Best finish for new softwood floorboards?

Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by devil's advocate, Mar 23, 2007.

  1. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    Chust put new floor down in hall. Now comes the tricky bit - finding a finish I like...

    I've done this oodles of times, but always find it a real awkward b'stard: the colour or finish I end up with is usually a case of "it's ok, but not quite what I wanted..."

    I have used floor dye (gives best appearance), finished with satin Diamond Hard, and also tried coloured varnish (gives a more 'even' finish, but does obliterate the grain more).

    I usually end up applying more and more coats to try and get a shade I like - often ends up quite dark :(!

    Anyone done this, and found a finish they're really chuffed with?

    Cheers.

    (Also posted on Painters' Forum)
     
  2. mack4

    mack4 New Member

    If you have just installed a new floor I presume you must have scrap pieces.Try stain on some of them to decide first, before you go ahead and do the whole floor.
     
  3. audi-evo

    audi-evo Active Member

    best finish over softwood floorboards is ....................... a harwood floor!!!!!!!!!!!
    ;)
     
  4. spg trainee

    spg trainee New Member

    or carpet
     
  5. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    You are all a bunch of ***! :)

    (Except mack4, of course ;))

    Yes, I usually do this, mack, so end up with many tins of useless stain/varnish (even worse, I have in the past mixed them to get closer to a shade I like - which, of course, can never be matched :()

    [Edited by: admin8]
     
  6. dewaltdisney

    dewaltdisney New Member

    Hi Devil,

    Trust you are well and still voting conservative :)

    I prefer the stain mixed polyurethane. The spirit stain tends to go patchy and it raises the grain. More sanding more dust created. You can mix up your own colour using same brand poly's using lighter and darker colours to get to where you want.

    Floors need a hard lacquer and I think floors should be lighter rather than darker.

    just my opinion.

    DWD
     
  7. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    Hi dewaltd. Yep, Tory it is ;)

    Ma botty.


    Cheers for the suggestions. The two ways I've gone before is to use a Floor Dye, water-based (Ronseal, I think) which works well, is easy to apply, and doesn't raise the grain. protected with Diamond Hard varnish. The other was to use coloured varnish - can be effective but tends to hide the grain more.

    The main problem I have is to get a good 'realistic' colour. I do want to keep things fairly light in the hallway, but previous attempts at light shades have looked a bit weak and insipid - so I've tended to slap on a few more coats... :(

    I'm hoping someone out there has done this job and can say that X product in Y shade looked fantastic!!!

    Is life ever that easy...
     
  8. foxy

    foxy New Member

    I recall jasonb mentioning a water based varnish he used on floors but can't remember what it was. I'm sure he'll be along.
     
  9. 2 a month

    2 a month New Member

    Just used dulux natural matt woodwash (french oak) followed by a couple of coats of acrylic varnish on some stair parts, I think it looks great - your taste might be different though.
     
  10. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    Hi foxy. Cheers. Cait, on the painters' forum, recommended products by Bona, often used by the pros.

    Hi 2 a month (I won't ask :(). That sounds interesting - I'll check it out. You are quite right, of course, it's always a matter of personal taste; just hoping that if someone's done a job they are chuffed with, it would be worth me checking out the product.

    Were the stair parts hemlock or pine?
     
  11. dewaltdisney

    dewaltdisney New Member

  12. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    Cheers again DWD - I'll check it out.

    (Good lord - a nice Tory. How rare is that?;))
     
  13. 2 a month

    2 a month New Member

    Hemlock
     
  14. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    Cheers 2am.

    Yes, hemlock's nice - takes a stain very evenly.

    (I was hoping it was pine :()
     
  15. Shedmen

    Shedmen New Member

    Junkers waterbased lacquers arwe worth a look.

    Shedmen
     
  16. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    I'll have a look then! Cheers, Shedmen.
     
  17. BLINGMATIC

    BLINGMATIC New Member

  18. Shedmen

    Shedmen New Member

    decorating direct online are fairly competitive for the basic range of junkers stuff.

    Shedmen
     
  19. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

    BLINGMATIC, your scaffolding planks are beautiful - obviously this junkers stuff is really good.


    Shedmen - thanks for the link - I'll investigate!
     
  20. devil's advocate

    devil's advocate New Member

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