Read: Best floor wax for hardwood floors Allow The Top Coat Of Finish Set For At Least 24 Hours Before Rubbing It Out A clear water-based, multi-purpose primer, suitable for all bare, solid and engineered wood flooring Thankfully nowadays all commercially produced varnishes are of exceptional quality and will perform very well in the right setting. Hopefully with a good understanding of what the various elements do, you will understand how the various characteristics that the manufacturers’ have developed in their varnishes can be best used. Wood Stains and Using Stains

Shellac – This is not strictly a varnish, and is the main ingredient for French Polish for furniture. It is secreted by a beetle in South East Asia and usually bought in flakes which are diluted with alcohol before use. The ‘de-waxed’ version of shellac, which has under gone a process to have most of the waxy substances removed, can be used as a primer for other varnishes, such as Polyurethane and Acrylic which do not penetrate well into the wood. Shellac can be clear, or there are a range of shades As we have already discussed the different ingredients or component parts of the varnish will have the biggest influence over these hardening processes and the time it takes. Also there are a range of additives that are used to affect these properties and others favourable properties such as colour, flexibility, UV protection and many more. Unlike paint, varnishes and stains are designed to soak into the wood. You can even apply a clear varnish to the stain to improve the finish and also make it more durable. These are also available in solvent and water based variations and also in a variety of colours and shades.

Allow drying again

Resin: This is the component that adds the strength and body to the finished varnish. There is a huge range of compounds from natural products such as tree resins and even insect secretions to organic chemicals such as polymers and plastics that are used as varnish resins. Like the oil the choice of resin can affect the varnish so resins that do not colour the varnish are favoured. The way that they react or act with the oil will have a bearing on the properties of the varnish Prior to varnishing, softwood floors can be stained with Manns Classic Pine Stain whilst hardwood floors can be stained with Manns Classic Oak Stain. For a solvent based floor stain, use Manns Trade Light Fast Wood Stain Manns Wood Primers Please Note: Special care should be taken when applying the first coat of this product over a water-based stain as excessive brush or roller strokes over the same area may potentially dislodge or drag the stain from the timber. Cleaning Equipment For the best protection on flooring, we recommend applying 1 coat of Manns Extra Tough Primer followed by 2 coats of Manns Extra Tough Floor Varnish, using your chosen application method

It is possible to mix stains to make your own unique colour. Make sure that don’t mix oil and water stains; they will not mix. If you try this you will absolutely need to test in on an off cut first! That said there are a huge variety of stains available, so you can probably find what you are looking for without going to the hassle of making it. When applying Manns Floor Varnish over water-based wood stains,apply the first coat of varnish or primer lightly with just one or two light brush strokes in the direction of the grain, then allow to dry. This will seal in the wood stain allowing additional coats of varnish to be applied with easeFloor to be varnished should first be primed with one of the following Manns wood primers. Primers aid with adhesion between the floor and the varnish and can offer a cost saving when varnishing large areas. Product

In essence, varnish is basically a paint without the pigment applied to it. The majority of these are polyurethane based resins and are solvent based (similar to oil paints). Acrylic varnishes, although water based, are becoming more popular for their environmental and health benefits. Using a soft cotton rag, apply the polish to the surface. If you’re using wax, a wad of excellent steel wool is the ideal way to apply it. Freshly sanded floors should be swept and vacuumed to remove all traces of sanding dust, dirt and debris Alkyd Varnishes – This is a terms that you will sometimes hear, and most varnishes will contain an alkyd of some kind. They are modified natural or vegetable oils. Getting matte formulations isn’t an easy task. However, one to get it is to start by applying all the oil-based polyurethane coats your woodwork requires, then wait for it to dry.

Using 400-grit or finer wet/dry sandpaper, scuff the finish. Moisten the paper with a small volume of water to help it smoothly cut the finish more. Binder: Unlike paint this is a very small part of a stain, but is it still present. It helps to hold the pigment in the wood once the vehicle has carried it there Make sure that the stain is thoroughly mixed before you start to apply it so that you get an even colour throughout. Applying a Stain