Varnishing Wooden Floors

 

Re-varnishing a previously varnished floor that is in good condition is possible but in the instance when the paint has started wearing off in some areas then it is only good to remove the varnish and apply a new layer.

 

Before one can start coating the floor, it is a requirement that all other previous finishes be removed so that the timber is free of dirt, polish, wax, and grease. Once the removal of the old finish is done, the timber is now sanded and if necessary stained.

 

The Steps of Varnishing

 

First Coat of Varnish

When the first coat of the varnish is applied, it is thinned using the suitable thinner, typically one of between 25 to 50% . This layer acts as a bond between the timber and the subsequent coats of varnish. Thinned varnish is typically water-like making it easy to work with but also easy to splash about.

 

Use a 10 cm brush to apply the thinned varnish along the length of the floorboards and not across the grain. Complete the length of a couple of floorboards before you can move on to the next ones. When applying the varnish try as much as you can not spread the varnish on the neighboring floorboards as any overlapping will be clearly visible in the final job. Get an estimate here!

 

Applying the Remaining Coats

The remaining coats of varnish will be applied using the 10cm brush, and the varnish is first spread across the grain and then along the grain. Once the varnish has started to set, do not go over it with the brush as it will retain the marks of the brush.  Again, it is important that one completes a couple of floorboards before moving onto the next ones. Spreading of the varnish to the adjacent boards should be avoided since overlapping will be seen in the final job.

 

Give Time for the Varnish to Cure

Do not rush to start using the floor, the varnish manufacturer gives a recommended time for leaving it before moving in furniture. Mostly, the recommended time runs between 72 hours and above but this is quite different from the dry overcoat time as this means that the coat is cured enough to take the next coat but is still soft . The longer you can leave the floor to cure before moving the furniture in the better it is.

 

Re-varnishing the Floorboards

In a case where the varnished floor is in a reasonable condition, it is possible to have it freshened up without peeling off the original finish. The final appearance of the floor may not look appealing as to when the floor was stripped of the original coat, sanded and re-varnished as any damage that was on the original floor may still be clearly visible. Click here if you have questions.