Parquet is considered the most beautiful and durable natural flooring. About people who prefer it as a floor covering, we can say that they have good taste and appreciate comfort. But the parquet requires some care, as it is made of natural wood, subject to many adverse factors. To protect the parquet floor from wear, moisture and ultraviolet radiation, it is necessary to varnish it. The modern market of building materials and paints and varnishes offers a large selection. But the most popular is quick-drying, odorless parquet varnish. This is a new product on the paintwork market, and therefore you need to know how to choose it correctly. In today's article, we will consider this issue in detail.
Types of quick-drying coatings for odorless parquet
There is no odor in water-based coatings. These products often do not have color, they do not contain chemical solvents. This allows you to save parquet from darkening and burnout. Unlike traditional coatings, they are completely safe for health. There is only one drawback of this paint and varnish product - it is not suitable for processing parquet from beech, wenge, merbau. These rocks are highly hygroscopic.
Along with water-soluble compounds, it is worth noting products based on polyurethane and acrylic. Reviews say that they also dry out quickly and have no smell. Two-component, quick-drying, odorless, quick-drying varnishes are also popular.
Features of paintwork for water-based parquet
It is a water based composition with the smallest components. They are distributed as evenly as possible. Reviews say that such varnishes have a fast drying time. First, the water base solidifies. Then a thin but reliable protective film forms on the surface.
Among the main advantages of these materials, reviews highlight the complete absence of the usual smell and any harmful components. The varnish provides high quality coatings, reliability and a long service life of the treated surface.
Acrylic Parquet Lacquer
Acrylic quick-drying varnish for odorless parquet, the easiest to apply. The material is packaged in a container and is a white thick liquid. During application, a transparent film forms, odorless and colorless. It is believed that this is a universal material for wood.
The use of acrylate base allowed to get rid of the usual smell of paint and varnish products. It is dissolved in water. The surface treated with this material can withstand the effects of moisture and ultraviolet radiation. The varnish is not too thick, so the consumption is minimal. This is a big plus - say the reviews.
Acrylic Parquet Varnish Market Overview
The most affordable varnish for odorless parquet is the water-based acrylic varnish “Ballet”. It is designed specifically for finishing parquet. The composition is non-combustible, does not pose a danger to animals and the human body. The product can be used to obtain different types of surfaces - you can achieve a semi-matte, matte and glossy surface.
Reviews positively characterize the product from the English company Dulux. It steadily withstands not only the effects of ultraviolet radiation and moisture, but is also able to protect the parquet floor under strong abrasive loads. The varnish easily withstands the effects of aggressive chemistry. The floor can even be washed with hot water - the material is not afraid of such a load.
There is also a Domalux water-based varnish. Due to the special formula and fast drying time, it allows you to perform finishing work in the shortest possible time. This odorless quick-drying varnish for parquet forms a beautiful transparent surface that emphasizes the natural color and texture of wood. It is as safe as possible for humans and pets.
Polyurethane varnishes for parquet
The composition of these materials includes special substances that absorb ultraviolet light. The protective film that appears on the surface after drying is highly durable. It is resistant to all kinds of mechanical stresses, which is very important for parquet. Also, the film withstands abrasion and is resistant to abrasion. Polyurethane materials (unlike some acrylic varnishes) are able to provide protection in high humidity.
After application, no stains remain on the surface, and during the operation of the parquet, yellow spots will not appear on it. The polyurethane compound dries quickly and creates a special glossy shine. Reviews note that the material withstands the aggressive effects of household chemicals and alcohol.
An example of such products is varnish from the Finnish company Tikkurila. These materials on a polyurethane basis are unique in that you can choose any color and subsequently, if necessary, choose exactly the same varnish.
One-component water-polyurethane compounds
These products are intended for use on floors with moderate loads. The cost of these materials is acceptable, it is very simple to apply them. These varnishes are an ideal choice for those rooms where low traffic and wear are not in the foreground.
