The facade of a wooden house is under constant influence of adverse weather environmental factors. Therefore, the key points in choosing a varnish to cover the external walls of a house are not only the aesthetic characteristics of the material, but its protective properties. Varnish for the wooden facade of a house must provide protection from any natural factors: moisture, pests, ultraviolet radiation. Only in this case can you be sure that the coating will last for many years. Today you can find a wide range of varnishes, but not all of them can provide reliable protection for the facade. In this article we will talk about how to choose varnish for a wooden house.
There are quite a lot of products available on the modern market for exterior finishing of a wooden house. , which will completely hide the structure of the wood, is possible, but only varnish allows you to preserve and emphasize the natural beauty of the wood. Varnish forms a dense elastic film on a wooden surface, which decorates and at the same time protects the wood.
An important criterion for choosing a varnish is its operating conditions. In this case, it will be applied to the facade of the building, which is located in the open air.
There are special requirements for products intended for exterior finishing. Varnish for exterior finishing of a log house must protect the wood from mechanical damage, negative natural and biological factors, and also have good decorative characteristics.
Requirements for paint and varnish materials for facade finishing:
- Wear resistance. This indicator is especially important when varnishing external horizontal surfaces: terraces and steps. In this case, it is necessary to choose a composition with a high degree of resistance to wear and mechanical damage. A varnish with average wear resistance is suitable for covering the walls of a wooden house.
- UV resistance. Ultraviolet radiation is one of the main causes of fading and rapid wear of the coating. It is necessary to varnish the façade with products containing special components that increase resistance to direct exposure to the sun.
- Waterproof. The main enemy of wood is moisture, under the influence of which the wood begins to rot and fungus and mold appear on the surface. Therefore, it is very important that the varnish coating creates a protective layer on the surface that repels water.
- Protection from insects. Wood is a breeding ground for various microorganisms and beetles, which, settling in its structure, destroy the wood from the inside. It is desirable that the varnish contains substances that protect the wood from pests.
There are several types of varnishes that can be used to coat the external surfaces of a wooden house. The choice of a specific product depends on the climatic conditions of the area, the lumber used for construction, and the characteristics of the paint and varnish product.
To varnish old, previously painted wooden surfaces, it is necessary to select a varnish with the same base. For example, you cannot apply alkyd varnish to a surface coated with a water-soluble composition. Wood, completely cleared of old coating and well sanded, can be painted with any means.
When choosing a varnish, its decorative characteristics are also taken into account. The varnishes have a wide palette of colors, which allows you to choose the desired shade in accordance with the overall style of the facade. You can choose a glossy or matte varnish, which forms a transparent or translucent film on the surface.
These varnishes are based on artificial or natural heat-treated oils. The products also contain resins of natural or synthetic origin.
Depending on the percentage of oil, formulations are divided into fatty, semi-fat and lean. Only varnishes with a high oil content, belonging to the group of fatty products, are intended for external use. A composition with a higher oil content is more resistant to atmospheric conditions.
Oil-based varnishes have good protective properties; they form a water-repellent film on the surface, which demonstrates high light resistance. Varnishes of this type take quite a long time to dry (from 12 hours to three days), so it is advisable to carry out work in consistently warm and dry weather. It should also be taken into account that oil varnishes give the wood an ocher tint.
Judging by the name, it is clear that the paint and varnish product is intended for painting yachts. But due to its excellent performance characteristics, this varnish is very often used for varnishing the external surfaces of wooden houses.
Yacht varnish is exceptionally reliable and durable. Such indicators were achieved by including toxic components in its composition - toluene and xylene, which are very harmful to health and can cause poisoning. Therefore, it is intended for outdoor use only.
But, despite this, it is often used to paint the floor and other surfaces inside the house, which is absolutely forbidden to do, since even after many years the varnish coating will release harmful substances into the atmosphere.
The use of yacht varnish to coat the outside of a log house, on the contrary, is welcome. The varnish coating provides reliable protection of the external walls of the log house from various atmospheric influences, and also gives the wood a noble appearance.
Alkyd varnish
The varnish is made on the basis of alkyd resin and also contains various oils and a solvent. The product creates a durable and strong coating that is resistant to temperature changes, humidity and mechanical stress. The composition has good water-repellent properties and protects wood from the formation of fungus, mold and insects.
