How to cover the new wooden floor in the house. Choosing a material for covering a wooden floor. The main characteristics of wood flooring

Absolutely all varieties of wooden floors need additional finishing to extend their service life. There are several tools available for this purpose. The most popular option is varnish. Sometimes such a surface is also treated with wax, oil or paint. We will talk about how to varnish wooden floors later in the article. We will also examine in detail the advantages and disadvantages of other means and how to use them.

How to choose varnish?

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

Polyurethane. This type of varnish is usually used in rooms with high humidity. Among other things, it is characterized by resistance to abrasion, the ability to withstand significant temperature changes and ease of application. Of the shortcomings, it can only be noted that before drying, it releases harmful substances.
Acrylic lacquer. Water based floor covering. It is considered environmentally friendly. The cost of this variety is not too high, however, it does not differ in particular resistance to abrasion. Do not use acrylic varnish in rooms with high humidity.
Nitrolacs. They are highly durable, dry quickly and cost little.
Oil varnishes. They can be used for painting outdoor surfaces (floors of terraces, porches, porches, etc.), as they have good elasticity and hardness. The disadvantages include a long drying time.
Polyurethane-acrylic. They are inexpensive, but, like acrylic varnishes, they can only be used in rooms with not too much traffic.
Alkyd. This variety has good moisture resistance and durability. The disadvantages include bad smell arising in the process of performing work.
Alcoholic. Environmentally friendly, but not too resistant to abrasion and afraid of moisture.
Epoxy. Durable and inexpensive.
Urethane. Such varnishes are not afraid of moisture and are relatively wear-resistant. However, they have the same drawback as alkyd ones - during application and before hardening, they release harmful substances into the air.
Urethane-alkyd. The surface covered with this type of varnish is difficult to scratch. In addition, they are not afraid of moisture at all and are very resistant to abrasion.

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

How to choose a varnish for rooms for various purposes

Thus, for flooring in rooms with high traffic, it is worth using polyurethane or urethane-alkyd varnish. What kind of varnish to cover the wooden floors on the veranda, terrace or porch? On the street it is better to use oil. In rooms with high humidity, polyurethane, alkyd, urethane or epoxy will last longer. In children's rooms, bedrooms and those areas where the elderly or sick people live, it is better to use environmentally friendly water-based acrylic or urethane varnishes.

The choice of varnish according to the type of wood

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

To begin with, let's see how to varnish hardwood. For them, agents are usually used that create a sufficiently elastic film. It can be, for example, polyurethane, urethane or urethane-alkyd varnish. You can not use these varieties only for oak floors, because, when treated with them, they become dark. Coniferous woods are treated with alkyd, urethane or urethane-alkyd varnishes. Resin is removed from the boards first.

What tool to apply varnish on wood

So, what kind of varnish to cover wooden floors, we found out. Now let's see how this work should be done. The tool for applying varnish is chosen depending on its variety. This information is usually indicated on the packaging. It can be a spatula, roller, brush or sprayer. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The fact is that the thickness of the varnish layer, and hence its durability, directly depends on the type of instrument. Most often, floors are treated using a brush.

How to varnish a wooden floor

The surface of the floor must be, above all, absolutely clean. It must be vacuumed and then wiped with a damp cloth. Next, the floors should be dried. At the next stage, they are covered with a primer. It could be like special remedy purchased in the store, and the same varnish that will be used for processing, but diluted with the appropriate solvent in a ratio of 1: 3. After the primer dries, the main work begins. The varnish is applied along the fibers of the wood, trying to get the most even and smooth layer possible.

When processing, care must be taken to ensure that no air bubbles appear on the film. This can completely spoil the appearance of such a beautiful surface as a wooden floor. We carefully varnish it with our own hands, from time to time with a slight movement along the very top of the film with the tip of the brush. In this way, all bubbles will be completely removed.

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

We hope you now understand how to varnish a wooden floor. Finally, let's give a couple of useful tips.