One-component materials also exist. They can be used under high and maximum loads. At the same time, there is no poisonous smell, and the drying speed is very high. These varnishes are the most common among the entire range.
Two component formulations
These products are the most durable, reliable and wear-resistant. The varnish has excellent adhesion to all types and types of wood, resistance to a specific climate, low coefficients of water absorption, high elasticity.
But choosing such a material, it is worth considering everything carefully and familiarizing yourself with practical recommendations for choosing a varnish for parquet. Experts advise applying these compounds only on dried parquet. If the wood does not have sufficiently low humidity, then small bubbles will form on the surface - such a floor will have to be repainted.
General recommendations for choosing parquet varnishes
Choosing the right product, do not buy the cheapest option. It must be remembered that not all paintwork materials for parquet are the same. The quality of parquet work is 50% dependent on varnish. If you apply an inexpensive composition, then the next year the floor will need to be restored. You can purchase a professional varnish. But it is very expensive, which means that in this situation it is not like.
If the products are German, Swedish or Finnish, this does not mean that they are of high quality. This property is determined by the chemical composition, and not the cost, by the manufacturer or the country where the product was manufactured.
If we consider the German varnishes Dufa, then this is the most ordinary alkyd varnish. Reviews say that it dries for a long time, has an unpleasant odor, and does not withstand abrasive loads. But the same German product HOLZ DECOR can last up to 12 years, has a fast drying time and does not emit poisons at all.
That's not all. Often, even in the line of one manufacturer, the quality varies greatly. So, we can distinguish the German company LOBA, where the assortment contains one-component aqueous compositions and two-component material. The first is inexpensive, has a service life of no more than two years, is afraid of moisture. The second - one and a half times more expensive than the first. However, the service life is 12 years. Also, the material is highly resistant to moisture. The same applies to BONA brand products, as well as to FORBO.
When choosing material, you need to remember and know the advice of specialists. How to choose odorless floor polish? Unfortunately, consultants in stores do not always know the basic properties of products sold. In order not to repaint the parquet again, you need to know in advance all the characteristics of the material - the composition and drying time. How much does odorless parquet varnish cost? The price of products from the company "Lacra" (domestic manufacturer) is 300 rubles per liter. The cost of German Holz Decor products (service life more than ten years) is 2600 rubles per liter. As you can see, the cost is significantly different. But most customers choose by price, and learn about all other characteristics during use. No need to be guided by this rule - it’s better to overpay a little, but get a really high-quality product.
Lacquer consumption is important
When choosing, it is worth paying attention to consumption. Canisters of 5 liters can be enough to qualitatively cover the parquet floor area of 15 square meters in three layers. You can cover the same volume and 25 square meters, but in two layers. However, they will not be thick enough.
Cheating everywhere
How to choose a quick-drying varnish for parquet? Any high-quality, but not the one that is sold in plastic buckets or other wholesale containers.
The companies BONA, LOBA, FORBO and others pack the varnish in a plastic or tin canister with a volume of 5 or 10 liters. The same applies to prices. A high-quality two-component composition cannot cost 300 rubles per liter.
Which varnish is stronger?
The most durable are two-component materials. There are water-based varnishes that do not smell, as well as compositions based on acid hardeners. The latter have a characteristic odor. Water-based varnishes are more popular.
Yacht parquet varnish
Under it now they understand the most affordable alkyd varnish. In fact, this is a regular advertisement (the same as “diamond strength”). A true varnish for a yacht should have maximum resistance to high humidity, and it is very difficult to find it.
The selection of odorless quick-drying varnish for the floor is carried out by abrasion resistance. These are different characteristics.
Finally
On sale there are many odorless coatings. What odorless parquet varnish to buy? Using the recommendations of specialists, even beginners can make the right choice. Do not chase the lowest price or buy the most expensive options. No need to listen to consultants in hardware stores. And then there is a great chance to choose a material that is really suitable for technical specifications. You also need to remember that domestic manufacturers can make quality products - they are often cheaper than imported counterparts.