible on the gloss. If the object will often be picked up and touched, it is better to choose a matte or semi-matte finish.

Well, if you need to make the room elegant, with a rich finish, you can use glossy varnish. Only more frequent maintenance of such coatings is necessary.

Depending on the premises in which the coating will be used, you need to choose the type of varnish.

For rooms in which people, animals or plants will be located, you should not use materials with substances harmful to the body. In this case, water-based varnishes should be preferred.

There are special formulations for processing wood products in contact with food.

Features of epoxy varnishes

Before use, a hardener is added to the varnish, depending on the type of resin. Thus, a two-component composition with excellent technical characteristics is obtained. In addition to the characteristic gloss, the substance provides increased anti-corrosion and mechanical strength. It is a safe material that does not contain toxic compounds, but solvents that are also used during work contain toxic substances.

Among the disadvantages of varnish, one can single out insufficient plasticity, due to its structure and its constituent components. In addition, proper mixing is necessary to obtain the optimum coating quality.

Epoxy varnishes are mainly used for wood surfaces: parquet and plank floors, window frames, doors, as well as for finishing and protecting wooden furniture. There are special compounds, for example, "Elakor-ED", which are intended for filling 3D-floor with flocks (chips, glitters, glitters).

The quality of the resulting film directly depends on the type of resin used. "ED-20" is considered the most durable, and therefore the material is more expensive than its counterparts based on "ED-16".

Requirements

Clear wood varnish should:

• Form a durable coating and provide an adequate degree of protection from environmental factors;
• emphasize the beauty of wood;
• be environmentally friendly, safe, free of toxins and used in different conditions, without harming children and adults;
• have a long service life without the cost of restoration during operation;
• easy to apply and dry quickly.

Clear varnishes can be:

• one-component;
• two-component (with hardener);
• multicomponent (in addition to the hardener, they include solvents and other additives).

The scope of application is quite extensive.Colorless varnish can not only perform a decorative function, giving things a beautiful appearance with or without shine, but also protect against scratches and significant damage, as well as changes associated with weather conditions or the microclimate in the house. Transparent varnish is used for wooden toys, pencils, musical instruments, furniture, floors, walls and even yachts. In the interior inside houses, they are used to paint wooden panels for walls or parquet boards for the floor, and are also used to cover the external facades of houses, baths and gazebos.

The best manufacturers of water-based paints and varnishes

In the modern market of paints and varnishes, several foreign manufacturers stand out, whose products are in steady demand in the territories of many countries of the world, namely:

1. Finnish company Tikkurila.
2. Swedish manufacturer Bona.
3. German firms "Berger" and "Lobadar".
4. Italian company "Vermeister".

The company "Tikkurila" produces water-based varnishes for parquet on modern computerized equipment and using innovative technologies developed by its own specialists. The company's products are in stable demand in the markets of many countries, which is due to their excellent quality and performance properties. Among the entire line of paint and varnish coatings, the water-based polyurethane parquet varnish under the name "Parketti Assa" stands out, which has increased resistance to abrasion and can withstand the ingress of various chemical liquids, with the exception of nitro solvents.

The Swedish company Bona has been making water-based odorless parquet varnishes for several decades. Advanced computerized production and its own research center have allowed the company to develop and market a water-based polyurethane particle parquet flooring lacquer under the name "Traffic". Its unique composition gave this coating excellent resistance to wear and tear and the appearance of traces from mechanical damage, which made it possible to use it in public areas with a large traffic flow. This water-based polyurethane varnish is readily used by museums when covering parquet floors in their own halls.

German companies "Berger" and "Lobadar" began to gain popularity in the last decade, they produce various types of high-quality water-based parquet varnishes, using the advanced developments of their own specialists. Matte, glossy and semi-matt two-component polyurethane varnishes under the names Lobadur WS 2K Duo and Berger Aqua-Seal 2K-PU, which have a good degree of protection against mechanical stress and are sufficiently resistant to abrasion, are in special demand from the entire line of paints and varnishes of these companies. In addition, varnishes of German companies are not afraid of the ingress of various chemical liquids, with the exception of nitro solvents, which can damage their structure.