Sometimes the floors, even after the varnish layer has dried, remain a little 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 coats. So that the varnish on it does not dry out, it must either be dipped in a solvent, or wrapped in a rag moistened with it, then additionally wrapped with polyethylene.

Wax for wood

Lacquer - flooring is very popular. However, other types of wood protection products are sometimes used. It can be, for example, wax. Applied in two coats, this product enhances the natural wood color and shine.

In addition, wax, like varnish, serves as a protective barrier against mechanical damage to the floor, absorption of water and damage of various kinds. chemicals. Usually wax is applied to the surface with a soft cloth. At the same time, it is carefully rubbed into the wood. Some varieties need to be applied with a brush. After the wax dries, before it hardens completely, the surface covered with it must be polished with a clean cloth to a completely smooth state.

Wood oil

Special antiseptic oil is also a fairly popular wood preservative. There are several varieties of it. For example, it is used for processing hardwood. Like Danish, it is often used for finishing the floors of terraces, porches and porches, as it is moisture resistant and is not afraid of temperature changes. The most popular option is linseed oil, which can be used to treat the floor in almost any room.

This product is applied with a soft brush in the direction of the fibers. It is important not to leave untreated areas and rub it as thoroughly as possible. After the oil is absorbed into the wood, the excess is removed with a clean rag (you need to apply it liberally). Half an hour after treatment, the floor surface must be polished. This is also done with a rag.

So the floor in the apartment? Varnish? Wax? Oil? If you need the most durable coating, you should choose a varnish. However, it should be borne in mind that such a film is not very resistant to mechanical damage. To obtain the most natural surface, use oil or wax. Such a coating, among other things, is almost impossible to scratch. However, it wears out fairly quickly.

Despite the intensive development construction technologies and appearance a large number modern materials, the tree of popularity does not lose. Numerous advantages, such as durability, reliability, excellent appearance, a wide range of design options, do not leave the slightest chance for competitors. But in order to use the opportunities laid down by Mother Nature to the maximum, you need to think about protection. That is why the question of how to cover a wooden floor worries many owners of eco-friendly housing.

How to choose a protective agent?

Means for covering a wooden floor are able to protect against exposure to chemical liquids, moisture, premature abrasion, and mechanical damage. Besides, this the right way give the interior a finished, perfect look and add a final touch, without which even an impeccably executed joint work of builders and designers seems incomplete.

The range of coatings is quite wide, but not every one of them is suitable for a particular type. wooden flooring. When choosing, you need to consider some points:

tree species;
admissibility of preliminary preparation;
expected operating conditions (humidity, intensity of mechanical impact, antistatic);
the possibility of secondary processing;
compatibility of the new coating with the old one, if any.

The choice also depends on the purpose of the room. In an apartment, unlike an office, the load is not so great, so wax or oil can be used. This The best way to shade the natural component of the tree and give the floor a pleasant matte shade.
If it is assumed that the wooden floor will experience significant loads or high humidity, it is better to varnish it, which will not only reliably protect, but also give a delightful shine and volume.

Wood flooring materials

In appearance, protective materials are divided into:

transparent coatings. This category includes impregnations and varnishes containing substances that emphasize the natural structure of wood;
opaque coatings. These are organic-based paints (alkyd, oil, polyurethane, acrylic, perchlorovinyl) and water-dispersion mixtures. Polyurethane and acrylic paints especially valuable for ease of application and high quality. Alkyd varnishes and paints are good due to low water resistance and durability;

Depending on the main component, there are 2 types of materials for final processing:

with flame retardants that protect the tree from fire. They do not affect the beauty of the array and reduce the risk of fire;

It is important!
Impregnations based on flame retardants are especially recommended for industrial and public floors.

with biocides that protect the tree from the effects of mold, fungus, insects.

What to prefer?

