How to treat a wooden floor. Impregnation for wooden floors: tips on selection and application. Is it possible to lay down wood flooring without covering it with anything?

The strict and refined beauty of wood has always been appreciated by man. Until now, wooden floors have not gone out of fashion, creating worthy competition for laminate, tile or linoleum. But it is not enough to equip such a floor in the house - for its long service, it requires protection from mold, mildew and wood-boring insects. The question arises - how to cover a wooden floor to ensure its protection and preserve the structure of the wood.

Various impregnations are used for this purpose. Depending on the purpose of the room in the house, the thickness and composition of the wood used, the necessary properties of the impregnating solution are selected. They will provide the floorboards with maximum protection from external influences.

What types of impregnations can there be?

The construction market boasts a huge range of impregnations. They differ in protective properties, chemical composition and basis. They may have using the following methods protection.

Antiseptic

Prevents the appearance of rot, mildew and mildew. This type of solution is the most toxic, and when working with it, care must be taken when using protective equipment and ensuring adequate ventilation in the room.

The most commonly used for this purpose are clay, silicate and bitumen compositions. Some antiseptics can be made independently from low-toxic liquids available in the house, for example, oils and their products.

The use of such “homemade” impregnations on new, pest-free floors gives a long-term positive effect and allows you to protect people and pets from the effects of toxic substances.

Fire retardant

Reduces the wood's ability to ignite. Such impregnation usually contains various phosphates or boric acid. When the temperature rises significantly, a film forms on boards treated with such chemicals, preventing them from igniting.

Water repellent

Wood has strong moisture-absorbing properties. Getting on its porous surface, water causes swelling and creates favorable conditions for the appearance of fungus and rot. This is especially true for the floor in the kitchen or bathhouse. Using impregnation will help you avoid such troubles, because by filling the wood pores with its composition, it creates a moisture-repellent layer.

Combined

Presented with a combination of antiseptic + water repellent. Sometimes fire retardant components are added.

As a rule, when performing protective treatment on a wooden floor, combined compounds are used.

They may differ based on:

Soil protection. Such impregnations combine the qualities of primer mixtures and the necessary protective properties. After their application, in compliance with all priming rules, the final application decorative layer on the floor surface.
Impregnating solutions that require subsequent priming and painting with paints and varnishes after drying.

According to the chemical composition, such a primer can be:

Epoxy. More often it is a primer-impregnating mixture based on epoxy resins and with the addition of various components that have antiseptic properties. It creates a durable water-repellent film on the surface of the board. Epoxy compounds have excellent protective properties. They are best used in damp areas, in the kitchen, bath or bathroom.
Alkyd impregnating mixture is considered one of the best. Ideal for damp areas in the home, low toxicity, can be produced on a primer base or as a pre-treatment solution before priming. Using it in a kitchen or bath will reliably protect the flooring from dampness and mold. The downside is that it takes a long time to dry. The drying process takes about 18 hours.
Shellac - based on methyl alcohol and insect milky juice. It is used when it is not possible to ensure high-quality drying of the floor; it has high protective properties. After applying it and before subsequent priming, you must wait until methyl alcohol penetrates the wood structure and displaces water.
Acrylic is the easiest to use. As a rule, this impregnating soil mixture is made at water-dispersion basis, easily fills the pores of wood, dries quickly and reliably protects against rot.

The choice depends on the room

Choosing what to cover floorboard For its reliable protection, it is necessary to take into account the purpose of the room in the house and on the street.

Rooms with high humidity

When treating floors in the kitchen or bathroom, as well as in any other frequently visited room in the house, it is necessary to choose solutions with low toxicity. For the kitchen and bathroom, it is better to use products with low toxicity and water-repellent protection with an antiseptic.

In rooms such as a kitchen or bathroom, additional anti-slip treatment of floors with special agents is highly desirable, which are either included in the impregnation primer or are applied on top of it before the decorative coating and give the floor a slightly noticeable roughness. Treatment with anti-slip agents significantly reduces injuries.

This is especially important for the kitchen, where there is high humidity and the likelihood of grease getting on the flooring.

Living rooms

When choosing what to cover the floor of a room in a house, you can take any low-toxic composition, because these rooms have moderate humidity and do not require the same protection as in the kitchen or bathroom. But here decorative floors require more careful processing of each parquet element.