The product takes more than a day to dry and produces an unpleasant odor. Excessive application of varnish may cause the finish to wrinkle.
Polyurethane varnish
The varnish intended for painting external logs and beams is made on the basis of organic solvents. It penetrates deeply into the wood, forming a protective wear-resistant layer on it. The varnish is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, mechanical damage, and tolerates temperature changes.
The varnish can be one-component or two-component. In the first case, the product is sold ready for application. In the second, it is necessary to add a hardener to the composition before work. A two-component product is better suited for painting large areas.
Water-soluble varnishes
This type of paint and varnish is produced on a water basis. Varnishes of this type are safe for humans and do not emit harmful substances or odors. They come in a wide variety of colors. The product provides complete protection of the surface from microorganisms, mold and fungi.
The composition dries in about a day, but it takes about two weeks for the final formation of the protective film. However, water-soluble varnishes are not able to provide such reliable surface protection as organic compounds. The coating requires regular updating.
The varnish must be applied to dry wood. If it rained the day before work, it is better to postpone varnishing and wait until the wood is completely dry. The moisture content of coniferous wood during painting should not exceed 15%; for hardwood this figure is 12%.
Regardless of the means used to varnish the facade, varnishing the timber outside the house must be done in calm and dry weather. The street temperature should be at least 10 degrees, and the optimal values are 15-25 degrees with a humidity of about 80%.
Before varnishing, the surface must be carefully prepared:
- clean the facade from dirt and dust;
- remove the previous paintwork;
- sand the wood well;
- apply two layers of antiseptic on the walls and 3-4 layers on the ends of the timber to protect the wood from rotting and microorganisms;
- treat the house with fire retardants to prevent fire;
- prime the surface.
When diluting varnish, it is necessary to take into account its type. As a rule, paintwork materials are mixed with a solvent. Only water can be added to acrylic products. Yacht varnish is generally not recommended to be diluted.
It is more convenient to apply varnish to the facade of a building with a spray bottle, in this case the composition will evenly cover the surface. It is better to treat edges and hard-to-reach areas with a brush with mixed bristles. For oil composition it is recommended to use a natural brush.
Before varnishing the lining outside the house, you should test it for adhesion, decorative characteristics and color of the future coating. To do this, apply the product to a small, inconspicuous area. After the composition has dried, try removing it with a spatula. If the coating is difficult to remove, this indicates good adhesion of the materials. If the spatula leaves deep marks, the surface needs to be primed again.
To get a beautiful and durable coating, you need to apply at least two layers of varnish. If porous wood is painted, the surface is varnished at least three times. After each layer has dried, it is recommended to perform intermediate sanding with fine-grained sandpaper.
Services of professional finishers
The Master Srubov company offers its services for painting and varnishing the facade of a wooden house. We have specialized in finishing timber and log houses for more than ten years. The qualified craftsmen of our company have extensive experience working with wood.
We use certified paints and varnishes from well-known manufacturers, which are of high quality and safety. We are ready to perform any amount of work, from local painting to turnkey home finishing.
You can leave your applications in any convenient way using the coordinates in the section.
Treating wooden surfaces with colored varnish allows you to emphasize the textural features of a certain type of wood, which creates a beautiful decorative look. The varnish also performs a protective function. It forms a reliable protective layer that prevents destruction of the wooden surface. Colored wood varnish for interior work closes the pores of wood, which prevents the release of phytoncides and various natural odors.
Wood varnish for interior work is a special construction-type composition that is used to treat wooden surfaces of floors, various furniture, doors, stairs and other surfaces made of various types of wood. Colored varnish provides protection from the penetration of moisture and various cleaning agents, does not allow mold and fungi to destroy the wood, and also provides protection from mechanical stress (impacts, falling objects, friction).
People choose colored polish because it creates a certain look. Beautiful and rich tones of wood texture allow you to implement any design ideas and solutions. There are several types of colored wood varnish, but the most popular is polyurethane varnish. This is a chemical composition based on polyurethanes and other compounds and additives. This varnish is excellent for treating floorboards, parquet, various laminates (colored floor varnish), wooden walls and ceilings, various elements of wooden interiors, and furniture.
Coating with ready-made colored varnish or tinting and subsequent varnishing of the wood?
