Shellac On Pine Floors

Additional rooms were added on in the early to mid 1800s.

Shellac on pine floors.

Minwax polycrylic is an example of a fortified water based polyurethane than can stand up a bit better to rough conditions. Varnish and shellac are two of the most commonly used pine wood finishes on the market today. Shellac is a versatile non toxic wood finish that enhances the natural grain while adding smoothness without the plastic like qualities of polyurethane or lacquer. I ve been so used to living with modern 1930s and after hardwood floors that i didn t realize how much i had to learn about pumpkin pine wood floors that are 240 years old or so.

Paint of course would also be in this category along with lacquer furniture finish and wax. As with shellac water based polyurethane won t hold up well to heat and chemicals. Made from flakes of resin. The oldest part of our colonial farmhouse dates back to the 1780s.

How to apply shellac shellac is a beautiful finish over every kind of wood imaginable including oak pine cherry mahogany birch chestnut maple as well as exotic and tropical woods such as ipe cocobolo australian cypress. Woodworkers and floor finishers often mix clear and amber when using new shellac to match older shellacked surfaces. Shellac can appear glossier than varnish but requires several coats to achieve that high shine finish. For you purposes at least 5 6 coats of shellac can be brushed or rolled on to a well sanded pine floor.

It dries very fast so 2 3 coats can be applied in one day and is ready ot walk on in 2 3 hours. As wear occurs on the floor the finish not the wood is worn away. When you touch the floor you are really touching the finish. Shellac is made from the excretions of the lac bug in india and is picked by.

Varnish is typically heavier than shellac and will usually require only one maybe two coats to finish. Shellac floors shouldn t be mopped with any water based or water mixed product including plain soap and water. These types of finishes include shellac and varnish and more modern coatings such as swedish finishes and polyurethanes.