Outdoor floors

For verandas, gazebos and terraces, impregnating agents of any toxicity with antiseptic properties and high water repellency are suitable. It is best to apply several layers of impregnation here for reliable protection.

How to ensure maximum protection during processing

This process is simple and the same for floors in a residential building and other premises:

the floor must be dried, leveled and dust-free (it is better to treat it with white spirit to degrease);
apply the impregnating solution using a roller or brush;
wait for it to dry;
prime if non-primer impregnations were used;
apply a decorative coating.

When deciding how to cover a wooden floor in utility rooms or in the house, it is necessary to take into account all external influences to which the floor covering will be exposed during operation.

In this case, it is better to play it safe and use a more reliable protective treatment than to spend money on replacing rotten boards later.

Wooden flooring is environmentally friendly and safe covering, which maintains a comfortable indoor microclimate. Unlike synthetic materials, natural wood exudes a pleasant forest aroma and does not emit toxic substances. Wood is strong, durable and aesthetically pleasing appearance. It is pleasant to the touch and has a beneficial effect on human well-being.

Advantages of a wooden floor:

Promotes oxygen renewal and supports comfortable atmosphere in the house;
Durable and reliable coating;
Long service life;
Safety and environmental friendliness. The material does not emit hazardous substances and does not cause allergies. Wood, on the contrary, has a positive effect on a person’s condition and mood;
Availability;
Good heat and sound insulation;
Wear resistance and repairability. If necessary, you can easily replace damaged areas of the floor yourself.

Despite positive properties, wood needs protection and treatment. Natural raw materials are susceptible to the negative effects of moisture and insects. Without special means the coating will gradually crack and rot. Protective compounds will protect living material from such problems. They will not only extend the service life, but also improve the appearance of the floor.

Today there are a lot of different products, including varnishes, paints and wax. Wax is used extremely rarely today. It contains beeswax, linseed oil and other additives in small quantities. This composition is resistant to moisture, but at the same time it does not give effective protection from mechanical damage, including impacts from heels, traces of furniture, etc. Therefore, we will look at paint and varnish products in detail and find out how to properly treat a wooden floor.

Lucky

Varnish - effective remedy, which will protect the coating from mold, mildew and insects. It perfectly preserves the structure and emphasizes the original appearance of the wood. Varnishes are transparent (glaze) and opaque (overcoat). The transparent coating will preserve the natural color of the wood, but will only last 3-5 years. The opaque composition can be renewed every 6-7 years, and it will allow you to achieve the desired shade or shine of the wooden floor.

In addition, the following types of varnishes are distinguished:

Water-soluble is the most environmentally friendly and safe composition that dries quickly and adheres to the floor surface. But such varnish can only be applied with special rollers, and the coating will have to be renewed at least once every three years;
Alkyd type characterizes resistance, durability and high degree wood protection. But be prepared that this varnish will take two to three days to dry;
Polyurethane material is wear-resistant, so it is suitable for rooms with high mechanical load. This varnish is used to treat the floor in the hallway, living room and even in a cafe;
Formaldehyde varnish guarantees a durable and reliable coating that is resistant to various temperatures. But when painted it releases dangerous chemical substances, therefore it is important to work only in a respirator;
Oil based products are more susceptible negative influence precipitation and humidity, so such varnishes cannot be used to treat the floor in a gazebo or on a terrace. However, they are suitable for interior decoration wooden house. Oil varnishes are often used to renew old coatings. They revive the wood and make the surface shiny;
Acrylic varnish forms a transparent shade without yellowness. This safe remedy odorless with long service life. They are moisture resistant and offer a wide range of gloss options. It is advisable to use such products for rooms with low traffic, including a bedroom, children's room, etc.

Regardless of the type of varnish, before use it is important to study the instructions and, if necessary, consult a specialist. It is important to understand whether this or that product is suitable for your type of room, type of wood and type flooring. It is important to know how to apply varnish and whether protective equipment is needed when working with the material. Following the rules of selection and coloring will allow you to achieve the desired result.

Paints

If you want to give wood a certain color or shade, choose paints. They also protect the wood from moisture and rot, harmful bacteria and insects.

