What are the benefits of lacquering parquet, and what are the advantages of oil protection? How to select the ideal lacquer for parquet? Why are water-based lacquers popular today? Why is oiled parquet easier to repair than lacquered parquet?
Installing parquet flooring is a once, maybe twice-in-a-lifetime endeavor, especially if you’re not a professional parquet installer. And if you’re not, then surely you don’t know which is the ideal finish for newly installed parquet. The finish primarily needs to meet two criteria – it should give the desired appearance to the parquet and ensure durability.
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Repairing parquet in an apartment might not be as costly as it is complicated because once furniture is brought in, all interventions become very complex. When it comes to the final finish of the parquet, the roughest statement could be that there are two options – lacquering or oil protection. Of course, it’s not all that simple…
Advantages and Disadvantages of Lacquering Parquet
Lacquer is the first and most logical choice. Lacquering creates a solid protective transparent film on the surface of the wood, which is highly resistant to wear. However, depending on the frequency of use and the type of room, scratches and damage will inevitably occur over time.
This is especially true for high-traffic areas where outdoor footwear is worn. In such conditions, abrasion of the protective film on the surface of the lacquer is most pronounced. In rooms where outdoor footwear is not worn, lacquer can last literally for decades. Although lacquer is very durable, the drawback is that its repair is relatively complicated.
Worn lacquered parquet cannot simply be recoated. The new layer will be rough and will not have a long lifespan. Before applying a new layer of lacquer, the old lacquer needs to be removed, and the parquet needs to undergo fine machine sanding, known as sanding.
If you’ve decided on lacquering, you’ll face another dilemma – which lacquer to choose. Today, water-based lacquers are so advanced that they offer a high level of quality, making them more popular than solvent-based polyurethane lacquers.
The popularity of water-based lacquers has also been driven by their eco-friendliness, meaning they don’t emit toxic fumes, neither during the lacquering process nor during later use. For less trafficked areas, such as living rooms or bedrooms, quality single-component lacquers will suffice, while two-component lacquers are recommended for high-traffic areas like commercial spaces, hallways, or apartment corridors.
Glossy or Matte Lacquer – Aesthetic Question
Regarding lacquers, one aesthetic dilemma remains – whether to choose matte lacquer, semi-gloss, or high-gloss lacquer. Both will accentuate the texture of the wood and provide a color contrast, but glossy lacquer will also provide a high shine. Matte lacquer will give the wood surface a recognizable matte sheen, one in which you cannot see your reflection, and which is an ideal choice if you want a somewhat rustic appearance.
Protecting Wooden Surfaces with Oil or Wax
If you want to give your apartment a more natural feel, you can opt for oil or wax protection for parquet. The basic difference between oil and lacquer is that oil does not form a protective layer over the parquet. Unlike lacquer, oil penetrates deeply into the wood structure and protects it that way. Similar to translucent coatings.
This maintains the natural texture of the wood to the touch, and the floor coverings look more natural and rustic than when lacquered. Another advantage of oil protection for parquet is that repairs are simpler. To apply a new layer of lacquer, the old one needs to be removed, which means machine sanding, raising dust, and extensive work in the apartment.
Refreshing parquet protected with oil involves applying a new layer of oil. Where the wood is exposed, it will absorb the oil, creating protection, while in areas where the parquet has not absorbed the oil, it is simply wiped off. However, it should be noted that parquet protected with oil is somewhat less resistant to abrasion than when using high-quality lacquers.
Refreshing wooden coverings will be needed much earlier, and stains are harder to remove from parquet protected with oil than from lacquered parquet. Perhaps a compromise could be to protect it with a quality matte water-based lacquer. It is environmentally friendly, high quality, and durable, providing the parquet with a rustic and natural look similar to oil protection.
Foto: Freepik