The Italian company "Vermeiter", which specializes in the production of two-component matt, semi-matt and semi-gloss water-based polyurethane varnishes called Vermeister Aqua Play 2K, is not lagging behind modern manufacturers of paints and varnishes, which differ in a fast setting time of layers of no more than 4 hours. The particular popularity of this type of parquet varnish in the domestic market was brought primarily by the price category, in which the company focuses on the economy segment, as well as its good performance properties and resistance to early abrasion.

The use of the products of these companies guarantees the parquet flooring a long service life, as well as its noble and stylish look.

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Surface preparation

Before finishing work, the surface of wood parquet must be carefully prepared.First of all, it is sanded so that the varnish lays down evenly and forms a smooth surface.

You need to grind the boards not along or across, but at an angle of 45 degrees - from one corner of the room to another. If the parquet panels are laid in a diagonal pattern, everything is much simpler - the sander must be guided parallel to the walls.

If the old coating is flawed, the damaged planks should be replaced or at least covered with putty. You can use a putty made from scrap materials - sawdust and dust left after sanding. This waste is mixed with PVA glue or cellulosic liquid.

Overview of manufacturers and prices

To help determine the choice of material, you need to have an idea of ​​the range of products

To help determine the choice of material, it is worth reading not only reviews of masters and buyers, but also roughly represent the range of paints and varnishes from popular manufacturers.

1. Parquet varnishes: Bona, Berger-Seidle, Loadur are considered the best. Price from $ 150 for 1 kg;
2. Alkyd varnishes: PF-231, MCh-0163, EP-2146. These are Russian products that are distinguished by their versatility and ease of application. It is worth remembering the presence of a pungent odor, as well as previewing customer reviews, in particular, MCH-0163 weakly resists UV rays, therefore, use in sunny rooms is not shown. Price from $ 30 for 1 kg;
3. Yacht varnishes: Poli-R, Novbytkhim, Prestige, Eurotex. The price of goods differs from the composition, the presence of gloss and other nuances, however, all presented manufacturers offer goods that are certified and as clean as possible in terms of the environmental component. The assortment is wide enough, so each buyer will be able to choose the composition, focusing on their own preferences. The price is a minimum of $ 40 for 1.9 liters, the price is a maximum of $ 65 for 1 liter.

As for other types of varnish: oil, nitro, acrylic, you can find them both from the listed manufacturers and by looking at the catalogs of offers on the companies' websites. Remember that you need to choose the composition only after you have determined what kind of floor will be covered: parquet from oak, larch, alder or pine blocks, and also taking into account the permeability of the room, humidity and other factors.

Floor varnishes

"Elakor-ED" is an epoxy-polyurethane-based material, the main purpose of which is the arrangement of floors, although in practice the composition is also used to form a high-strength film on other surfaces.

The products are easy to use, allows you to make a glossy protective coating in just a day

However, it is important to know how to apply the product correctly.

First, preparatory work is carried out:

• it is necessary to clean the base from dust, small debris and dirt;
• the tree should be primed and sanded;
• when applied to concrete, it is first putty and leveled;

• when applied to metal, rust should be removed from it;
• Before processing, polymer products undergo any abrasive and degrease.

A hardener is added to the varnish, which must be mixed within 10 minutes.

After the end of the chemical reaction (bubble formation), application can begin.

Since epoxy-polyurethane compounds harden within an hour, with a large area to be treated, it is better to prepare the solution in parts. Application is carried out at a temperature not lower than +5 and not higher than +30 degrees with a roller, brush or a special pneumatic device. The use of a brush requires regular cleaning with a solvent. Apply the varnish cross on the cross with a roller.

When working, it is recommended to erect at least three layers of varnish, which will ensure maximum density and strength. For one square meter, you need to use at least 120 grams of solution. Any deviations up or down will lead to an unsatisfactory result or wrinkling of the composition on the surface.

Despite the absence of odor, it is advisable to carry out all work with epoxy mixtures in a special suit and a gas mask, since a respirator is not able to protect eyes and lungs from toxic fumes. This is especially true of EP series varnishes, as they contain toxic solvents.

Epoxy varnishes not only make the coating beautiful, but also increase its service life due to its high resistance to various external influences.

How to make a polymer epoxy coating of a concrete floor in a garage of a country house, see below.