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How to cover wood. Floor covering in a wooden house: features of arrangement


Publication date: 22-10-2015

Wooden floors can add a touch of elegance and luxury to any room. But such a floor requires not only proper installation. It is very important to properly care for it, and most importantly, choose a 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.

Why does a wooden floor need a coating?

Wooden floor

Before choosing a floor covering method, you must first understand why wood needs protection in the first place.

U wooden floors many advantages:

  • they are strong and reliable, 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 option flooring, starting from simple solid board and ending with inlaid parquet;
  • the tree is antistatic and anti-allergenic, during operation it does not emit absolutely any harmful substances;
  • if damaged individual elements floors you can easily replace them with your own hands.

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

  • low noise insulation;
  • hygroscopicity;
  • susceptibility to abrasion, mechanical damage, scratches. Wood easily deteriorates if there are traces of rot, insects, or rodents;
  • possibility of deformation due to changes in temperature and 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, and oils.

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Wood floor oils

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

Modern oil compositions for floors 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 color, ranging from whitish to bright yellowish-red, brown, cognac and black. Such compositions deeply impregnate the wood, filling the pores and forming a thin layer on top. protective film. As a result, the floor becomes durable, moisture-resistant and very beautiful.

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

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Varnish compositions

Varnishing a wooden floor has many advantages:

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

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

Varnishes should not be used when treating wood with oil-containing and drying oil 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, covering a wooden floor with wax, is one of the optimal ways protecting the surface from moisture, various contaminants, scratches (but not from strong mechanical impact), cracking. Floor wax is a mixture of natural linseed oil, beeswax, a small number of different additives, it all depends on the specific composition.

Floors coated with wax acquire a pleasant shade, golden in the light, and a noble, silky-matte shimmer inherent only in wood. This method is better protection from moisture, but the surface cannot be protected from strong abrasive effects and mechanical loads in this way.

There is nothing complicated about applying wax to the floor. After installation, 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. Update this protective coating should be twice a year.

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Scandinavian way

Some people prefer to leave the wooden flooring in its original condition, that is, not to cover it with varnish or other compounds.

This method is called Scandinavian, it involves additional processing floor surface.

  • Wooden floors are carefully treated after installation. grinder and cleaned of small chips and dust.
  • Then it is washed thoroughly plain water with laundry soap.

This completes the floor arrangement. During operation, floor boards are regularly washed with soapy water; the wood becomes saturated fairly quickly, and dirt from its surface is easily removed.

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Preparatory work before varnishing

Let's take a closer look at 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.

Differences in the properties of coatings, depending on the characteristics of the varnish used or its alternative, dictate the specific choice of coating for each specific room in the house. Where floors experience heavy loads (corridors, passage rooms, stairs, etc.), it makes sense to use formaldehyde and polyurethane varnishes; For the kitchen, an oil-wax coating is more suitable, for a terrace - an oil coating.

In residential premises without permanent presence of people (for example, in a bedroom), it would be appropriate to cover water based. As for children's rooms, solvent-free water-dispersion varnishes or oil-wax compositions are most often chosen for them. The latter option is preferable, despite the difficulty of cleaning, due to its health safety and ease of updating.

For covering floors in unheated country houses, not intended for permanent residence, it is best to use oil and oil-wax compositions: the elasticity of the varnish coating does not allow it to withstand strong temperature changes and their reduction to sub-zero values.

Wood floor varnish

Wood floor varnishes create a hard, smooth, waterproof finish that is largely scratch-resistant and requires little maintenance. Main characteristics varnish - the strength of the final coating against abrasion. The textures of modern varnishes range from glossy to completely matte, including many options in between. There are completely transparent varnishes that do not affect the appearance wood, and compositions with specified visual effects: tinting, darkening, etc. The properties of the coating, its durability and method of application directly depend on the composition of the varnish.

Waterborne(acrylic, acrylate-polyurethane, etc.) varnishes. They may consist only of water and emulsifiers, but most often contain a solvent (from 5 to 15%).