When a wooden product is new, it does not look as beautiful. To give it a certain beauty it is necessary to treat it with a special coating. You can choose two options for coverage. The first option is to coat wooden surfaces with ready-made colored varnish. The second option is preliminary tinting in the desired color and subsequent varnish treatment. What type of coating is better?
Applying colored varnish can significantly save both money and time. For a coating using tinting, you will have to buy tinting and a clear wood varnish; in the case of colored varnish, you only need to purchase varnish. When tinting, you will need to cover the wood with one layer of stain, then several layers of varnish, each layer must dry for a certain time. Therefore, it will take quite a long period of time.
Basic methods of applying colored polyurethane varnish for wood
Before applying colored varnish, it is necessary to perform a number of preparatory procedures. First you need to level the wooden surface. If the unevenness is large enough, then it is necessary to use special tools. If the irregularities are small, then they can be treated with simple sandpaper. The surface must be flat and smooth. If there are knots on the surface, they can be removed using a special chisel, and inserts made from the same wood can be glued in their place.
After sanding, it is necessary to remove all traces of dirt, dust and greasy stains from the surface. To do this, you can use regular detergents and water. Polyurethane-based varnish is best applied to primed surfaces. The primer should be applied evenly over the entire surface; hard-to-reach areas must be treated very carefully. The primer must saturate the entire surface. It is best to apply a layer of primer with a brush with a fairly high hardness rating.
When the primer is completely absorbed, you can begin processing with colored varnish. The varnish is applied with a synthetic brush. It should lie in an even layer. Sagging and drips should not be allowed. Apply colored polyurethane varnish in 2-3 layers. Before applying the next layer, the previous one must dry thoroughly. During final drying, all doors and windows in the room must be closed and air movement must not be allowed.
Advantages of ZAR ULTRA PLUS colored polyurethane varnish
It is made on the basis of a polyurethane compound with the addition of a special stain. The varnish dries very quickly. At optimal temperature conditions in the room, complete drying occurs in 6 hours. It provides reliable protection of the wooden surface from impacts and other mechanical impacts. The special formula of the varnish allows you to give the wood a rich color.
You can purchase high-quality colored polyurethane varnish at affordable prices in our professional premium-class paint and varnish store.
There are many. When deciding which wood varnish is best to choose, take into account the purpose of the materials being processed and the conditions in which they will be used.
Alkyd varnishes
Wood varnishes with alkyd compounds are used for treating wood indoors and outdoors. In terms of durability, this type of varnish is one of the best. The wood coating is hard and reliably protects the wood from moisture. The varnish is resistant to ultraviolet rays. There are also minor drawbacks: the varnish takes a long time to dry, at least three days. Additional additives in alkyd varnishes can reduce drying time to up to a day.
Another type of alkyd varnish is products with urethane group additives. Such varnishes dry much faster - up to 12 hours, while the strength characteristics of the coating itself increase significantly.
Oil varnishes
Oil-based varnishes are also often used for indoor wood finishing. Such products are presented in several shades: from pale yellow to intense brown. The final appearance of the processed product will depend on the chosen shade of varnish.
The composition of this type of varnish varies in terms of fat content. Fatty and medium-fat varnishes apply easily and well to the surface and, in addition to the decorative effect, serve as protection for the surface. Varnishes with a low fat content, up to 55%, are used exclusively for the aesthetic treatment of wood.
Water-based acrylic varnishes
Choosing acrylic varnish for wood is for environmentally friendly people. The material is safe from this point of view, it has no odor, and gives the treated wood fire-resistant properties. These varnishes are used for finishing interiors and exteriors. They retain the texture of the wood, but do not give off a yellowish tint like other types of varnishes. Usually, stores offer a whole line of varnishes that have varying degrees of gloss. These products are not recommended for rooms with high traffic and constant, let alone high, humidity. Ultraviolet rays do not have a significant effect on the varnish. Acrylic varnish takes a long time to dry; it takes about 2 weeks for the film to completely form.
Nitrovarnishes
This type of varnish is used for different types of wood, but mainly for indoor work, since there is no resistance to ultraviolet rays. Nitrovarnishes are also not used in damp rooms. In other cases, they are good because they quickly penetrate the wood, provide reliable protection and dry very quickly, within just a couple of hours. It is necessary to apply nitrovarnish in a respirator, since it contains solvents that have a high degree of toxicity.
