Wooden furniture has a fairly high cost, since the material is natural and environmentally friendly. However, having a lot of advantages, the tree undergoes deformation under the influence of external factors, cracking, changing color and drying out. Therefore, you need to learn in time how to coat the furniture with varnish to prevent these processes.
- The main varieties of materials
- Key Features
- Water based
- Polyurethane
- Oil
- Alkyd
- Antique finish
- On a nitro basis
- Work rules
- Aerosol varnishes
The main varieties of materials
Unlike paint, transparent varnish does not hide the natural pattern of wood, while protecting it from moisture, UV rays, mechanical stress and the formation of roughness. But not all materials have the same properties and are suitable for use at home. Therefore, we must clearly navigate in their varieties in order to get the expected result.
Furniture varnishes, depending on the purpose, are divided into:
- water repellent;
- weatherproof;
- heat resistant;
- heat resistant;
- shockproof.
By type, these materials are divided into:
- semi-gloss;
- glossy;
- semi-matte;
- matte;
- colored.
Depending on the composition, they distinguish:
- acrylic;
- oil;
- alkyd;
- polyurethane;
- epoxy;
- craquelure;
- nitro-lacquers.
Varnishes are produced in the form of solutions and sprays, which are easy to handle inaccessible places.
to contents ↑Key Features
Depending on the basis of the material, the features of working with it also differ.
Water based
For enclosed spaces, it is best to choose matt or glossy water-based acrylic varnishes that do not contain organic solvents. They are:
- have no smell;
- do not support combustion;
- do not cause allergies and are absolutely harmless to human health;
- do not change the natural shade of wood;
- have high strength indicators;
- dry quickly enough.
The only drawback of this coating is moisture sensitivity. Therefore, it is advisable to use it in rooms such as bedrooms, living rooms, classrooms and children's rooms. For applying acrylic varnishes, a special roller is used. Also, this material is available in spray cans.
to contents ↑Polyurethane
But water-based polyurethane varnishes combine the listed properties of acrylic analogues with moisture resistance, which greatly facilitates the care of varnished furniture. This makes them the most popular protective materials and makes it possible to cover wooden products both inside and outside the premises. Polyurethane materials are ideal for a child’s room, as kids can wet the furniture or paint it with paints.
Oil
To give furniture different shades, it is better to choose matt oil varnishes. In their production, vegetable oils and resins, as well as organic solvents, are used.After drying, these materials form a dense transparent film on the wood surface with a wide color gamut.
Alkyd
Durable, moisture-proof colorless material is considered alkyd varnish. The basis of the coating is alkyd resins mixed with organic solvents. The disadvantages include the duration of the drying period, which is 72 hours. However, manufacturers were able to improve the formula and added special hardeners to the varnish composition, which reduced this indicator to 24 hours. You can apply the coating with a roller or spray, which turns it into a spray, which also contributes to speedy drying.
to contents ↑Antique finish
Antique furniture, covered with modern materials, does not look very natural. Therefore, it is better for her to choose a matte craquelure varnish that is able to create an imitation of an aged surface. This effect is achieved due to its ability to dehydrate paint applied on top. The staining technology includes two stages. First, craquelure varnish is applied, and after it only dries slightly, it is covered with paint.
to contents ↑When dried, small cracks form between them, giving the objects an antique look.
On a nitro basis
Nitro varnishes could be called an ideal material for furniture protection, possessing excellent adhesive qualities, high strength coefficient, moisture resistance and elasticity, if not for the presence of toxic solvents in their composition. And although these substances evaporate during drying and do not have a harmful effect on the human body, do not use them to decorate furniture in a children's room. It is advisable to work with nitro-varnishes outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, using reliable personal protective equipment for the respiratory tract and eyes.
To process furniture in the children's room, varnishes that have been certified for resistance to saliva should be purchased, since infants often gnaw at wooden parts of cribs and playpens.
For children's public institutions, experts recommend choosing a universal varnish that does not contain dyes and consists of such natural materials as ricin oil, rosin and various types of micro waxes.
to contents ↑Work rules
Having decided to restore furniture on their own by coating varnish on its surface, certain rules should be followed:
- Work should only be carried out in rooms with good ventilation.
- No open flames should be allowed.
- Processing should be carried out with gloves, a respirator and glasses (water-based varnishes may be an exception).
- Carefully read the instructions and follow all its points.
- If there is an old coating, it must be carefully removed without leaving even small “islands”.
- If cracks, bulges or depressions have formed on the furniture after cleaning, they must be puttied and then sanded very finely.
- Before applying varnish, it is worth covering the surface with one or two primer layers.
- Apply varnish in thin layers, giving everyone enough time to dry.
to contents ↑
Aerosol varnishes
On the prepared wooden surface, varnish in the form of a spray can be applied. This will speed up the processing process, but you must have certain skills. Therefore, you should first practice on a sheet of plywood or a wooden board, especially when it comes to craquelure varnish.
The rules for applying the spray include the following items:
- Shake the can well.
- Holding it at a distance of 25-30 cm from the surface to be treated, begin to apply with wide movements in the horizontal direction.
- The presence of streaks indicates that the can is located at too close a distance.
- After applying the spray, let the coating dry for 48 hours (other times may be indicated on the package).
- Treat the first layer with fine sandpaper and remove the dust with a cloth.
- Apply a second coat of varnish and also let it dry completely.
- If necessary, the process can be repeated a third time.
You should not neglect the choice of varnishes for furniture, as this can not only lead to a reduction in its life, but also make it completely unusable due to a deterioration in appearance.
Particular attention should be paid to the selection of material for children's furniture, since higher hygiene requirements are imposed on it.