Advantages:

  • practically no smell;
  • dry quickly (3-4 hours);
  • fireproof, as they contain almost no flammable substances;
  • They have excellent adhesion to the surface, due to which they form a very uniform layer.

Flaws:

  • difficult to apply: work can only be carried out with a special roller;
  • if it gets into the cracks, it can disrupt the tightness of the boards or parquet blocks to each other;
  • possess low wear resistance;
  • apply only to the primer.

Solvent-based(alkyd-urethane). In the production of these varnishes, natural raw materials are used; an auxiliary component is a solvent of organic origin. This category also includes the so-called yacht varnishes, which were originally intended for the external coating of such vessels, and then began to be used for indoor work.

Be careful when choosing: not all varnishes in this category are intended for interior works, as they may contain volatile toxic components (xylene, toluene).

Advantages:

  • relatively fast drying (6-12 hours);
  • good wear resistance of the coating;
  • sufficient elasticity to compensate for small fluctuations in wood size with changes in temperature and humidity;
  • improving the aesthetics of the floor by highlighting the color and grain of the wood.

Flaws:

  • When applied to fresh wood, it must be treated with a solvent;
  • due to the large absorption depth, the varnish is removed only by removing a layer several millimeters thick.

Formaldehyde(acid-curing). The basis of these varnishes is formaldehyde resin; acid acts as a curing catalyst. These components themselves are quite toxic, but have a scientifically proven ability to completely evaporate without leaving residual concentrations in the final coating.

Advantages:

  • maximum strength and durability of the coating (up to 10 years);
  • resistance to temperature changes;
  • ease of application - you can work with any tools;
  • does not require primer;
  • create the richest and deepest color of wood.

Flaws:

  • a pungent odor and the release of toxic fumes when drying - you can only work in a respirator and safety glasses; you cannot use the room until the varnish is completely dry, and then long-term ventilation is required;
  • can be removed only by sanding, removing a layer of wood up to 1 mm thick;
  • They take a long time to dry: it can take up to 3 days for complete drying and removal of formaldehyde vapors.

Polyurethane anhydrous varnishes come in one-component and two-component types. The former consist of polyurethane and solvents, the latter may contain alkyds and acrylic as auxiliary substances.

Advantages:

  • high resistance of the coating to wear, impact high temperatures, moisture and UV radiation;
  • quick drying (about 2 hours);
  • excellent adhesion to the surface;
  • does not require primer;
  • do not have a strong chemical odor.

Flaws:

  • If the moisture content of the floorboard exceeds 6-8% or contact with water occurs during the application process, the coating may begin to bubble or foam.

Oil and oil-wax coatings for wood

Floor coverings based on natural oils have gained popularity due to their environmental friendliness: they do not contain toxic compounds and completely preserve natural look tree. The principle of operation of oil impregnations is fundamentally different from the functions of varnish: they give the wood itself increased strength and water-repellent properties. Compositions that, in addition to oils, also include waxes (bee or vegetable) also create a protective film on the floor surface.

Oil-based coatings are divided into three types:

  • Exclusively oil-based. It is recommended to additionally apply wax over these compounds.
  • Oil-wax, combining the properties of oil and wax in one product.
  • High solids oils. Includes resins that increase the strength of the coating.

Coatings may also contain fungicides to prevent fungus and other auxiliary components, such as hardeners to speed up drying.

Very often, oil-wax compositions are used to cover floors on terraces and in rooms with strong changes in temperature and humidity. It may not be advisable to varnish floors in such areas: wood reacts to sudden changes in conditions by expanding or contracting, and as a result, the varnish coating may crack.

Be careful: Deck oils are not recommended for residential flooring as they may contain toxic substances in some cases.

Before applying oil-wax compositions, wooden floors are carefully prepared: sanded, polished, cracks are sealed, dust and all contaminants are removed. Light wood species (pine, birch) are recommended to be treated with alkali to preserve the natural light shade, since they tend to darken when exposed to oil. Poor surface preparation leads to stains and uneven coloration of the floor. The drying time of the coating depends on its composition and density and can range from several hours to several days. In many cases, full use of the floor (for example, arranging furniture) is possible no earlier than a week later.