Today manufacturers offer the following types of paint:

Vinyl paints are used for both exterior and internal processing wood. They are resistant to moisture and have a wide range of color range and inexpensive. However, such products are not popular among owners. wooden houses, since when evaporated they release toxic substances harmful to health. In addition, the vinyl composition fades and cracks quite quickly;
Oil products are characterized by rich colors and a uniform structure, resistance to temperature changes and low price. This paint will create a bright and fashionable image wooden floor. However, this coating takes 24 hours to dry. In addition, after 2-3 years you will have to paint the floor again;
Polyurethane paints, like similar varnishes, are wear-resistant and long term services. Such materials effectively protect wood, but they are toxic and expensive;
When painting, alkyd compounds spread bad smell, which will last for several days even after drying. Among the advantages of such paint are resistance to moisture and precipitation, temperature changes and other negative factors;
Acrylic paints on water based today they are in great demand due to their resistance to high humidity, frost and ultraviolet radiation. They have a long service life of up to 10 years! Manufacturers offer a wide selection of colors, which includes two thousand different shades. This is a safe and environmentally friendly composition that does not fade. That's why acrylic materials They are also effectively used for painting facades.

Paint for treating wooden floors is, first of all, chosen based on its environmental friendliness. Therefore, water-based alkyd compounds will be the optimal solution. They will protect the wood and give the floor a noble look. Moreover, due to its stability and durability, you won’t have to paint the coating more than once every 8-10 years!

How to paint a wooden floor correctly

A rational option would be to paint the wooden floor first with paint and then with varnish. Coating with one varnish will not provide adequate protection for wood from mechanical damage. But the varnish is better quality finishing will fix the paint coating, give the desired shine and the look of a fresh new floor.

Before painting the floor, you need to prepare the surface. Clean the wood from dust and dirt. If the floor has been painted before, remove the old coating using a putty knife or sandpaper. Then the surface is sanded, cracks and gaps are eliminated using putty. A new wooden floor can be treated with drying oil or primer before painting to enhance its protective properties and reduce paint costs.

Paint can only be applied to a completely dry surface! Paint the floor using a roller, spray gun, hard to reach places use a brush. Please note that the spray gun and sprayer do not always allow you to achieve an even layer. In addition, it may leave unpainted areas.

They start painting from corners, baseboards and other hard-to-reach places. When painting, stir the paint regularly and do not forget about ventilation. The paint is applied in two layers parallel to the direction of the boards. The second layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried!

When the paint has dried, the floor can be covered with two or three layers of varnish. Don't forget that you can apply each new layer only when the previous one has dried! Apply paints and varnishes smooth strokes to avoid bumps and irregularities.

The specialists of the MariSrub company will help you choose the appropriate products and answer any question you may have! They will paint the inside and outside of the house and provide a full range of services for the construction and finishing of log buildings.

Wooden floors make any room stylish and cozy. This coating is easy to use and allows you to create unique design. Despite the varied variety of floor finishing materials, wood continues to be in first place. It has a large list of advantages and only one drawback - the need regular care. Will help preserve touching beauty correct processing wooden floors.

Careful processing of the wooden floor will protect the array from negative consequences external influences, as well as from pests. To choose suitable type coatings, it is necessary to study all market offers building materials, analyze the feasibility of using each. It is advisable to listen to the advice of experts and make the right choice.

To protect a wooden floor from damage and destruction, you can use:

oil paint;
oil;
wax.

Before covering a new or restored floor with one of the products, you can treat the surface with stain, a liquid that has wood-protective properties. It is necessary to ensure that nails and other fasteners are recessed into the array by several millimeters. These depressions must be covered with putty intended for woodwork. Only after these manipulations can you begin coating.

Oil paint was once the most common, but not best material. It provides a fairly durable coating, successfully protects the array from destruction, but hides the magnificent natural texture of the wood. To preserve the charm of the material, it is worth treating the wooden floor with another product.

Lacquer variety

Today, varnish is the most popular treatment product. wooden surfaces. It effectively protects the array from destruction and preserves its structure, emphasizing the original appearance.

