How to cover a wooden floor on an open veranda: professional advice
Wood flooring without proper protection does not retain its natural color and beauty for long. Rain, snow, direct sunlight, temperature changes, biocorrosion processes significantly reduce the life of the floor material. Therefore, it is necessary to know how and with what to cover the wooden floor on an open veranda, terrace, private pier and other similar structures.
Since ancient times, people have tried to preserve buildings and wood products in their original form. To do this, they were treated with any available fat-containing agents (vegetable oils, beeswax, animal fats), tar or pine resin, soaked in saline solutions, including sodium and sulfate (vitriol). The modern chemical industry gives its answer to the question "how to cover the wooden floor in the gazebo, on the terrace or veranda." This is a whole range of tools that can be divided into three large groups:
- Enamel paints.
- Lucky.
- Oils and waxes.
All of the above products labeled "outdoor" or "universal" are designed to cover wood exposed to harsh weather conditions, as well as heavy foot traffic. Manufacturers recommend using them only in combination with special indelible primers. These are special impregnations that:
- partially bleach the wood, give fire resistance;
- level the degree of absorbency of the surface,
- prevent infection of wood with fungi, mold, damage by bugs.
- reduce the consumption of the finish coating;
- increase the life of the coating.
It is advisable to buy primers of the same brand as the varnish. It can be combined taking into account the characteristics of the wood and the desired effect. Manufacturers such as Senezh, Rogneda, Ultan, Neomid and others have developed a whole series of wood products, including simple biocidal solutions, flame retardant primers, deresiners, and even winter concentrates with a hydrophobic effect.
Enamels for wooden floors
They are multicomponent tinted mixtures, which, after drying, form a durable protective film with a decorative effect. For outdoor work, they are produced on the basis of:
- natural modified and mineral oils. It turns out the so-called oil paint, which has good wear and weather resistance, fits perfectly on wood, concrete and metal.
- Solvents. Time-tested nitrocellulose paint can be used even in conditions of permanently high humidity (on the coast, etc.), creates a smooth, glossy, durable film on the surface. The material is considered toxic, although this is not essential for external use - the smell will disappear in a few days.
- polymer resins. For the treatment of floor coverings, you can use the entire range of products marked "for the floor". These are alkyd universal and specialized paints, alkyd and urethane-alkyd, polyurethane-acrylic and others. They are divided into aqueous and acetone-containing compounds. The former have a low odor, are safe for others, are characterized by high spreadability and wear resistance. But the latter are considered the most light-, abrasive- and shock-resistant. Enamels on solvents are thicker, have a pronounced smell of petroleum products, which quickly disappears.
Almost every Russian and foreign manufacturer has a series of alkyd, cellulose ether, polyurethane-acrylic or urethane-alkyd floor enamels. Domestic factories produce a limited palette - from yellow to dark brown. Zobel, Tikkurila, Akzo Nobel and other giants of the chemical industry can offer a richer choice, including white shades and special base colors for tinting in any of the 5,000 tones.
Before you cover the wooden floor with paint, you must carefully read the instructions for use of the finishing paintwork. The surface must be dry, smooth, sanded, free of foci of rot, mold and other defects. Enamels are applied with any painting tools: brush, roller, spray gun, sponge.
Lacquers for decking and floor boards
Lacquer compositions are considered the most capricious among paintwork materials. These are complex transparent or translucent solutions consisting of film-forming resins, solvents (of organic or synthetic origin), various additives and pigments. Varnishes are chosen in cases where it is necessary to emphasize the texture of wood, highlight its pattern.
For floor coverings, only parquet varnishes based on polymer resins are suitable - alkyd, urethane-alkyd, polyurethane, polyurethane-acrylic. Products are produced, as a rule, for indoor use. This material is not suitable for external processing - the varnish film does not have sufficient elasticity. Therefore, as a result of seasonal changes in the linear dimensions of the floor board, the top layer will quickly begin to crack, peel and peel off. The service life of parquet varnish on the veranda is no more than 1-2 years.
Note that on the forums you can often find recommendations from masters about using yacht varnishes for finishing the floor in the gazebo or on the terrace. Yes, this type of product is weather-resistant, but does not have the proper wear, impact and abrasion resistance. Therefore, it is not suitable for wooden floors, especially with increased foot traffic.
Oil and ether-cellulose compositions work on joinery (doors, windows, lining, panels, railings) and furniture. It is undesirable to use them for the floor.
Oils and waxes for wooden floors
We can say with confidence that this is the most popular type of wood coating in Russia. They are multicomponent mixtures of organic fat-containing and synthetic components. The basis, as a rule, are vegetable oils (linseed, rapeseed, sunflower, soybean) and waxes (bees, candelilla, carnauba).
Oil for wood processing on the terrace, veranda.
Oils and waxes are applied to the surface of the wood by rubbing and are literally absorbed into the pores, emphasizing the natural beauty of the floor. In this case, the film does not form, rather the tree turns out to be oiled. Such impregnation protects against water, dirt, partial abrasion and the formation of dents from impact loads. They produce colorless, tinted and pigmented formulations.
For the treatment of terraces, verandas, piers, a separate series is produced with the addition of special additives (anti-slip, fungicidal and frost-resistant), thanks to which the terrace board will not crack, darken and rot for a long time, and the operational period will increase significantly. These are finishing Pinotex Wood & Terrace Oil, Tikkurilla Valtti Puuöljy, Osmo Antirutsch Terrassen Öl and others. Used in combination with water or hydrocarbon based primers or impregnations.
When choosing the right oil and wax, the type of wood must be taken into account. The label usually indicates whether the coating can be applied on exotic or resinous varieties, as well as the approximate consumption and method of application - with a brush, sponge, pad, rag, scotch brite. When buying, ask sellers to show you professional colors - this will help you decide on both the product and the shade.
When choosing a wood preservative for outdoor patios, verandas or balconies, remember that outdoor floor enamels, oils or waxes are the most durable. With proper application, they will save you from the hassle for at least 5-7 years. But it’s better not to mess with varnishes - it’s too problematic and unreliable.
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