Hard putty for parquet - types, properties, application
Parquet differs from many modern floor coverings in its naturalness and related problems: it can crack, dry out or swell when exposed to moisture. Therefore, it requires external protection from external factors.
She serves such means as putties, varnishes, oils, mastics. From this article you will learn how to putty for parquet with your own hands, how it differs from the finished compounds, how it is applied.
The content of the article
Types of parquet putties
Putty is used to fill cracks, chips and potholes on the floor, joints between the dies, leveling the surface. In finished form, it is a pasty mixture, similar in consistency to the usual putty for walls.
On sale, you can find both ready-to-use formulations and powders that require dilution with water or a solvent.
If you want to save on the purchase of this protective building material, you can make it yourself.
Homemade putties
We describe two methods for making parquet putty. The first is extremely simple and affordable, therefore it is very popular. You will need only PVA glue and the wood dust that remains after scraping the parquet.
Tip. You can use any other small wood shavings, but these will give the mixture the desired color that matches the color of the dies as much as possible. Therefore, even if now you do not need to putty the floor, save a handful of such dust - it will come in handy to eliminate coating defects in the future.
Preparing parquet putty is very simple: wood glue is poured into the glue with constant stirring until the mixture acquires a thick, comfortable working consistency.
The advantages of such putty: low price, the ability to quickly produce the required amount to seal the resulting defect. Disadvantages: low degree of resistance to mechanical stress and sedimentation upon drying.
The second composition is more difficult to prepare, it requires more ingredients, but it is also more effective, reliable and stable.
Putty components:
- Drying oil - 500 g;
- Turpentine (or varnish kerosene) - 125 g;
- 10% animal glue - 100 g;
- Liquid desiccant - 25 g;
- Liquid soap;
- Powdered chalk.
Preparation method:
- Place animal glue in a metal dish and put on fire. Preheat with continuous stirring;
- Into the hot glue, alternately introduce the remaining ingredients, continuing to stir;
- The amount of chalk and liquid soap is determined by the consistency - it should resemble thick sour cream.
Ready-made parquet putty is used immediately after preparation, it must be periodically heated during operation, maintaining a constant temperature. This is its main drawback, complicating the application.
Ready-made compounds
It is not at all necessary to bother with the manufacture of parquet putty if it is freely sold in the store. Moreover, a variety of types and colors, which makes it possible to choose a composition specifically for your flooring.
So:
- Acrylic putty. Indispensable for giving the coating water-repellent properties and filling the joints between individual dies.It is elastic, resistant to mechanical stress, environmentally friendly - does not contain toxins, does not emit unpleasant odors. Significantly increases the service life of the parquet.
- Solvent based putties. The main component is small wood shavings from different types of wood. It is easy to apply, dries quickly, but has an unpleasant odor, so you need to work with it with good ventilation or active ventilation of the room.
- Melt putty. It is a solid restoration wax, which is used only for sealing defects - chips, scratches, cracks. For application, a special tool is needed - a gas wax, therefore it is used mainly by specialists. Available in the color of different types of wood.
Wax putty for parquet oak
So:
- Oil putties. Consist of oil, chalk, water and pigments. The most durable, but dry for a long time, delaying the repair time, and require strict compliance with the requirements for use.
- Polymer putties. They are used to smooth the surface of the parquet, smooth out irregularities, fill cracks and voids between the dies. Exceptional advantages of the material: antistatic properties, preventing the accumulation of dust on the surface, the absence of shrinkage after drying, protection of wood from moisture.
Note. Polymer-based formulations are not recommended for cork coatings.
Application technology
Puttying parquet with your own hands is a simple matter. The composition is applied to the surface with a conventional metal spatula and distributed in a circular motion.
In this case, all cracks, chips and seams are completely filled with the mixture. After drying, the excess is removed with a spatula, and the coating is polished.
This work can be performed not only after the installation of the parquet, but also during its repair, as well as for the spot correction of defects.
In order for the coating to last for a long time, it is very important to install it in a quality manner, and before you putty the parquet, you must remove dust and dirt from it, using a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth.
Conclusion
Hardwood flooring is a crucial step in the process of installing natural flooring (seeFloor finish: types of material) It is simple in execution, but requires attention when choosing a material, its properties and characteristics. In this case, it matters what other protective equipment will be or have already been used for parquet processing, their compatibility with putty.
In order not to make a mistake in choosing, watch the video in this article that talks about this material, and also always read the information on the package.