For interior work with wood you can use one of the following types of varnish:

Water soluble. This varnish has the advantage of having no pungent odor and being environmentally friendly. It dries quickly and provides good adhesion. But when using it, you need to remember that every 2-3 years it is necessary to renew the coating, use only special rollers for application and be sure to maintain indoor humidity at 50%.
Alkyd. This type of varnish has excellent durability and maintains the integrity of the coating even in areas of active exposure. But it takes a long time to dry. In addition, it is important to ensure that the product consumption does not exceed the standards specified by the manufacturer, otherwise the coating will peel off.
Anhydrous polyurethane. The material has excellent wear resistance and can be used in rooms with high mechanical load, for example, in a living room, hallway or even a cafe. But you need to be careful during work; if the moisture level of the wood exceeds 10%, unpresentable bubbles will appear on the surface of the varnish coating.
Acid curing varnish (formaldehyde). This product will provide a reliable coating that is resistant to mechanical and temperature influences. But when working with it, you must take precautions, work only in a respirator, or entrust this stage of processing to professionals.

Regardless of what type of varnish coating is chosen, it is imperative to study all the features of working with the material. This will avoid unpleasant surprises.

Oil impregnation

Impregnating wood with oil will preserve the color and texture of the coating.

Oil protection of wooden floors is a very popular treatment method. Thanks to this coating, the solid wood will retain its color and texture as much as possible, which will emphasize the environmental friendliness of the material.

Floor treatment oil does not create a film on the surface of the board; it impregnates it, providing additional protection. The floor will not be glossy, as is the case with varnish, but the wear resistance and natural appearance will definitely please you. You can coat a wooden floor with oil even in high traffic areas, for example, in a hallway.

It must be remembered that the oil coating emphasizes the relief and imperfections of the board. If there are numerous flaws in the wood flooring, it is better to pay attention to a different type of coating.

Coating any surface with oil must fully comply with the manufacturer's recommendations. Otherwise the color will be uneven. It is important to quickly remove excess product, as the wood will darken in places where the oily substance accumulates. This eco-friendly coating will have to be updated 2 times a year.

Difficulties in operating an oil-impregnated floor may arise in the first years. The surface will quickly become dirty. Later, after a few years, when the oil is completely absorbed, the problem will disappear.

TO undeniable advantages This type of coverage allows for quick and easy updating. To restore an area, it is enough to sand it and re-soak it with oil. After absorption, it will be indistinguishable from the rest of the array.

Waxing

Sanding the floor with wax will protect the wood and give it the necessary shine.

Waxing a wooden floor is ideal for lovers of glossy surfaces. This material will protect the array and give it the necessary shine. Floor polishing wax is natural material based beeswax. It can be used as a stand-alone coating or in tandem with oil.

You can apply the wax coating yourself. To do this, simply spread the product over the floor surface, let it dry and polish thoroughly. You will have to repeat the manipulations 1-2 times a year.

In the construction and finishing materials Colored waxes are also available. With their help, you can slightly change the shade of the wood or give it a completely new color. The intensity of the coloring will depend on the number of layers of the product. This coating requires additional protection; this will be provided by an additional layer of colorless wax. When working with colored coatings, you should be careful; uneven application or insufficient polishing will lead to the formation of streaks.

It is also possible to preserve the structure and color of solid wood as much as possible, ensuring reliable protection. To do this, you should pay attention to the Scandinavian method of processing wooden floors. The prepared coating is washed regularly using a large amount of laundry soap. The alkaline solution is gradually absorbed into the array and provides protection. The appearance of the floor does not change.

Whatever type of wood floor treatment is chosen, it is important to remember that this magnificent natural material Most of all he is afraid of moisture. Careful handling and timely removal of spilled liquids will ensure long service life. And a warm – both visually and tactilely – floor will create comfort in the house for many years.

Wooden floors, like other wood products, cannot maintain their impeccable appearance and performance for a long time without protective coating. Even while under the roof, they are exposed to ultraviolet radiation and moisture. Eventually the wood will become unhealthy grey colour and will crack when exposed to the sun or become moldy and rotten when exposed to water. This, of course, will take more than one week, but this will be the result. In this case, there is only one way out - to use a protective coating.

Why is it necessary and what is the difference between oil impregnation for floors?

The purpose of any protective coating is to neutralize the destructive effects of water and sun on wood. There are three most common options: paint, varnish and oil. Paint is considered the most in an inexpensive way protection of wood, but it completely hides the natural texture of the material.