The main disadvantages of oil are the fragility of the coating and the difficulty of maintenance. It is necessary to restore or partially renew the coating every 1-2 years. Practice shows that the first time after applying oil, floors become dirty very quickly; moreover, when cleaning, it is not recommended to use ordinary detergents. An oil-wax coating is easier to maintain, but is also not very durable.

Advantages:

  • safe composition;
  • pleasant smell, complete absence of toxic fumes;
  • ease of application: the coating is simply rubbed into the floor or applied with a roller;
  • ease of restoration of the coating;
  • insensitive to fluctuations in humidity and temperature;
  • protection of wood from the outside and inside, including from water.

Flaws:

  • durability;
  • cleaning only with special means;
  • rapid contamination of floors in the first few months after application of the coating;
  • the likelihood of stains appearing during prolonged contact with metal objects (for example, furniture legs);
  • long drying time.

Primer for varnish

  • increasing the strength of the coating and extending its service life;
  • leveling the floor surface, especially if it has cracks and other minor defects;
  • the ability to give wood a more intense shade, lighten or darken the main tone, and emphasize the texture.

When choosing a primer, it is necessary to take into account the compatibility of its composition with the varnish that is supposed to be used to cover the floor, and the likelihood of a change in the shade of the wood after the coating dries.

Compatible:

  • Water-dispersion or acrylic primer and water-based varnish; wood lightening effect.
  • Solvent-based primer and water-based varnish; the effect of “burnt” wood.
  • Solvent-based primer and varnish, as well as polyurethane varnish; the wood takes on a golden hue.

If your choice falls on a specific varnish, be sure to consult with a specialist regarding its compatibility with primers.

Irina Eremina,

Marketing Manager V33 Russia

When choosing a varnish, the type of wood matters. Manufacturers usually indicate on the packaging what type of wood their product is intended for; The Russian market mainly presents compositions for coniferous and deciduous species. It should be borne in mind that some types of wood emit coloring pigments: for example, oak floors gradually acquire a yellow tint due to the release of tannins.

Experts are often asked the question whether it is possible partial renovation varnish coating if local defects appear on it. Until now, in such cases it was recommended to completely remove old varnish and reapply the coating. Now this can be avoided: products have appeared that can be used for local repairs and renovation of parquet, laminate and even linoleum. Simply clean the area to be treated with sandpaper and rinse. soda solution, after which you can apply varnish.

Wooden floor makes home interior more comfortable and family-friendly. In addition, natural wood always looks very stylish and expensive. General style the premises are not important here - wooden floors look very rich and modern style, and in more classic ones. Even with the abundance of numerous innovative floor coverings on the construction market, wood does not lose its popularity. More and more people are choosing wooden floors for their appearance and environmental friendliness. In addition, the floor is natural wood has good thermoregulation - cold winter It is very warm and quite cool on a hot and sultry day. You can walk on this floor without fear even barefoot. Wood is also highly durable with the proper level of care. Let's find out how to cover a wooden floor to get the longest lifespan and avoid problems with it.

So, how to treat such a floor in an apartment or private house? Where to start and how to process? First of all, you should choose the appropriate material. Previously, the most popular coating was considered ordinary oil paint. And only recently have coatings appeared on the market that do not hide the grain of the wood and give the floor a rich color and shine. Often, these compositions not only perform a decorative function, but also protect the coating from various environmental influences. How to cover a wooden floor? There are a lot of products - varnishes, mastics, all kinds of oils, wax and much more.

Preparatory work

Before you start covering the wooden surface with any protective compounds, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. The work differs for new and old floors.

If the floor is new

First of all, check how deep the nails or screws sit. The caps of fasteners must be 1-2 mm inside the surface of the floorboard. Next, these same caps should be covered with sealant or putty.