Polyurethane varnishes
Very often, varnishes with a polyurethane composition are used for exterior finishing. The most famous type of this varnish is yacht varnish. It is resistant to moisture, wear-resistant, and can withstand high traffic. The surface of wood after coating with polyurethane varnish is usually glossy. This product is also often used to treat furniture, floor coverings, and even small interior items.
Quite often, the average consumer, when choosing paints and varnishes for wood, torments himself with various questions. What is the best varnish to buy? How to choose? What should you pay attention to? However, choosing a good and suitable varnish with such an abundance of assortment on modern building materials markets is not such a difficult task. When purchasing paint and varnish material for wood, it is important to take into account the properties and specifics of the surface being treated. You can’t, for example, just go to the market and buy frost-resistant varnish for exterior woodwork from the first seller you come across, without taking into account the characteristics of this paintwork material.
Working with wood varnish
Painting wooden products indoors is required to ensure their protection from the formation and influence of various fungi and molds, damage by insects, or for decorating or restoring wooden objects. Exterior painting is primarily used to add shine or matte to wooden facades and other external surfaces. Therefore, any wood varnish, including acrylic, must be selected taking into account the properties and texture of the wood. Surface treatment must be performed in several layers. If the wood has high porosity, small cracks or scratches, then it should be pre-primed and puttied. Also, when choosing a paint and varnish material, you should take into account the degree of load exerted on the object or surface being processed.
What should you look for when choosing?
Any wood varnish is designed to protect the treated wood from various damages, atmospheric influences and decay processes. Depending on the technical characteristics, composition, properties and scope of application, paints and varnishes can be intended for both external and internal types of work. Therefore, before purchasing, you should clearly understand which paintwork and varnish will suit you in a particular case. Before you go to the store, you should read the characteristics and conditions of use of a particular composition and whether it meets your needs.
Types of varnishes for wood
Most paints and varnishes are known for their versatility in relation to wooden surfaces (parquet, doors, railings, steps and much more). If you are interested in odorless wood varnishes, then you should know some of the features of paints and varnishes on the market today.
For exterior work, frost-resistant, moisture- and light-resistant coatings are mainly used. This is due to the fact that only such paints and varnishes are able to provide wood with reliable protection from aggressive weather conditions. It is strictly not recommended to use compositions that create an inelastic film when drying to treat wooden surfaces outside. Such materials include nitro varnishes. Also, paints and varnishes used for outdoor work must contain special antibacterial additives that protect the tree from insect pests and prevent the occurrence of putrefactive processes.
Alkyd varnish for wood. This coating contains alkyd resins and solvent, making it strong, durable and moisture resistant.
Complete drying of the treated surface occurs within 72 hours, however, if faster drying of the applied layers is necessary, then you should choose paintwork materials that contain a hardener. In this case, drying of the coating is reduced to 24 hours.
The alkyd-urethane composition dries even faster. This is possible by adding urethane group components to the varnish. Such varnishes dry in 12 hours, not inferior in strength to alkyd paints and varnishes.
Oil varnishes. Such compositions are characterized by a high concentration of oils, resins and organic solvents. A special feature of oil compositions is the ability to change the color of wood from pale yellow to a thick chocolate shade. However, such paints and varnishes take longer to dry. Drying of the layers, depending on the ambient temperature, can last up to several days.
Nitrolac. This paint and varnish material is made from colloxylin, resins, plasticizers and volatile solvents. Nitrovarnishes are widely used when performing interior finishing work. Since this composition is quick-drying, the drying time of the layers is several hours, and in terms of strength, such a coating is not inferior in strength to similar paints and varnishes.
When coated, nitro varnish creates a transparent and thin protective film on a wooden surface, which reliably closes the pores of the wood, which, in turn, makes it possible to increase the water-repellent characteristics of the wood. It is worth considering that if you need a varnish that is completely harmless to health, then this type of paint and varnish material will not suit you, due to the content of toxic solvents in its composition. And the cost of such a composition does not suit everyone.
Attention ! When working with nitro varnish, you must adhere to safety precautions and use a special respirator.
Water-based acrylic varnish for wood. Such paints and varnishes do not contain organic solvents, so they do not have an unpleasant odor and, therefore, are safer for indoor use. Treating a wooden surface with acrylics makes it possible to increase strength and also preserve the natural color and texture of the wood.