The varnish visually preserves the natural texture of the wood. When hardened, it forms a thin airtight film, so it not only deprives the wood of the ability to “breathe,” but also changes the tactile sensations upon contact with it. This can be easily checked by closing your eyes and running your hand over the plastic and then varnished surface. The sensations will be the same. The varnish coating will reliably serve for several years, but in the end it will still require restoration. This process is quite complicated and it is unlikely that you will be able to do it yourself.

Oil differs from paint and varnish not only in its natural origin and harmlessness to health, but also in its principle of action. It does not form a film, but is absorbed 5-7 mm deep, without clogging the pores and without depriving the wood of the ability to “breathe”. Such formation of a protective coating has another advantage: the tree is not clamped into a rigid film frame and naturally reacts to changes in humidity or temperature. The oil has excellent water-repellent properties, therefore reliably protects wood from the negative effects of water. Its maintenance-free service life is no less than that of varnish, but restoring such a coating is much easier.

Distinctive characteristics of oils

Various oils are used to impregnate wooden floors. In addition to composition and origin, they may differ in a number of characteristics:

One of the defining properties of mixtures is tone. Based on this parameter, colorless and colored impregnations are distinguished. The latter allow you to further emphasize and make the texture of the wood more prominent with the help of tinting.
Another important indicator is wear resistance. It determines whether the oil can be used to protect the floor, especially in high-traffic areas such as hallways or stairs. The undoubted primacy in this parameter belongs to compositions with hard wax.
An equally important parameter is the purpose. Certain types of oils are manufactured for use in conditions high temperature and humidity (baths, saunas, bathrooms). There are universal compositions, as well as mixtures intended only for external or internal use.

Oil selection criteria

There are three main criteria that should be followed when choosing oil as a protective layer:

Tree species. Impregnations of this type are primarily best used for wood that initially contains natural oil. These are many exotic tree species: iroko, kempas, jatoba or lapacho. It is simply not possible to use varnish in this case, because natural oil will not allow it to adhere to the surface. Of the trees growing in Russia, oak and ash are best combined with such impregnations. There is also a logical explanation for this. Oil impregnations are characterized by a minimum proportion of dry residue, which varies between 25-40%. This allows them to penetrate deep into the structure of the tree, “coping” even with dense species (oak, ash).
Place of application. No special restrictions no for this parameter. Certain brands of natural oils can be used even in high traffic areas, such as corridors. For a bathroom, this is an almost ideal coating, since it allows the wood to freely change volume under the influence of temperature and at the same time reliably protects it from moisture. It is important to choose the right type of wood for such harsh operating conditions. In this case, it is optimal to use teak or lapacho.
Color. As mentioned above, oils can be colorless or colored. Each of them has its own application:

Colorless mixtures are suitable for any type of wood, but are more often used for dark ones. In this case, the wood already has a natural color, so it is enough to emphasize only its texture.
Dark compositions look good in combination with oak or rare varieties of wood in light shades.
Silvery, white or gray oils have a whitening effect. They are suitable for processing birch, ash, maple and other “domestic” light species. Oak can also be coated with such impregnations. In this case, the wood visually ages, which can be used for design solutions.

Methods of applying oil impregnation

Before treating the floor with oil, it should be thoroughly prepared. Impregnations of this type do not form a film on the surface and therefore cannot mask significant defects. Accordingly, surface preparation is not a desirable stage, but a mandatory one. For this purpose, the wood is sanded with sandpaper of different grits, ranging from P20 to P120.

There are two types of sandpaper markings: according to GOST 3647-80 and according to ISO-6344. In the first, a smaller number in the designation corresponds to a smaller grain size. In the second, the situation is the opposite: the higher the number, the smaller the grain, and the grain size indicator itself reflects the number of particles of abrasive material per unit area. All figures in the article are presented in accordance with ISO-6344.

After grinding, the surface is dust-free and then oil is applied to it. This can be done in two ways: cold and hot. Each of them has its own characteristics. In both cases, at least two layers of oil are applied.

Some types of wood can darken over time even under a layer of oil, such as pine or fir. To prevent this from happening, they should be treated with an alkali solution before impregnation.