There are two staining methods.
1. Surface painting, used in cases where the preservation of the aesthetics and appearance of the tree is extremely important. This type of protection and decor is used everywhere, on final stage floor finishes in houses made of timber, baths and other wooden buildings.
2. Deep staining is possible only in industrial conditions, because for its implementation, special baths and autoclaves are needed, in which the solution is injected under high pressure into wood capillaries, filling the entire free volume.

oil impregnation

Wood flooring oil is made from natural substances (linseed, sunflower, soybean oil) or artificial ingredients, for example polyurethane. The oil penetrates deep into the thickness of the coating, leaving only a thin layer on the surface. As a result of the procedure, the floor becomes strong and acquires a silky sheen.

It is important!
When choosing an oil, pay attention to the label: avoid products labeled "contains a solvent."

Oil solutions come in different viscosities:

thick (contain 90% natural oil);
medium viscosity (dry residue is 40-50%);
liquid (dry residue 20-40%).

Professionals strongly advise applying oil in high traffic areas (living room and corridor). They can be used without fear in unheated rooms, in open areas, on bars that are constantly in contact with water (bath, pool).
Oiled floors are easy to refresh: just add a special agent to the water when washing. Before application, the floor must be sanded, cleaned and dried.

Lacquering

The use of varnish creates the effect of volume and contrast of the wood pattern. The lacquered floor shines and decorates the room beautifully. Lacquer composition protects against moisture and mechanical damage.

It is important!
Despite the protective functions of the varnish, the coating is quite elastic, which, if the tree is damaged, will move along with its fibers. Therefore, according to wooden floor, treated with varnish, it is better to walk in soft shoes.

What are varnishes?

There are the following types of varnishes:

solvent-based wood floor varnish impregnates the wood well and changes its color. It should be applied in a thin layer in a well-ventilated area to prevent wrinkles and ensure rapid hardening. This varnish is ideal for "capricious" wood - ash, maple, beech.
alkyd varnish is colorless, stable and durable. The only downside is that it takes a long time to dry.
reactive varnish has high adhesive properties and forms an elastic film that does not affect the structure and original appearance. It will take at least 10 days to form a strong film.
polyurethane-based varnish is used for precious woods. Such compounds are durable, resistant to abrasion and chemical attacks.

According to the degree of gloss varnishes are high-gloss, glossy, semi-gloss, matte and semi-gloss. The glossy lacquer has a gloss level of 90%, which makes the wood floor look like a mirror; matt and semi-gloss lacquers reflect little light from the surface.

floor painting

The paint is able to increase the life of the floor several times, as well as protect the tree from biological factors (fungi, bacteria, mold). The paint can be applied to previously painted surfaces, previously treated with an antiseptic.

The safest paints are water-dispersion. They do not include organic solvents, are water resistant, easy to lay on the surface and do not lose their original color.
Moisture-resistant acrylic paints are recommended for the kitchen and bathroom, while alkyd solutions are suitable for parquet.
Before painting, the floor must be cleaned of dirt, sanded and dried.

It is worth mentioning another means for protecting the floor - applying a composition based on wax and linseed oil. True, this method guarantees impeccable resistance to different factors cannot, therefore, is practically not used today.

Modern market building materials provides a huge amount of funds for covering a wooden floor. When choosing, do not forget to take into account the characteristics of wood, the nature environment and purpose of the space. Properly selected materials will make any floor luxurious and elegant, a real decoration of the interior.

All photos from the article

The wooden house is cozy and warm. In such buildings, in most cases, a particularly favorable microclimate is established. However, it should be remembered that the construction of natural material needs special construction methods. So, the main requirements for its floors are their flat surface, as well as reliable protection against moisture and temperature extremes.

General provisions

First of all: no matter what the floor material is, it must meet the following established standards and requirements:

sanitary and hygienic;
operational;
constructive;
decorative.

Then: thinking about what you can cover the floor in wooden house, please note that its coatings are divided by the level of heat retention into subspecies presented in the table below.