The color of this putty should approximately match the color of the board. Then, the surface is covered with starting varnish and dried. How much time to dry depends on the degree of drying of the boards. If they are wet enough, then the process can take a significant amount of time - 3-4 months. In this case this preparatory stage It is best to do it in the fall and then leave the surface to dry until spring. If a dry board was used during the installation process, 3 weeks will be enough for the varnish to dry.

It often happens that the owners of old apartments or houses, where the wood of the floor was covered with paint, want to give a second life to the floor and, having cleaned the paint, see that the wood is in excellent condition. Here, just a couple of layers of paint will be enough and then the floor will delight the owners with its ideal texture. And you will no longer need to think about how to cover the floor in your apartment.

How to remove paint? This process is simple, but requires serious investment of labor. However, with the help of a scraping machine everything will turn out much easier. For a one-time event, it makes no sense to purchase a car, but renting one is a good solution.

If you need to remove the paint manually, then you should prepare:

  • Old iron;
  • A huge amount of paper;
  • Composition for removing paint;
  • Spatulas and sharp knife;
  • Electric planer;
  • Bulgarian;
  • Sandpaper with grit from 150 to 180.

The first step is to remove everything that covers the floors in the apartments. This is done using paper and a hot iron. All the paint will stick to the paper, and the residue can be conveniently removed with either a knife or a spatula. In those places where the paint is very deep, a wash will help.

After completely removing the paint, use an electric plane to go over the top layer of wood and remove it. Then you need to take a grinder and sanding attachment on wood and sand floorboard to perfect condition. Dust after grinding is collected, but not thrown away.

Then all joints and imperfections on the floor are puttied. Factory putty or dust remaining after sanding with PVA glue is suitable for these purposes. It will give the desired shade.

Then, when everything is dry, the surface is covered with starting varnish and left to dry. And only then, you can start thinking about how to cover the floor in a house or apartment.

Types of varnish: shine and gloss

If as finishing coating If you select a varnish, 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 characteristics adhesion. 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 qualities 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 should be kept at constant humidity. When performing work in winter, a humidifier is necessary. This good choice, especially if you consider what floors are used to cover 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.

Oil: beauty and strength

Coating wooden floors with oils has been used for a very, very long time by architects and parquet specialists. They knew what to cover the floor with so that it would survive to this day.

Modern products for covering wooden floors are based on natural oils, synthetic polymers, and hard waxes. All these substances have excellent preservative properties for wood and significantly increase wear resistance. Wood treated with oil compounds perfectly withstands environmental influences. Such a floor will not swell or dry out, but after such treatment it is no longer acceptable to varnish it.

Oil coatings will help preserve natural color wood or slightly change its shade. Unlike varnishes, the product penetrates the wood much deeper. The composition penetrates into the pores of the wood and creates a thin film on the surface. This floor, which is treated with oil, has high wear resistance and takes on a natural appearance.

Any modern oil composition that is intended for application to a wooden floor will contain polyurethane, as well as wax, which immediately have all the necessary strength characteristics. In addition, the product can create gloss, matte, and silky matte. If you are wondering what to cover your floor with, oil is great choice. Durability and natural color of wood - what else is needed for a home?

Wax based protective coating

Compositions on this basis are applied as a protective layer. A similar product consists of beeswax, linseed or any other natural oil, as well as other additives. All these ingredients are found in different proportions depending on the manufacturer.

Waxed floors have a noble matte finish, a distinct wood texture, and a golden color. They have high resistance to moisture. However, the product does not protect the wooden surface from mechanical stress. In addition, such coating requires professional maintenance. Such compositions are practically not used in residential premises. But there is nothing better than waxing wooden floors in public buildings.

Floor covering using Scandinavian technology

This option suitable for those who appreciates and loves pristine characteristics and advantages natural wood. Also using this method, the wood will not be subjected to any treatments.

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. Main enemy wood - moisture. Even carefully processed and maximally protected wooden surface should not be moisturized 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.