Cold way

When using the cold method, the first layer of oil is applied with a brush quite liberally. After 5-7 minutes, the excess is removed with a cotton cloth. Then the surface is treated with a polishing machine with a beige pad. After 5-12 hours the procedure must be repeated (more exact numbers specified by the manufacturer). At the next stage, you can begin applying the second layer. At the same time, oil consumption will be significantly reduced. The second layer is applied with a brush in the same way as the first. Excess oil is removed with a cotton cloth or green pad after 30-45 minutes. Final polishing is done with a red pad after 12-18 hours. You can walk on the floor after seven days, not earlier.

The distinctive characteristics of oil impregnations and the cold method of their application can be found in the video below:

Hot way

When implementing this method, the oil is heated in a water bath to 80 °C. Before applying it, the floor is also heated (using a thermal pad). The oil is then rubbed into the wood using a beige pad. The second layer is applied similarly to the first after 2-3 hours. After the same period of time, you can perform a final polishing with a red pad. After a week, the coating can be used as usual.

Summary

The floor is a loaded surface, so to protect it it is necessary to use only specialized wear-resistant types of oils. At the same time, the hot application method takes less time, but is technologically more complex. It must be remembered that the main condition for the durability of the protective coating is following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Wood is one of the most popular and ancient building materials. She has a number of positive qualities, which allow it to be used even today.

Moreover, if modern floor impregnation is used during installation, then finished surface receives additional properties that significantly expand the scope of application of this material.

Types of primer and impregnation

First of all, it should be noted that there is whole line various wood processing products, which differ in their qualities and are intended for a specific type of work. That is why, before impregnating floor joists or other structural elements, you should familiarize yourself with the types of material and choose the most suitable one.

Moisture protection

To begin with, it should be noted that all impregnations have the property of penetrating to a certain depth into the material. At the same time, they fill all the channels through which liquid can penetrate, and after drying, they clog them.
The deeper the impregnation fills the pores in the wood, the more it will be protected from moisture. Also, this property will significantly increase the service life of the finished product.

Considering this effect, many craftsmen, when choosing what to impregnate plywood for the floor, prefer to focus on deep-penetrating components.

Advice!
When purchasing these materials, you should check that they are intended for specific surfaces.
This is very important because the mixture contains special ingredients that work best with a particular substance.

Antibacterial compounds

Quite often, floor impregnations contain special components that can fight various types of bacteria.

They prevent the appearance of mold and fungi, and can also protect wood from the effects of various types of insects.

Such compositions should be used when covering surfaces that are located in damp or damp rooms, as well as those elements that are located in the open air.

Advice!
Professional craftsmen prefer to use such materials for floors, since these surfaces have close contact with water during cleaning and are often exposed to moisture.

Fireproof compounds

Such floor impregnations are considered the most popular when working with wood.

They have the unique qualities of giving the material special properties, thanks to which it can resist fire.

It is worth noting that such compositions for floors are used very rarely. However, if there is a fireplace or stove in the room, then it is recommended to use this material for processing the finishing coating.

Whitening or darkening

There are wood impregnations that affect its fiber structure and color.

They are most often used for decorative purposes, giving the floor surface a certain appearance. However, these impregnations also protect against moisture and may contain antibacterial substances.

Currently, there are many varieties of such mixtures. They differ in a range of shades and allow you to imitate expensive types of wood on simple pine or other types wooden covering floor of an apartment or house.

It is worth noting that the price of such compositions can be quite high, but the result obtained fully justifies such expenses.

Advice!
It is necessary to select such materials based on samples that must be in the store.
They are the ones who can display real color composition and its influence on the structure of the tree.

Application

First of all, it is necessary to pre-treat the surface. There should be no protruding fibers or roughness on it

For wood processing, the installation instructions recommend using special or sandpaper with different abrasive fractions.

Then remove dust from the surface using a damp cloth.

At the next stage, impregnation is applied to the wood. You can do this yourself using a soft roller or brush.

If it is necessary to apply several layers, then an interval of 4 hours should be maintained between coatings.

Advice!
When you need to treat not a finished floor, but wooden elements Before assembly, professionals recommend adding a little colored material to the impregnation.
The fact is that most of these compositions are colorless and it is very difficult to determine where the surface is treated and where it is not.

Conclusion

In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic. Also, based on the text presented above, we can conclude that there is quite a a large number of various materials, intended for impregnation of wood floors. Moreover, they all have their own unique properties, which must be selected taking into account the scope of application.