Refinish A Wood Floor With Shellac
But if the finish softens and doesn t come off it s a water based polyurethane.
Refinish a wood floor with shellac. Shellac is a wood finish that has been used for centuries. Expect to spend at least one full day on this prep work for refinishing hardwood floors. If nothing comes up it s an oil based polyurethane or varnish. Removing shellac from wood floors.
How to care for shellac floors. When shellac finishes get wet they develop unsightly white rings. When a shellac finish needs restoration it s possible to apply new material directly over the old because like lacquer shellac amalgamates and the two. Shellac will come right off.
If your floors get a scratch it s an easy job to touch them up though. Brushing on shellac requires a fine natural or china bristle brush. It is non toxic dries quickly provided the product is fresh when applied can be tinted and is relatively easy to apply. The gloss on a floor in an older home may not be the ubiqutous polyurethane but shellac which requires specific care.
The term shellac comes from the family of lac insects which secrete a substance that was discovered centuries ago to work as a wood sealer. Use a two or three pound cut of shellac and apply generously with long smooth strokes. So you ll need to use wood floor cleaners specifically formulated for this type of finish. Thomas assesses the finish on an inconspicuous area such as a door edge below by rubbing it with denatured alcohol.
For the best result possible removing the old finish and applying a new of course you will want to bring it to us. There are also disadvantages. Shellac has many advantages as a finish. Shellac finishes were common on wood floors.
Since shellac dries quickly be careful to avoid drips or blotchy areas when applying because unlike other finishes you will likely not have time to over brush to eliminate the blemish. Step 2 strip the old finish photo by wendell t. Shellac finishes scratch easily and shellac isn t the most water resistant of finishes. As with any wood floor refinishing project 90 percent of this job is preparation.