Insulation and related design features of floors

Thinking about the better to cover the floor in a wooden house, keep in mind that the competent choice of the method of thermal insulation is extremely important. Here you should take into account the design of the base floors: multi-layer (screed, logs, subfloor, finish coating), single-layer (screed or boards on logs).

It is necessary to take into account the presence of a basement or basement.

If there is no plinth, a multilayer cake should be mounted.

First, rolled waterproofing (roofing material and its taxes) is placed on a concrete screed or on dense soil.
Next, logs are made of wooden beams.
A slab insulation is mounted between them or loose insulation is laid.
Further, the thermal insulation is covered with a vapor barrier film. To improve the tightness of the coating, the film sheets should be laid with an overlap of 10-15 cm. The edges of the insulation are wound onto the walls to a height of about 10 cm. Subsequently, they are fixed with a plinth.

Note! The instruction notes that an excellent solution would be to choose penoplex as a heater. It can be laid without applying a vapor barrier.

In fact, it is a rolled foamed polystyrene. The material has low thermal conductivity, moisture resistance and soundproofing properties.

Basement, basement

In the photo - the arrangement of the coating in the house with a basement.

If the house has a basement, the floor should be insulated from below. Foam insulation is best suited for this, it will clog all joints and cracks.

Double plank floors are essential to achieve the maximum effect of stability.

The base (base, draft floors) is made of raw (slab, unedged, unplaned) boards 5-5 cm thick. It retains the finishing floors if the whole structure shifts slightly. The base is laid on the floor beams and is not fixed with nails, but is inserted into the grooves in them, as an option - it fits on the cranial bars stuffed on the sides of the beams. Usually, coniferous wood is used for the base, the price of which is low.

Publication date: 22-10-2015

Wooden floors can give any room a touch of elegance and luxury. But such a floor needs not only proper installation. It is very important to properly care for it, and most importantly - to choose the coating that will ensure the durability of the floor. In our article, we will tell you how to cover a wooden floor and what features of a particular protection method can influence the choice.

What is wood flooring for?

Wooden floor

Before choosing a flooring method, you must first understand why wood needs protection at all.

Wooden floors have many advantages:

they are strong and reliable, they are durable;
the thermal insulation characteristics of wood are quite high;
wood is a natural material, it is easily accessible, if necessary, you can choose any type of flooring, from a simple massive board to a type-setting parquet;
the tree is antistatic and anti-allergic, during operation it does not emit absolutely no harmful substances;
if individual floor elements are damaged, they can be easily replaced with your own hands.

But, like any natural material, wood also has disadvantages that must be eliminated when installing a wooden floor:

low sound insulation;
hygroscopicity;
susceptibility to abrasion, mechanical damage, scratches. The tree easily deteriorates in the presence of traces of rot, insects, rodents;
the possibility of deformation during temperature changes, humidity levels.

It is in order to eliminate these shortcomings that it is recommended to supplement natural wooden floors with protective coatings, such as varnishes, waxes, oils.

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Wood floor oils

Oils for coating wood have been used for many centuries. They give the floor a luxurious and rich look. Such a coating perfectly protects the wooden floor from adverse effects.

Modern floor oil compositions contain natural soy, linseed, sunflower oils, hard wax, polyurethane synthetic polymers and other substances that can significantly increase the strength of wood. The treated surface becomes very resistant to moisture, does not swell or dry out. However, it is no longer possible to varnish such a floor.

The oil gives the floor a rich, natural colour, ranging from off-white to bright yellowish red, brown, cognac and black. Such compounds deeply impregnate the wood, filling the pores and forming a thin protective film on top. As a result, the floor becomes durable, moisture resistant and very beautiful.

The depth of penetration of the oil depends on the concentration of the composition and the oil fraction. There are restrictions on the use of oil formulations. They can not be used when installing underfloor heating systems and with frequent temperature changes in the room.

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Lacquer compositions

Coating a wooden floor with varnish has many advantages:

The varnish is a reliable protection against fungus, mold, insects.
The floor can acquire a glossy and elegant shine or a noble matte shade.
Varnishes enhance the natural appeal of wood by highlighting its structure.

