Wooden flooring in the home remains a very common choice for both private homes and apartments. Pleasant appearance, environmental friendliness, good heat-intensive qualities, and affordable cost remain the undeniable advantages of this coating.
Like all natural materials, a wooden surface requires special care and mandatory protection from damage, moisture and ultraviolet exposure. In addition, wood products allow you to enhance its natural color or give it the desired shade. For all these purposes, there are a number of special means - from various impregnations and stains to varnishes and paints.
Why do you need to paint a wooden floor in your country house?
Wood is a soft natural material that can quickly deteriorate under the influence of external factors without additional protection. Therefore, in any case, the main task of the coating applied to a wooden floor is to protect it from moisture, rotting, and the spread of mold and mildew indoors. However, this is not enough. The interior of the house in general and the floor in particular should be beautiful, lift your spirits, and make you return to the dacha with joy and impatience.
Gone are the days when the dacha was used exclusively as an additional warehouse for unnecessary things in the city. Today, the interiors of country cottages are an independent area of design, and the choice of paint for a wooden floor must be approached very responsibly.
Accordingly, there are a number of main reasons for painting a wooden floor in a house:
- painted floors practically do not absorb moisture and do not dry out;
- paint protects wood from mold and mildew, extends its service life;
- Painted surfaces are much easier to care for and are easy to clean;
- the paint protects the surface from temperature fluctuations;
- Using varnish or paint you can create a very beautiful, original interior.
Painting the floor is only part of the room design Source stroi-remontirui.ru
The main types of materials for painting floors
When deciding how to paint a wooden floor in a house, you will have to choose from two main categories of paint coatings:
- Transparent compounds. These include varnishes on different bases, which create a transparent protective film on the floor surface, allowing you to admire the structure, color, and quality of the wood.
- Coloring compounds. They cover the wood with a thick protective film of the chosen color, completely hiding the wood. Wooden floors are painted with oil, alkyd, and acrylic paints. New generation, compounds based on rubber, perchlorovinyl, polyurethane.
High-quality floor painting involves the use of traditional enamel, and to emphasize the beauty of the wood and the naturalness of the coating, you can coat the floor boards with varnish. You can also look towards modern protective compounds based on oils or wax.
Video description
In the video, processing a wooden floor with oil:
Paint or varnish, which is better for wood?
When choosing what to cover a wooden floor in your dacha with, paint or varnish, you must take into account that varnish coatings are more difficult to use than paint. Only perfectly processed, sanded floors can be coated with varnish.
Varnishing is applied only to a flat floor surface Source ukrsmeta.ua
Another question is how to paint a wooden floor in an unheated dacha in cold weather. If the dacha is not heated and is practically never visited in winter, then under the influence of low temperatures the varnish may crack and fly off. Therefore, for a wooden floor in a country house, varnish is not always functional. If you absolutely want to varnish your floors, take a closer look at compositions for exterior use. They are more heat- and wear-resistant, but the price of such varnish will be higher.
Paint for a wooden floor in a country house allows you to get the desired shade of the coating, retains its decorative and protective properties for a long time, allows you to hide possible defects, and is usually quite affordable in price.
Floor treatment compounds
In addition to varnish and paint, floors are often coated with special compounds based on oils and wax. They protect floors well from moisture, preserve the structure of wood, perfectly mask minor defects, and do not slip.
The disadvantage of such a coating is the need to periodically update it (rub it until it shines). It is better not to place metal objects on floors treated with this composition, as they will leave dark stains. To clean this floor you need special detergents.
It is better to wash a painted floor only with compounds intended for this purpose Source gaiaco.com
Rubber and polyurethane compounds form a strong, durable coating that does not slip, does not crack, and has additional waterproofing properties and high density.
The disadvantage of such coatings is the significant price
The benefits of painting the floor have been known for a long time, so no matter which floor covering option is chosen: varnish, paint or wax coating, the main thing is that the wooden surface is protected, lasts a long time, and cannot harm the health of people living in the house.
Floor oil and wax
Oil compositions do not form a film. They are absorbed into the structure, filling the pores of the wood, preventing dust and moisture from penetrating inside. This increases the wear resistance of the floors.
Wax is a natural material based on beeswax. It forms a strong outer layer, eliminates scratches, protects the floor and gives it an impressive appearance. Waxes are colorless and colored with a matte or glossy sheen. They can be used as a stand-alone coating or applied over oil.
Benefits of using oil
- The floor acquires antistatic properties.
- The surface becomes warmer and does not slip.
- Chips, scratches and other damage are less noticeable.
- Provides water protection for wood.
- Oil does not interfere with air exchange processes.
Flaws
- Before covering the floor with oil, more thorough preparation of the surface is required than before applying paint and varnish.
- The coating gets dirty faster.
- Regular floor maintenance is required.
- The oil reacts with metal objects and dark spots form on the surface.
