Continue reading to learn safe methods for cleaning shellacked varnished or lacquered hardwood flooring and who to call for affordable hardwood floor installation and replacement in indianapolis.
How to know if floors are lacquered or shellacked.
Start by sweeping the floors to remove all dust dirt and debris.
Next use a stripper recommended by the floor s manufacturer to remove the old wax buildup from the surface.
These are different kinds of floors laid to enjoy a unique style effect.
Test only 2 3 drops of the alcohol and after a short while checking the spot with an old cloth.
You can use denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner to test your floor finish.
It is recommended to seal lacquer or shellac surfaced hardwood floors with a protective liquid or paste floor wax.
Some floors have lacquered shellacked varnished or untreated wooden surfaces which need special care and attention just like oil finish sealants.
A sealant will also protect the floor from wear and tear.
Hardwood floors require a sealant so they can repel water and dirt.
Test a small area that you cover with furniture or a rug.
Shellac finishes were common on wood floors.
Painted surfaces are easily identified but to help differentiate between the remaining types of finishes the following tests can be used.
Shellacked or lacquered floors have to be stripped and waxed periodically.
Cleaning penetrating seal treated oil treated wood floors lacquered varnished shellacked and untreated.
While the terms varnish polyurethane lacquer and shellac are commonly used to reference a final finish in general these products are not the same nor are they recommended to be used interchangeably.
Common types of finishing treatments are oil shellac lacquer varnish polyurethane and paint.
The ravages of time and use of a piece of furniture can be limited by a durable top or finish coat.
How to care for shellac floors.
The gloss on a floor in an older home may not be the ubiqutous polyurethane but shellac which requires specific care.
Penetrating seal oil treated lacquered shellacked varnished and untreated floors require a bit more labor intensive upkeep since these surfaces are not as resistant to moisture and general wear and tear and therefore are generally treated with wax.
Once the floor is dry it s time to apply the wax.