Protecting parquet: innovative products and simple application
Doormats, felt pads, and floor protectors are essential for protecting parquet from scratches and wear. However, wood also needs to be protected from water, UV rays, and oily substances, which can damage parquet and encourage the growth of mold and bacteria.
Therefore, it is essential to provide a protective treatment for the parquet using oils, varnishes , or impregnants that can shield it from water and stains of various kinds, while also protecting it from scratches and the effect of direct light, which can fade the wood over time.
The good news is that in many cases this operation can also be performed on parquet that has been laid for some time… and it can be much simpler than you might think.
Parquet Protection: Where to Start
Protecting wood always begins with prevention: using doormats and rugs to protect the floor from scratches and dirt, as well as curtains to shield it from direct light, are essential for a parquet floor that lasts for years.
However, to maintain its original appearance, parquet must also be protected from external agents that can cause stains or even worse damage: water, oily substances, and acidic (or alkaline) substances.
In addition to avoiding the use of aggressive products such as alcohol, bleach, or baking soda, it is essential to wash the parquet using little water and soft, non-abrasive cotton or microfiber cloths.
Careful maintenance, however, is not enough to protect parquet from stains and other problems, and certainly does not protect the floor from the natural aging process of the wood , which over time can appear dry and discolored.
In this sense, effective parquet protection requires the application of specific treatments.
Protecting parquet: which product to choose?
There are various solutions for protecting wood: the best known are certainly impregnating agents and natural oils , but there are also water-based varnishes and wax-resin emulsions specifically designed for treating parquet.
The first factor in guiding your choice is the floor's finish , which can be oiled, varnished, or, more rarely, waxed. The finish determines not only the parquet's aesthetic and functional characteristics, but also its maintenance.
While water-based paint creates a protective film on the surface, leaving the floor soft to the touch and easy to clean, oil penetrates deep into the wood fibers, giving it a natural water repellency that needs to be renewed with annual treatments.
Over the years, more innovative approaches have been added to these traditional treatments , exploiting nanotechnology and the properties of polymers and wax-resin emulsions. Natural Parquet by New Chemical , for example, is a newly developed product based on fluorinated resins and specific oils, including tung oil, safflower oil, and linseed oil.
Suitable for the protection of various types of wood, it is completely colorless and allows the natural colors of the wood to remain unaltered without creating visible films. A suitable choice for those who want a protected and easy-to-clean floor with a warm and natural appearance.
New generation water-based paints: protection and elegance
The choice of finish, in fact, also depends largely on the aesthetic effect you want to achieve: traditionally, oiled parquet floors appear more natural and pleasant to the touch, as the treatment penetrates deeply and directly exposes the natural surface of the wood.
Varnishes, on the other hand, have always been considered a very practical option but not always able to recreate the warm and comfortable appearance of wood.
The old solvent-based paints, which in addition to emitting toxic substances left a sort of vitrified film on the surface of the wood, have been replaced by water-based paints that give the wood greater elasticity and a more natural appearance.
New-generation water-based varnishes such as Natur-10 by New Chemical give parquet the protection guaranteed by varnishes without sacrificing the authenticity of the wood and its softness to the touch.
Paints of this type are the ideal choice for those who want an elegant finish with a light satin effect and a parquet that is pleasant to the touch, but also want a very durable and easy-to-clean floor.
To keep your parquet protected for a long time, simply plan for annual maintenance with a self-polishing protector such as Perlage Oro, glossy or satin.
How to protect oiled parquet (even if old)
The oil finish remains one of the most popular for interior parquet: natural and sustainable , this solution allows you to enjoy all the natural characteristics of the wood, which is left free to breathe and in direct contact with what happens above its surface.
Impregnation with natural oils provides strong water- and stain-repellent protection and maximizes the wood's natural appearance. Here too, the choice of product depends on the aesthetic effect you desire for your floors: there are matte or semi-gloss oils, transparent ones, or those that impart unique shades to the wood.
Products like Olio di Luna by New Chemical , for example, combine the water-repellent properties of impregnating oils and the aesthetic possibilities of finishing treatments: it is in fact possible to choose from different colors, ranging from classic wood essences to more particular shades.
The ideal solution for old, faded parquet floors whose original charm you want to restore or for floors that need a new character.
One of the main advantages of the oil finish, in fact, is the possibility of periodically renewing the treatment : if on the one hand it means more maintenance, this feature also allows you to successfully "recover" even parquet floors that have been laid for some time.
Wood protection: application of products
The first application of wood protectors generally takes place immediately after installation , when the parquet has just been brushed and sanded.
The most obvious and reasonable choice, in this case, is to delegate the finishing treatment to the professionals who installed the floor. This is especially true when choosing a varnish finish, as its application requires special attention.
Some paints, however, are specifically designed to be easy to apply : Natur-10, for example, is self-leveling and dries very quickly. You only need to wait about two hours between coats, and simply spread the product along the grain of the wood for professional results.
When it comes to oiling, the professional's eye will be especially useful in judging the reaction of the wood, which after the first coat could raise the grain and require one or more passes with an abrasive pad.
Even in this case, however, the application can be particularly easy: to treat with Olio di Luna, for example, simply apply the first coat with a brush or roller, wait 4 hours, smooth the wood with 320-400 sandpaper and move on to the subsequent coats.
