Best finish
Wood has optimal conditions for long life indoors. Humidity, which is the main reason for using protective coatings, is low inside, wood is removed from the sun, fungi and insects do not have access. Indoor wood has very low needs for chemical protection and expectations of indoor wood coatings are different from those for outdoor wood. Due to the favorable conditions in the living spaces, we have a very wide range of coatings available. With many pieces of furniture, the coating can be avoided, but because it also makes it look better, most wooden products have some kind of protection. The coating for wood indoors must protect against impurities, it must be resistant to mild cleaners and occasional spills. When we come across quality wood, translucent stains, oils and waxes are used for interior coating. With them, the wood gets basic protection, while preserving and even emphasizing the structure of the wood. Thick-layer decorative coatings are used mainly on wood of lower quality, where visible years are not in our interest, or in the restoration of old furniture, where we want to recreate the appearance of old oil paints with a thick coating. It is recommended to use products that maintain a healthy living environment in living spaces. Coatings intended for outdoor use do not belong to the interior or should, according to European guidelines, be physically sealed with a good topcoat or similar.
1. Preparation of the wooden surface
Good surface preparation is one of the factors that ensure the desired quality of processing. The basic factors of processing include grinding, smoothing and dedusting. There is a well-known saying among experts: “Well sanded – half lacquered”.
2. Leaching
Staining is a technological process that changes the natural color of wood without covering its texture. We can emphasize the texture or partially blur it. By staining, we can revive the natural color of wood, imitate the color of noble tree species or age the wood surface.
3. Primer color
According to the composition, there are various coatings that allow decorative painting of the surface. They differ from stains in terms of color effects achieved, and processing is also slightly easier. Primer paints are divided according to composition and purpose of use into several groups:
1. Nitro primer
2. Polyester primers
3. Polyurethane primers
4. Oil base paints
5. Water-based primers
4. Coatings for wooden surfaces
Coating or coating agent is a general term for a substance that is applied in a thin layer to the surface of wood and, after the curing process, forms a thin cured film on the surface. The properties of the cured varnish film depend on the properties of the basic components of the coating. We know:
– VARNISHES
– COATINGS BASED ON NATURAL MATERIALS
5. Types of varnishes
1. Nitrocellulose varnishes
In terms of quality, they can be classified as coatings based on natural resins and coatings based on synthetic binders.
2. Polyurethane varnishes
Unfortunately, many polyurethane varnishes are prone to yellowing under the influence of UV light. The consumption of polyurethane varnishes is increasing, mainly for the production of quality furniture, and the limiting factor is their relatively high price.
3. Polyester varnishes
Polyester varnishes are a classic tested group of varnishes in many different compositions, which are used for various wood treatments. However, it is an ecological objection (styrene has a very low permissible concentration).
4. Polycondensation varnishes with acid hardener
These varnishes are known as “acid varnishes”. Consumption of these varnishes is declining and will continue to decline for ecological reasons.
5. Water-based varnishes
They are a group of water-based varnishes that use a wide variety of binders. They have a lower content of organic solvents or even without them and are dispersed in water. The most commonly used are acrylic, polyurethane, unsaturated polyester, acrylic-styrene copolymer, acrylic-polyurethane copolymer binders.
6. Acrylic varnishes
Acrylic varnishes represent a newer, less tested group of varnishes in wood surface treatment. The main ingredient in these varnishes is acrylic resin, which can be composed very differently.
6. Coatings based on natural materials
1. Natural oils
These are oils of plant or animal origin that contain more or less unsaturated double bonds between carbon atoms. The number of double bonds determines whether the oils are drying, semi-drying or non-drying. Drying oils include flaxseed, tung, dehydrogenated castor, hemp oil and various fish oils. The most common semi-drying oils that we also use are soybean and sunflower oil. Flaxseed oil is mostly used, but it hardens for a very long time (even more than a week). For practical use, flax varnish, which contains heat-treated linseed oil to which curing-promoting desiccants have been added, is therefore more commonly used.
2. Natural resins
Rosin, Mastic, Shellac.
3. Waxes
They are naturally or synthetically derived substances that are esters of higher fatty acids and saturated alcohols. Furniture is surface treated with waxes for three reasons:
– to protect surfaces from external negative influences,
– to emphasize the beauty of wood,
– to maintain a healthy living environment.
Waxes do not dissolve in water, they dissolve in organic solvents, turpentine, gasoline, benzene and other stronger organic solvents, as well as in warm alcohol.
Waxes can be vegetable, animal, synthetic and mineral.
Solid wood is solid profile wood that is shaped and processed from all sides. Even the most valued is still solid wood, which is more difficult to afford today due to the growth of production and transport costs. Wood is obtained from coniferous or deciduous species. Tree species are quite different from each other, so it is important to pay attention to which solid wood we will choose for a specific use.
Glued board has significantly better properties than solid wood. Due to the processing and removal of weak parts, glued wood is extremely stable and strong.
Veneers are thin sheets of wood up to 8 mm thick obtained by cutting and peeling veneer logs. The thickness of the veneer depends on the tree species, method of manufacture and purpose of use.
Ultrapas is a thin layer of plastic that is attached to a chipboard in a press. It is important that all parts are well glued together, as dirt accumulates behind poorly attached parts. Ultrapas is resistant to shocks and heat, it can also be easily cleaned with water and most other chemical agents, potential problems can only be contact with the wall, as usually there the contact replaces some other filler (plastic or wooden finish strip). Ultra-strip panels offer the largest selection of colors and patterns, from wood to stone and a variety of paintings.
MDF stands for medium density fiberborads. They are made of wood fibers (beech, spruce and fir) with the addition of resin.