Types of oils
- Wax oils. They are a mixture of oils and liquid wax. The surface coated with this composition acquires a soft matte shine.
- Resin-free oil. It consists of 90% natural ingredients, in some brands the amount of oils reaches 99%. Due to the absence of a solvent, the application process is simplified and drying occurs much faster.
- Oil with a high solid content. Due to the resins, the product has a high density, which increases the service life of the coating.
Both colorless and colored oils are available for sale. The former are suitable for processing any type of wood. Oak and exotic species are coated with dark compounds. Bleaching agents are used for light wood.
Oil application
Before covering the floor with oil, it is necessary to prepare the surface very carefully. The preparatory stage includes grinding, polishing and dust removal.
Oil can be applied in two ways: cold and hot.
Cold way
- The first layer of oil is applied and evenly distributed over the floor surface. Excess should be removed with a soft cloth within a few minutes after application.
- The surface is polished with a special machine with a round attachment (pad).
- All wet areas are wiped with a cotton rag.
- After 6-12 hours, a second layer of oil is applied.
- Excess oil is removed with a black or green pad, and then the floor is polished with a red pad.
The surface coated with oil dries completely in one to two weeks, only after which the floor can be walked on.
Hot way
- If you decide to use this method, you must first preheat the oil to a temperature of 80 degrees. Heating is carried out in a water bath.
- Heated oil can only be applied to heated floors. If it is cold, the composition may not be absorbed. The floor is heated using a thermopad.
- The oil is applied using a spatula and distributed evenly over the floor surface.
- Then put a beige pad on the polishing machine and rub the oil into the floor until it is completely absorbed.
- After 2-2.5 hours, apply a second layer of oil in the same way.
Waxing
- You can apply the wax coating two days after treating the floor with oil.
- The wax is rubbed into the floor using a soft cloth in a circular motion. For polishing, use a polishing machine with a white pad.
- After the first layer has dried (no earlier than 3 hours), apply the second and repeat the procedure.
- The floor can be used in about a week.
Video description
You can clearly see the features of painting wooden floor coverings in the video:
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in paints and varnishes.
Compatibility of paints and varnishes
Before covering a wooden floor with paint or varnish, you need to take this nuance into account:
- Acrylic paints can be applied to almost any previous coating.
- Alkyd, can be applied to oil-painted floors.
- Polyurethane mixtures are compatible only with each other.
If there are any nuances regarding the combination of materials, then this should be reflected in their characteristics. Therefore, when choosing a paint, you should definitely study the information that the manufacturer indicates on the label. In addition, the seller can also suggest something useful.
Which varnish to choose
Water-based varnishes do not have an unpleasant odor and are easy to apply. If the dacha is heated, the coatings do not suffer from temperature changes and high humidity, then they can be used to cover the floor.
Varnish is a timeless classic for covering wooden floors Source derevyannyydom.com
It is better to cover floors in rooms that may suffer from cold and dampness with more serious protective compounds. In this case, it is better to overpay a little, but choose varnish for exterior use - it forms a stronger, more durable protective coating.
Which paint to choose
When deciding how to cover a wooden floor in a country house, you can choose from several types of paints, which differ primarily in the base on which they are made.
- More recently, floors in dachas were painted primarily with oil paints. They took a long time to dry, had a pungent odor, and over time the coating cracked and flew off. Today oil paints are rarely used.
- Acrylic paint for wooden floors is a safe, water-based composition, it forms an abrasion-resistant coating, does not lose brightness over time, and perfectly protects the wood.
- Alkyd paints and enamels. Cheap and practical. Floors coated with such paints are easy to clean, and the coatings themselves are beautiful and last a long time.
- Polyurethane paints. They form a very durable coating, are practically not deformed, and are durable. Often used when painting verandas and gazebos, they are not afraid of temperature changes and high humidity.
- Rubber paints. New on the paint and varnish industry market. They form a very dense matte coating similar to rubber. It perfectly protects the floor, is durable, does not wipe off, and does not slip.
Painting with rubber paint Source vi.decorexpro.com
With an abundance of offers on the market, the choice always remains with the buyer and depends only on the budget allocated for this part of the renovation and the overall interior of the house. In general, no matter what paint you choose for the wooden floor inside the house, if you follow all the recommendations for its application, the house will always be cozy and warm.
Types of varnish: shine and gloss
If varnish is chosen as the finishing coating, you should remember that only highly specialized parquet varnishes are suitable for these purposes. Only they are able to give the surface the necessary shine, and can also fill small gaps.
It is also necessary to take into account that not every varnish is suitable for a particular floorboard. For example, for pine floors, only those products that are designed for soft wood are suitable.
Water-soluble varnishes
A water-based product has many benefits. The varnish is odorless, dries well and quickly, and has good adhesion characteristics. There are one-component or two-component formulations. The difference between them is the service life - a composition based on one component will lose its quality after 2 years, while a two-component one can be used for up to 10 years.
