{"id":1783,"date":"2014-09-18T15:18:22","date_gmt":"2014-09-18T14:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wood-finishes-direct.com\/blog\/?p=1783"},"modified":"2024-03-14T13:22:50","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T13:22:50","slug":"wood-flooring-varnish-repair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wood-finishes-direct.com\/blog\/wood-flooring-varnish-repair\/","title":{"rendered":"Wood Flooring Varnish Repair"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Using a \n\nquality floor varnish<\/a> is a great way of enhancing the natural character and grain of wooden floors while protecting them from the general day-to-day wear and tear of busy environments. \n\nCleaning <\/a>and maintaining varnished floors with products specifically formulated for this purpose can help to keep them in tip-top condition for many years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand while extremely tough, wooden floor varnishes aren’t indestructible. Luckily there’s plenty you can do to maintain that beautiful finish, whether it’s a clear matt, satin, gloss or perhaps even a tinted or coloured floor varnish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does your real wooden floor have patches of damaged varnish that are making it look tatty, rough and worn in places, or all over? Here’s some advice on how to improve the appearance of these troublesome areas…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common problems with a varnished floor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We see it all, but the most common real wood finish, varnish-related problems we hear about are localised patches of wear, where chairs with wheels, castors and hard legs have worn the varnish thin. Sometimes the wear is so heavy it takes off the varnish altogether, right down to the bare wood, particularly around desks and tables. Excessive wear near exterior doors – your front door, back door, kitchen door and patio doors – is also common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does it happen? Small particles of grit, dirt and other abrasive materials brought in from the outdoors by the wind, pets and people’s feet slowly wear away the varnish in these high traffic areas, not unlike sandpaper. You might also find damage to wood floor varnish happens when something heavy or sharp is dropped, which chips or splits the floor finish.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Varnished
Varnished Wood Floor – from beautysalon2you.nl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Can Wood Flooring Varnish Be Repaired?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There isn’t a straightforward yes or no answer. It depends on the extent of the damage, the type of wood varnish being repaired and what you expect from the result. We thought it’d be useful to look at the issues and answer the most frequent questions our customers ask about repairing wooden floors with a varnish finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real wood floor restoration Q&A<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Q. What is the difference between floor varnish and floor lacquer?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/b> There’s no difference. They’re one and the same thing. In the trade we usually call them lacquers<\/em>, while the general public tend to call them varnishes<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. How can I tell which type of  existing floor varnish I have?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/b> It’s difficult to tell the difference between a water-based varnish for wood floors, solvent-based varnishes or oil-based floor varnish, especially by appearance alone. When they’re dry they look much the same, even to an expert. Most modern varnishes from the last 15 to 20 years are likely to be water-based. If the floor was varnished more than 20 years ago you can probably assume it’s an oil-based varnish. Water-based varnishes tend to give a clearer finish while some of the older oil-based varnishes had more of a warm colour to them. Solvent-based varnishes are usually used on furniture, applied with a spray gun because they dry so fast (usually within 10 – 15 minutes) and have a very strong smell. This makes them difficult to use on large, confined areas like floors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. If I do have a damaged area that I want to repair, will it blend in seamlessly with the surrounding varnish?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A.<\/b> Wood floor restoration rarely delivers a completely invisible repair when you’re working with varnish. The new varnish will probably have a different formula and things like age and natural colouration over time changes the appearance of the original varnish coating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wooden floor repairs – When the varnish is partially worn<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the varnish is only partially worn, you’re in luck. It should be fairly straightforward to tackle and the repair will be less obvious than varnish that’s worn right down to the bare wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n