All photos from the article

A 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 requires special construction methods. So, the basic requirements for its floors are their flat surface, and also reliable protection from moisture and temperature changes.

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 use to cover the floor in wooden house, please note that its coatings are divided according to the level of heat retention into subtypes presented in the lower table.

Insulation and related design features of floors

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

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

If there is no base, a multi-layer cake should be installed.

  1. First put roll waterproofing(roofing felt and its taxes) on a concrete screed or on dense soil.
  2. Next, logs made of wooden beams are installed.
  3. Between them, slab insulation is installed or loose insulation is laid.
  4. Next, the thermal insulation is covered vapor barrier film. To improve the tightness of the coating, the film sheets must be laid with an overlap of 10-15 cm. The edges of the insulation are placed on the walls to a height of about 10 cm. Subsequently, they are fixed with a plinth.

Pay attention! The instructions note that an excellent solution would be to choose penoplex as insulation. It can be installed without using a vapor barrier.

Essentially, it is a roll of foamed polystyrene. The material has low thermal conductivity, moisture resistance and sound insulation properties.

Availability of basement, ground floor

The photo shows the installation of a covering in a 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 necessary to achieve maximum stability effect.

  1. The base (base, subfloors) is made from untreated (slab, unedged, unplaned) boards 5-5 cm thick. It preserves the finished floors if the entire structure moves a little. The base is placed on the floor beams and is not fixed with nails, but is inserted into the grooves in them; as an option, it is laid on the beams stuffed on the sides cranial bars. Wood is usually used for the base coniferous species, the price of which is low.

If a residential or non-residential building has wooden floors, then it would be wrong to leave them without a protective finishing coating. Without it, the surface will quickly become dirty, worn out, covered with mold or damaged by microorganisms. Wooden floors are treated using different materials. They not only protect the surface and extend its service life, but also improve aesthetic performance, giving a matte or glossy shine, specific color or shade, highlighting the beauty of the wood texture. To understand how to treat a wooden floor, you need to take into account the purpose of the room, the temperature and humidity conditions in it, and the properties of the coating.

Why do you treat wood floors?

Plank floor in a private house, apartment, on a balcony or in non-residential premises processed to protect against:

  • spoilage by microorganisms;
  • moisture;
  • sunlight;
  • mold;
  • exposure to high and low temperatures.

Wood is especially susceptible to damage by microorganisms and mold in conditions of high humidity, so protection against moisture absorption is especially important. When the temperature and humidity in a room changes, wood absorbs and releases moisture, causing the material to shrink, swell and deform. Protective impregnation and varnish coating to some extent reduce the influence of these negative factors on the material and make the product more stable.

Covering the floor on an unheated balcony, loggia or veranda is necessary to protect it from moisture and sunlight. In addition, any coating reduces the degree of surface contamination, increases its wear resistance and strength.

Types of materials for processing and protection

The following materials are usually used for processing wooden floors:

  • an antiseptic is necessary for all wood products to protect against damage by microorganisms;
  • varnishes increase the wear resistance and strength of the surface, protect against moisture;
  • oils are worth choosing if you want to protect the floor from absorbing dirt, improve its aesthetic characteristics, and protect it from moisture and damage by microorganisms;
  • after treatment with oils or antiseptic impregnations, wax is often applied; it adds shine to the surface, eliminates minor irregularities and defects, and protects against moisture and damage by microorganisms;
  • if you want to cover the surface with a dense color composition, then choose paint; under a thick layer of paint, the board is reliably protected from moisture, sun and other negative influences.

Antiseptic impregnations

Primary treatment with antiseptic impregnations is carried out at the stage of lumber procurement. After this, during operation finished product This treatment is repeated periodically to extend service life.