To get excellent results, the conditions must be met. It is best to purchase only the highest quality rollers, and during application the room must be kept at constant humidity. When performing work in winter, a humidifier is necessary. This is a good choice, especially if you consider what floors are used in apartments of old construction.
Alkyd varnish
This product can perfectly highlight the unique structure of wood, but it takes a very long time to dry. These varnishes are relevant on moving bases, that is, where the boards move due to loads.
When working with these varnishes, it is very important to use them no more than the norm calculated by the manufacturer. Otherwise, the coating will wrinkle. Also, at the time of drying, the surface should not be exposed to sunlight.
Waterless polyurethane varnishes
Such coatings have excellent wear resistance. They can be used even in those rooms where people wear shoes, shoes, and boots. These funds are relevant for restaurants, theaters, cafes. If you think that this is the right product to cover the floor in an apartment, then the capabilities of polyurethane varnishes are too excessive for an ordinary city apartment, so they should not be used for your own home.
What tools will you need?
The quality of the work performed depends not only on the correct paint, but also on the tools prepared in advance - so that you do not have to be distracted by this issue during the work process. Before you start painting, you need to buy protective gloves, a respirator, several brushes of different sizes, and a roller with a long handle. The telescopic handle is more convenient; it allows you to adjust the tool to the height of the worker.
Brushes are needed in any case, for painting corners and baseboards, even if everything else will be painted with a roller. By the way, for the roller itself you will need a paint tray (or several, depending on the number of workers who will paint the floor).
When working with a roller you will need a paint bath Source en.decorexpro.com
You will also need masking tape - it will cover areas of the surface that are easy to stain with paint during the process.
When using oil paint and enamel, you must additionally prepare a solvent or drying oil and ensure the room is ventilated.
If alkyd paint is chosen for painting the floor, purchasing a sprayer will greatly simplify the work.
Varnish application technology
It is quite difficult to coat the floor with high-quality varnish. It is especially difficult to work with quick-drying water-soluble varnishes. They should be applied only with a high-quality roller, making only translational movements. The varnish is applied across the board and immediately leveled lengthwise. Thus, you varnish the surface in a crosswise manner.
When leveling the varnish, movements should only be progressive. That is, we apply the roller to the floor, move it, tear it off and apply it again at the beginning of the first stroke, stepping aside about two-thirds of the width of the roller
As a rule, only the first layer of varnish is applied with a spatula. This must be done with S-shaped movements quickly enough. The coating applied in this way will be more durable.
If the varnish is applied with a brush, then this is done in a U-shaped motion, always slightly overlapping the previous stroke. Working with one-component varnishes allows you to keep the brush in a container with varnish during short breaks. And when using a two-component tool, the tool must be thoroughly washed with a solvent after completing each stage of work.
The order of preparatory work before painting
How to properly paint a wooden floor in a country house largely depends on the quality of the preparatory work. Before painting, the floors are cleaned of old coating, chips and cracks are cleaned. The gaps between the floorboards are sealed with putty and cleaned after drying. Sand if necessary. After this, the surface is washed and allowed to dry. Only dry, clean floors can be painted. If the floors are to be painted, they should be treated with a suitable primer. This will make painting easier and reduce paint consumption.
Applying a layer of primer to parquet Source semidelov.ru
If the floors are going to be varnished, the sanding should be of a higher quality. In addition, the first layer of water-based varnish lifts the microfibers of the wood, making the surface rough. It is necessary to wait until the floor is completely dry, sand it until smooth, and cover it with two or three more layers of varnish.
How to varnish floors
Before covering the floors with varnish, they are also primed. This is done with nitro varnish, which is applied along the wood fibers, carefully, leaving no untreated areas.
After the primer has completely dried, varnish begins to be applied to the floor. When varnishing, a roller is usually not used. The varnish is applied with a wide soft brush, which must be carefully selected, since falling hairs are difficult to remove from the treated surface.
Wide brush for applying varnish Source martand.ru
Important! When purchasing a large quantity of paints or varnish, it is strongly recommended to pay attention to the product article and lot number. In this simple way you can select and purchase paint of a completely identical shade.
Floor covering using Scandinavian technology
This option is suitable for those who appreciate and love the pristine characteristics and advantages of natural wood. Also using this method, the wood will not be subjected to any processing.
In Scandinavian countries, carefully sanded wood floors are not coated with any protective or decorative compounds. It is simply cleaned regularly with soap solutions, using ordinary laundry soap. Over time, the solution will be absorbed deep into the wood pores and any dirt will be easily removed from the surface.
It doesn’t matter at all what you use to cover a natural wood floor. The main enemy of wood is moisture. Even a carefully treated and maximally protected wooden surface should not be wetted unless absolutely necessary.
If you constantly remember this, then such a floor covering can be used for a very, very long time. And yet, there is no other finishing floor covering that would give as much warmth, coziness and maximum comfort. And only wood can generate aesthetic pleasure.