Such compositions are applied very simply: first you need to prepare the floor surface, and then apply the selected varnish in several layers. In addition, each subsequent layer must dry completely before application.

Varnishes cannot be used when treating wood with oil-containing and drying compounds, as well as in rooms with high humidity and in areas not protected from precipitation: on terraces, balconies, verandas.

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Waxing wooden floors

Wood preservatives

Waxing, that is, waxing a wooden floor, is one of the best ways to protect the surface from moisture, various contaminants, scratches (but not from strong mechanical stress), cracking. Floor wax is a mixture of natural linseed oil, beeswax, a small amount various additives, it all depends on the specific composition.

Waxed floors acquire a pleasant shade, golden in the light, and a noble, silky matte shimmer, inherent only to wood. This method is the best protection against moisture, but the surface cannot be protected from strong abrasive effects and mechanical stress in this way.

There is nothing difficult in applying wax to the floor. After laying, the surface is cleaned and dried, after which, using a special machine or a wide and soft roller, the wax composition is applied to the floor and polished. This protective coating should be renewed twice a year.

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Scandinavian way

Some people prefer to leave the wood flooring in its original state, that is, not varnish or other compounds.

This method is called Scandinavian, it provides for additional processing of the floor surface.

The wooden floor after laying is carefully treated with a grinder and cleaned of small chips and dust.
Then it is washed thoroughly plain water with laundry soap.

This completes the flooring. During operation, the floor boards are regularly washed with soapy water, the wood is quickly impregnated, and dirt from its surface is easily removed.

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Preparatory work before varnishing

Let us consider in more detail the process of covering a wooden floor with various varnish compositions. First you need to carefully prepare the base, this can be done in several ways, depending on the condition of the floor.

In order to finally decide on what to cover the wooden floor with, you need to understand what it is for and what properties certain materials used in this type of work have.

Wooden floors have been used in residential construction since time immemorial.

And even in our time of rapid development of building and finishing technologies, when new materials appear almost every day, wood floors continue to be very popular and widespread.

This is easily explained - the wooden floor in country house or in a city apartment has not only an attractive appearance, but also the following properties:

Strength, reliability and durability;
High thermal insulation characteristics;
Anti-allergenic, natural ability to "breathe" and electrical anti-static;
Relatively low cost;
High maintainability. In case of damage, individual elements of a wooden floor can be easily replaced.

However, as you know, any medal has two sides. The construction of a wooden floor in a house, on a balcony, or, for example, in a bathhouse, is fraught with certain disadvantages.

The fact is that no matter how high-quality a tree is, it has low noise-absorbing properties, high hygroscopicity, is prone to decay, abrasion and damage as a result of mechanical and shock loads, as well as deformation, under the influence of moisture or temperature changes.

That is why wooden floors in a house, bathhouse, bathroom, on a veranda, balcony or garage are best covered with varnish or a layer of some other protective material.

This will not only increase the service life of wooden flooring, but also significantly increase its consumer characteristics and properties.

But the choice of coating material must be approached as carefully and scrupulously as possible, since not all types of wooden floors and coating materials are successfully combined with each other.

Types of paints and varnishes for flooring

As a rule, when choosing how to cover a wooden floor in a city apartment or in a country house, the consumer considers two options: paint and varnish.

In fact, today's market offers a much wider variety of materials than just varnishing the floor in a private house (veranda, balcony, bathroom, garage, etc.).

There are the most different types coatings, taking into account the specifics of the room and the operating conditions of the floor.

You can easily choose a coating, for example, for a bathroom or for a floor in a bath, you can choose a composition that is best suited for a floor on open veranda or, for example, in the garage.

Let's take a closer look at the different types of coatings.

Floor paint

Today, there are several types of paint for wooden floors. They are usually divided into two large groups, as organic-based paints and water-dispersion mixtures.

