Our different types of varnish
Products labeled «environmentally friendly» are of course the water-based products (with or without catalysts) because they emit very little toxic fumes (a bit like a water-based paint for the walls). We must make the distinction here between two different type of varnish: a water-based acrylic and water-based polyurethanes.
Water-based acrylics - These varnish certainly have their uses (for the baseboards and quarter-round around the floors for example) but their durability (or rather their lack of!) make them very poor choices for floors.
Water-based polyurethanes - These come in two categories: with or without catalysts, and they both offer good and less good products (and of course, sometimes not good at all!). That's the reason why we personaly tested each product that we offer so we can offer them proudly and confidently.
- We offer:
- Novia (from Bona)
- Traffic (from Bona)
- Synteko Best (from Synteko)
- And more to come...
Crystal (or oil-based urethane). Though available in many finishes(satin, semi-gloss and glossy), the hardest is the shiny one (and the cheapest as well!). a tipycal application includes three coats: the first would be a wood sealer and then two coats of crystal. For high traffic floors (businesses or families with pets) it is a good idea to apply three coats of crystal directly on the wood (no sealer), doing so almost doubles the crystal life span. It is important to note that a rigorous preparation is necessary when planning to have your floors done with crystal:
- Find a place to sleep, it is not possible to sleep in the house during the work (this is true for ALL LIVING THINGS -> human beings AND pets).
- Take all food that's not canned as far away as possible from the treated area (even what's in the fridge, including frozen meat in the freezer!). Otherwise everything will taste like crystal and be ruined!
- All clothing or fabric (like the curtains of fabric covered furniture) will smell like crystal until they are washed (the smell will go away SLOWLY with time).
- We offer:
- BT-5006 (from Betonel)
 
- Discontinued, limited quantity...
The common varnish (or oil-based polyurethane) is pretty much the same thing as the crystak. A little cheaper, a whole lot less durable. It also smells less than the crystal (warning: it cannot be said that it's smell isn't awful!). The application of varnish is always one sealer and two coats of varnish.
- We offer:
- BT 30-115 (from Betonel)
- BT 30-116 (from Betonel)
- BT 30-117 (from Betonel)
- Discontinued, limited quantity...
The stain alone does not protect your floors, it only colors the wood and enhances the stature of your floor. It is used in conjunction with any type of varnish and it is, of course, the varnish that will provide the protection. It is good to note that the application of a stain on your floor changes a few things
- The job is longer to do (minimum three days if everything goes well. It is a very good idea to plan a whole week).
- The price is higher.
- All your friends will be jealous of your beautiful floors!
Normaly, there are two different type of oil on a floor: a first coat with a penetrating oil that will seal the wood (it is even possible to use a colored oil to stain the wood at this point) and then a surface oil that will provide the protection against wea.
- We offer:
- Dura Seal (from Dura Seal)
- And more to come...
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