Special Who has lacquers which apply a finish in one coat ?

IT’S POSSIBLE, BUT THERE ARE LIMITS

HIGH DURABILITY IS IMPOSSIBLE OR UNLIKELY WITH JUST ONE COAT

Photo – Blanchon

Is there such a thing as a lacquer which finishes in one coat? Your immediate instinct says it’s not possible, but it seems that that’s not entirely correct. We scoured the market and asked a producer all about a lacquer in one coat. To give the answer in a nutshell, yes, it is possible to finish in one coat, but there are several factors to consider.

Our readers have probably heard of Blanchon. A spokesperson from this French company outlines firstly the history of lacquers in one coat. Indeed, it seems that they are not a recent phenomenon.

A fashion in the 1980s

‘We have to go back to the 1980s. In those days, varnishes with just one coat did catch on for some time. However, they soon fell out of fashion because the quest for a rapid and therefore economical finish clashed with the harsh realities of life: Wood is something which reacts whenever it is ‘treated’ with a fluid, whether that’s water, a solvent, or a greasy substance.’

‘Wood pores swell up and that’s particularly important during the first coat. And so, various factors mean that one-coat lacquers are possible, but this does mean that this one coat has to be applied on top of a coat of primer. That primer, in turn, often dries quickly because long drying times are not the soulmate of economic gain. With one coat, the composition of the lacquer itself has to provide good coverage because high durability is absolutely essential. Moreover, you also need to ensure perfect application comfort. Since you only apply one coat, the fact is that any shortcoming and any application mistakes will be exposed mercilessly and have an adverse effect on the finished floor.’

Some contradictory elements

Obviously, therefore, we want to know the cases where one coat is the best choice. However, perhaps there’s another more important question: When is it best to avoid it?

‘Here, you have to consider that the two elements contradict each other. If you want a visually perfect finish which is also highly durable, your best choice in all cases is to apply three coats. Two coats can suffice, but then you need a hard base. It’s only if your choice is governed by the need to save on costs or by speed of application that you will opt for a finish in one coat on a hard base.’

Not ideal for high traffic

Is it possible to achieve a perfect and durable finish in one coat? ‘Once again, to answer this question, I need some more precise definitions. For instance, it depends what you mean by ‘durable’. In any case, it would seem completely ill-advised to apply such a finish in high-traffic rooms such as offices or shops because the applied single coat can hardly claim to be durable. On the other hand, I could certainly imagine that it is possible to offer ‘one-coat’ varnishes for what we call ‘family and household use’ via the use of varnishes with a high dry extract (editor’s note: something formed by the coat of varnish after drying and setting), which are made specially for this purpose (and which therefore contain resins with very high mechanical and chemical properties). And so, in that case it’s about floors with limited traffic and therefore low to average usage strain.’

‘To deliver high performances in “one” coat, the resins obviously have to deliver good to very good performances. Then you think almost automatically in the direction of dual-component polyurethane lacquers. If you use them, a perfect finish in one coat is possible, even with a waterborne product. You do have to consider the details mentioned above.’

If we consider specifically what Blanchon sells, we refer specifically to their Renovation seal. Our spokesperson concludes: ‘We always recommend applying three coats of our lacquers for specialised floors or two coats on top of a hard primer. As the name suggests, the Renovation Seal has been developed for the renovation of most parquet floors (lacquered, oiled, on site or in the factory, etc.) and it is applied in just one coat to a prepared surface without prior sandpapering.’

Source: Blanchon

Some specialists

Blanchon

Consider whether or not it is possible to achieve a perfect and durable finish in one single coat. The answer depends entirely on what you mean by ‘durable’. One single coat seems inadequate to provide a finish for high-traffic rooms such as in catering establishments, for instance, since the applied (single) coat can make no claim on durability. On the other hand, it is quite possible through the use of a varnish with a high dry extract, which is put together specially for this purpose, to offer ‘single-coat’ varnishes for ‘family and household use’ (which should mean normal to average strain). The resins will yield strong and even very strong performances. Obviously, this also includes the 2-component polyurethanes. We refer specifically to the Renovation Sealer, which has been developed for the renovation of most parquet floors (sealed, oiled, on site or in the factory, etc.) and which is applied in just one coat on a prepared surface without prior sandpapering. Bona

Bona Mega ONE – waterborne 1-component, polyurethane lacquer An all-in-1-partner for the treatment of wooden floors. It dries rapidly, is easy to sandpaper, and has excellent coverage. Bona Mega ONE simplifies work for professionals for faster and easier work with great reliability. It gives a nice warm wood colouring and at the same time provides durable protection for wooden floors in living rooms and commercial environments with minimal strain. It has a crystal-clear and non-yellowing formula. Features: - Primer and finish in 1 - parquet primer is not necessary in most cases - Bona Mega ONE can be applied directly to bare wood.* - Mixing is not necessary – no waste and it saves time. - Rapid drying – intermediate sanding is often possible within one hour. - Abrasive material does not slip during polishing. - Ideal for light wood - A nice warm colour, even on tropical wood sorts - Good coat structure, good coverage - A durable parquet lacquer - For use in homes and for low-traffic commercial floors - Does not turn yellow. *IMPORTANT - Bona always advises you to apply 3 coats of lacquer (8-10m²/litres = 120-100g/m² per lacquer coat). This determines the final strength and durability of the top coat.

Chimiver

ECOSTAR 2K is a two-component water-based polyurethane lacquer for wooden floors, characterized by high solid content, easy to apply, high pore wettability even on brushed woods giving a warm and pleasant shade to the floor treated. ECOSTAR 2K has high abrasion and sole marks resistances allowing its use for high traffic surfaces. CERTIFICATIONS: SURFACE RESISTANCE TO COLD LIQUIDS EN 12720 AND CHEMICALS AGENTS EN 13442. Determination of the Coefficient of Friction of floors- B.C.R.A Method (cycle ECOPRIME HS 120 + ECOSTAR 2K) .