In addition, the composition of the paint may include fire retardants that increase the fire resistance of wooden floors, and biocides that effectively prevent the occurrence of decay processes, the appearance of mold, fungus and pathogenic bacteria.

Organic-based paints (such as acrylic or polyurethane) are easy to apply, can last quite a long time if applied correctly, and do not mask the natural grain of the wood.

And acrylic paints are famous for their moisture resistance and durability.

However, it must be understood that the floors of living rooms in an apartment or country house, as well as flooring mounted on an open veranda or balcony, are much less intensive loads than, for example, in a hallway, in a kitchen, in a public building, in a technical building or in a garage.

And the paint for the floor in the corridor in the bathroom, in the shower or in the bath must also successfully withstand the increased concentration of moisture.

In addition, even if it is correct to cover the floor in an apartment or in a country house with a layer of paint, then you need to be prepared for the fact that this new layer will quickly and unevenly wear out, crack or peel off, no matter how high-quality the coating is.

Floor varnishes

Coating a wooden or parquet floor with varnish is one of the most popular types of floor protection and finishing, both in a city apartment and in a country house.

Being a solution of natural resins or polymers of synthetic origin, in combination with various types of solvents, floor varnish is able to effectively protect a wooden floor from decay, mold and fungus, as well as give it a spectacular appearance.

There are several types of varnish, depending on the composition and type of solvent:

oil;
turpentine;
alcohol;
water;
polyurethane;
organic.

However, varnishing a wooden floor is possible only in those rooms in which there is no excess moisture.

Therefore, varnishing is not used to protect wooden floors in the bathroom, in the bathhouse and in other rooms with high humidity.

Lacquer is practically inapplicable on an open veranda, loggia or balcony.

At the same time, most varnish compositions have such a disadvantage as the fragility of the structure and relatively low resistance to mechanical and shock loads.

Therefore, varnishing the floor in a garage, in a shed or in any outbuilding is impractical.

Oil floor protection

The technology of coating wooden floors with oil-containing compounds has been known for more than one hundred years.

How uniquely beautiful, durable and luxurious an oil floor can be can still be seen in the Louvre, in the Hermitage, in many medieval castles, palaces and museums.

Oil, penetrating deeply into the structure of the tree, provides high protection of the floor covering, its strength, durability and aesthetics.

In addition, floor oil has high moisture-repellent properties, which allows it to be used for the floor in the bathroom, in the bath, on the open veranda and in general - in the country.

However, the coating of a wooden floor with compositions based on various kinds oils - linseed, sunflower, soybean and so on - is relevant not only in a country house, but also in urban housing, for example, on a balcony, on a loggia or in a living room.

But in outbuildings or, for example, in a garage or veranda, it is not rational to use oil formulations simply from a financial point of view, given how laborious the process is to care for such floor protection.

But oil-based floor coverings have a number of fairly significant drawbacks. Firstly, they perceive heat and temperature changes very poorly.

Therefore, for wooden floors in a house, in a country house, in a city apartment or, for example, on a balcony, under which it is planned to install a heating system, oil coating best not to use.

In these cases, it is best to varnish the floor surface.

In addition, caring for an oil floor is a rather time-consuming and expensive process.

Therefore, to cover the floor with oil-containing compounds in the garage, on the open veranda, and indeed in the country house, is, frankly, a controversial decision.

It is better to use paint or the same varnish.

But for the floor in the bathroom, in the bath, in other rooms characterized by a high percentage of moisture, such a coating is the best fit.

Floor protection wax

Where the coating of a wooden floor with paint or varnish does not achieve the desired effect and does not provide adequate protection, wax-based compositions are used.

Usually they will include in their composition, in addition to beeswax itself, also linseed oil, as well as a variety of polymer and composite additives.

Waxed floors are highly water repellent.

Due to this, such coatings are often used in the country or to protect the floor in the bath, or in the sauna and in city apartments - for example, for the floor on the balcony or in the bathroom.