Is it possible to varnish a laminate: features, instructions and recommendations

Among the huge amount of materials used for flooring, the laminate is particularly popular. Its demand is explained by attractive appearance, simplicity of packing and acceptable cost. But along with the positive qualities of this coating has its drawbacks. The floor, lined with laminate, can not stand contact with a lot of moisture and very easily scratches.

To prevent premature replacement of flooring, apartment owners try to protect it from rapid wear. And then many people think: is it possible to varnish a laminate? Today this issue is very relevant and causes a lot of controversy, so in this article we will pay special attention to it.

Lacquer coating on the laminate: for or against?

Companies that produce laminate, very negative about this method of protecting the sexes. At the same time, manufacturers of paints and varnishes say that their funds can significantly extend the life of the decorative coating and are even suitable for its restoration.

It is very difficult for a typical consumer to decide because of such contradictory opinions, so let's try to find out for ourselves whether it is possible to cover with lacquer a laminate and what advantages and disadvantages this procedure can have.

Why manufacturers of floor coverings do not recommend covering the laminate with lacquer

In order to understand what the arguments of the manufacturers are based on, we will analyze the structure of the laminated board. It consists of the following layers:

1. The balancer.

2. Carrying panel HDF.

3. Kraft paper.

4. Decorative layer (imitating the structure of wood).

5. Protective coating.

As a protective layer is a heavy-duty film, which forms a smooth (monolithic) surface that does not have pores. For this reason, it is simply impossible to achieve a good adhesion of the lacquer and the laminate itself. After all, we all know that when processing wood surfaces (to achieve better adhesion), the varnish is applied in at least 2 layers, where the first fills the pores of the wood, and the second is fixing.

In the case of laminate, the lacquer can not penetrate deeply into the structure of the material, so this protection will be very short-lived. In this regard, the varnish will quickly crack, begin to peel off and lag behind the base.

Floating method of laying a laminate - an obstacle for varnishing the floor

Dense coating - this is not the only argument, because of which many negatively answer the question whether it is possible to cover the laminate with lacquer. Peculiarities of laying this decorative material do not allow to make the floor covering whole and fixed. It is fixed only with the help of plinths, located along the perimeter of the room.

Due to the fact that the slats are not fixed to the base in any way and are not fixed firmly with each other, in the course of operation the floors are slightly "play", which negatively affects the integrity of the lacquer layer.

Some masters prefer to lay the laminate on a special adhesive compound, which makes it immobile and opens the possibility of applying protective layers of varnish. However, in this case, it should be borne in mind that if there are defects on the surface of the floor (in the form of hillocks, depressions, depressions), the fixed surface will fail much more quickly.

Arguments in favor of varnishing the laminate

Despite the above facts, the question whether it is possible to cover with a varnish laminate, you can not answer a categorical "no." When making the final decision, it is necessary to take into account the following points:

1. Before laying any floor covering, almost all masters try to fill the leveling layer of the screed, which eliminates the appearance of irregularities and differences. As a result of these actions, the laminate lies almost motionless.

2. Modern air-conditioning systems of premises (available in almost every house) contribute to maintaining a stable temperature and humidity level in the room, which excludes the swelling and deformation of the decorative coating of wood. Lacquer applied to a fixed base, lasts much longer and does not become covered with cracks.

3. If the old floor finish looks unaesthetic, has a large number of scratches and scuffs, it is possible and necessary to varnish the laminate, as this is the only economical way to give the surface a beautiful appearance (without replacing the decorative coating).

Which lacquer to use and whether it is possible to cover the laminate with parquet varnish

As can be seen, there are weighty arguments both from the positive and from the negative side. Making your own conclusions, take into account the condition of your screed and the quality of the product itself.

So, if, after reading this information, you answered positively the question whether it is possible to cover with a varnish a laminate, you can proceed to the choice of composition.

First of all, it is necessary to determine, from what the glossy surface of the facing is made.

This information you can find on the package from the laminate, and if it is not preserved, then on the website of the manufacturer.

This information is very important, since the varnish must be made on the basis of the same component that acts as a protective layer. So, if the film applied to the product contains acrylic, then the varnish should be purchased on acrylic basis. For coatings made of polyurethane, a tool of a similar composition is selected.

Such recommendations are explained by the fact that the same components are much better in contact and adhere to each other.

Please note that for the laminate, special formulations should be chosen for use with glossy surfaces, as they are more adapted to contacts with specific bases similar to laminate.

The varnish color is chosen depending on the color of the material itself. For light and opaque coatings, it is better to choose white varnishes, whereas for more saturated colors it is better to purchase transparent compounds.

As for the question whether it is possible to cover the laminate with varnish for parquet, then immediately it is necessary to exclude such an opportunity. The thing is that these compounds are oriented to grip with a rough surface, so they will not last long on the laminate.

Technology of varnish application

Now consider the technology of varnishing the laminate. It implies the following works:

1. Thorough preparation of the substrate . Floors are cleaned of debris and dust. Naturally, the laminate can not be puttyed and caked. Use of sandpaper is also unacceptable!

2. Elimination of defects . If there are scratches and various visible damages on the surface, they are masked with a construction paste or putty of a suitable color. It is applied to the desired area, gently rubbed and removed all surplus.

3. Elimination of chips . If there are deep scratches and chips on the laminate, they are covered with a layer of conventional PVA glue and left to dry completely.

4. Application of varnish . From the corner of the room with a wide brush or roller begin to apply varnish. In the process of moving, you need to move towards the exit. For your own safety, care must be taken to ensure that sufficient fresh air enters the room.

5 Reprocessing . After the first layer of varnish dries, a second coat should be applied. Total composition is applied in 3-4 layers.

For the best preservation of the laminate, repeat this procedure every 3-4 years.

Advantages of the procedure

In deciding whether a laminate can be varnished, the testimonies of people who have already produced such works are of great importance. They talk about the following:

• Laminate, covered with several layers of varnish, serves 2-3 times longer than unprotected lining.

• With a properly selected composition, you can easily get rid of dark scratches and dirt.

• The coating on which the varnish is applied is much less scratched, rubbed and dirty.

• Brilliant varnish gives the floors a glossy effect, which makes them more attractive.

Conclusion

In this article, we examined in detail the question of whether it is possible to varnish a laminate and which composition should be better used for this purpose. Obviously, there is no single answer. Each owner must weigh all the pros and cons of this procedure, and then draw their own conclusions. We hope that our article will help you in this.