An antiseptic for a wooden floor is needed as in for preventive purposes, and with visible damage to wood by mold and bacteria. The following types of impregnations are used:

  1. Water-soluble compounds They are characterized by their absence of odor, rapid absorption and ease of application (even a damp surface can be treated). The compositions are absolutely non-toxic. They are used in residential and outbuildings for processing doors, frames, fences and other lumber. The disadvantages include the following:
  • water-based antiseptics are not suitable for boards in contact with water;
  • penetrate shallowly.
  1. Organic based mixtures characterized by deep penetration. They contain many useful additives. But they have a pungent odor and require preliminary preparation surfaces before application. Used in wet areas, for example, cellars or baths.
  2. Combination products are also available for sale.

Important! All antiseptics are divided into transport ones, which are intended for temporary treatment of wood during its transportation and installation, and long-term ones, intended to protect the product for many decades.

Lucky

This transparent product, after being applied to the surface and drying, forms a durable transparent film that gives the product shine, increases the wear resistance of the floor, and protects against moisture, rot and mold.

Varnishes are produced on the basis of different resins, which are dissolved by volatile compounds. Acrylic copolymers, polyurethane, synthetic and natural resins are used as a base.

The following types of varnishes are used to treat wooden surfaces:

  1. Water-soluble one- and two-component compositions. The most durable and expensive two-component varnishes. They are characterized by their absence of odor and drying speed. Such varnishes increase the wear resistance of the floor.
  2. Alkyd compositions emphasize the natural beauty of wood and increase the strength of the product. They are not suitable for high temperature environments, are difficult to apply and take a long time to dry.
  3. Polyurethane-based mixtures the strongest and most durable. After their application, the wear resistance of the floor increases significantly. The disadvantage of these compounds is that they are applied only to well-dried boards. Otherwise, defects appear on the surface in the form of swellings and bubbles.

Dye

It's opaque durable coating made on the basis of acrylic, polyurethane or vinyl tetrachloride. Most often, alkyd and acrylic paints, which have the following advantages:

  • they are very easy and simple to apply;
  • the floor surface is easy to care for;
  • do not need to use special cleaning products;
  • every consumer can choose an affordable product;
  • a large selection of colors, which makes it easier to select a coating to match the color of the interior;
  • paint layer provided proper care and gentle mechanical action will last for many years.

Important! The disadvantage of paint is the low aesthetic appeal of the coating compared to varnish, oil and wax. Moreover, the paint hides the beauty of the wood, and the coating loses its natural appearance.

Oil impregnations

Oil impregnation for wooden floors differs from varnish in that it does not form a dense, impenetrable layer on the surface. The oil is absorbed into the upper layers of wood and increases the moisture resistance of the material and its resistance to wear.

If you have wooden floors in your nursery, it’s not difficult to guess how to treat their surface if you study all the features of oil impregnation. Oil fills all the pores of wood and reduces the possibility of penetration of moisture and dirt. But at the same time, the natural appearance of the material and the beauty of its texture are completely preserved.

Important! There are colorless oils that preserve the natural color of the material, and compositions that give the product a certain shade.

Oil impregnations allow you to obtain a pleasant-to-touch, non-slip surface. This coating option is suitable for living rooms with low traffic, for example, for bedrooms and children's rooms. But keep in mind that oil treatment will have to be renewed periodically.

Wax

There are special waxes on sale for impregnating wood. They are applied to the surface using special rollers, after which they are thoroughly rubbed and sanded. soft cloth. Waxing is needed to increase the moisture resistance of the floor, giving it beauty and a beautiful shade.

Important! The main disadvantage of wax is its low resistance to mechanical stress.

However, wax coating is ideal for floors with defects such as small cracks, crevices and uneven surfaces, as once applied, all these problems are eliminated. The result is an even, smooth and shiny surface.

What determines the choice of means of protection?

Now let's figure out what is the best way to cover wooden floors in the house. You should avoid using varnishes in the following cases:

  • If the wooden surface has previously been treated with oil compounds. They cannot be removed even by sanding, since the oil penetrates deep into the structure of the wood. If you apply varnish to such a surface, it will swell and peel off.
  • Varnishes are not suitable for rooms with high humidity (bathroom, veranda, balcony).
  • Varnish compositions are not used for treating floors open balcony, terrace, veranda or gazebo.