Recommendation! Professionals recommend applying several layers of varnish to make the coating more durable. This increases the drying time, so you need to aim for about two weeks.
Acrylic varnishes are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity and for this reason do not tolerate wet cleaning very well.
Epoxy coatings. They differ in that they dry quite quickly and can be used for work both indoors and outdoors. This is the most versatile paint coating, as it can be used to treat almost any type of surface.
Polyurethane varnish for wood. This material is characterized by water-repellent properties and high wear resistance. These characteristics have made polyurethane varnish one of the most commonly used materials for finishing wood surfaces, especially valuable types of wood.
Yacht varnish. It is considered the most durable among the coatings presented above. The protective composition of yacht varnish is highly resistant to the destructive effects of salty sea water and received its name due to its widespread use in the treatment of wooden boats and yachts. This semi-matte finish combines elasticity and hardness in the best possible way. The varnish is highly resistant to aggressive environmental influences, temperature changes and almost any cleaning agents.
Correct work with paintwork materials
Basically, special odorless paint is used to treat planed or parquet boards, however, some experts recommend using varnish for wooden surfaces for these purposes. In order to carry out high-quality varnishing of wooden products, pay attention to the simple instructions below.
Surface preparation. If the surface to be treated has not been varnished before, it should be thoroughly treated before applying the coating. If there is an old varnish coating, you just need to apply a new layer of varnish on top. Treatment of a wooden surface before varnishing involves thoroughly sanding the wood. After sanding, you need to remove dust from the surface, preferably with a vacuum cleaner, and you can move on to the next step.
Varnishing. Applying varnish to a cleaned wooden surface is done with a brush, roller or paint sprayer. Quite often, after processing, light wood becomes darker, while dark wood, on the contrary, turns yellow or redder. As a rule, such a change in the color of the wood occurs immediately after applying the varnish. Therefore, it is worth finding out in advance the properties of the composition used.
Different wood has its own hardness, which, in turn, determines the required number of coating layers. Soft woods, such as pine or spruce, require 3-4 layers of varnish, while harder wood requires two. If an alkyd composition is used, then 10% white spirit must be added to apply the first layer.
Consumption per 1m²
And last, but not least, the question of how much varnish is consumed per 1 m². Let us name the main criteria that directly affect the consumption of the composition on wood.
- Wood. Wood surfaces with deep pores require more material than fine-pore wood.
- Sanding quality. Higher quality sanded wood requires less material.
- Viscosity. The thicker the varnish, the greater its consumption per 1 m². For this reason, solvent or water is added to the varnish for applying the first layers if water-based paints are used.
- Method of application. Lowest varnish consumption when using a spray gun. More material is required when working with a brush or roller.
The average varnish consumption is 1 l/8-10 m², and when applying the second and subsequent layers it is less - 1 l/10-12 m². However, all the above criteria must be taken into account.
The OBI hypermarket catalog presents building enamels from Russian and foreign manufacturers. The products are sold in sealed containers at prices ranging from 40 to 1,599 rubles per item. The assortment includes more than 120 items.
Features of choice
Buyers take into account the main parameters of paints and varnishes:
- . Type of varnish (film-forming substance).
- . Type of solvent.
- . Level of gloss (glossy, semi-matte or matte).
- . Scope of application (for external, internal finishing works or universal).
- . Color and degree of transparency.
- . Drying time after application.
- . Consumption per square meter of surface.
Alkyd, pentaphthalic and acrylic enamel paints are available in 0.47-2.7 liter cans.
Buy enamel paints and varnishes at the OBI hypermarket and use the service .
Payment and delivery methods
- 1. Buy goods online with delivery
- . You can pay for your order in cash or by bank transfer.
- . You will agree on the date and time of delivery with the operator by phone when confirming the order.
- . The conditions for the free provision of the service depend on the city, amount and weight of the product.
- . Unloading of goods, lifting and carrying are considered additional services and may be paid separately, check with the store operator.
Detailed information about intervals and zones by city, conditions for unloading and picking up orders can be found , where you can independently calculate the cost of your delivery in advance, indicating the postal address and parameters for unloading.
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Purchased goods can be picked up independently at any of the OBI stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ryazan, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Saratov, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Krasnodar, Surgut, Bryansk, Tula and Volzhsky.
