Special Colouring wooden floors

NOT ALL WOOD IS EQUALLY SUITABLE

HOW DO YOU AVOID THE TRADITIONAL PITFALLS OF COLOURING?

Vincent Lepais (Blanchon Group – F)

‘The many benefits of combining a colour oil with lacquer’

When it comes to colouring wood, Blanchon from France is very much a pioneer in this aspect of the parquet narrative in Europe and even worldwide. We asked this specialist company to outline a technique with which parquet floor fitters might not be so familiar, but which could generate extra income for them. In addition we asked them about their partnership with Debal Coatings, which is based in Roeselare, Belgium, and includes the Ciranova trademark. The Blanchon Group took over Debal Coatings in June of last year.

To get some answers, we spoke to Vincent Lepais, a highly gifted technician who is responsible at Blanchon for buying products. He doesn’t have to think long about the subject which he wants to consider, namely fitting a seal on colour oil. When he spoke about the takeover as well, he hardly had to think. This was how he expressed it: ‘Obviously, this was a takeover, but in practice it’s more of a strategic, industrial, and commercial synergy, which is the result of a highly flexible partnership.’

‘Actually, there are very few techniques which are unknown to the better parquet floor fitters, although some floor fitters don’t like to apply colour because of bad experiences in the past. However, that shouldn’t be a reason for working colourless, certainly when you realise that you miss out on considerable extra income,’ Vincent Lepais replies. ‘As you know, you can apply colour on site in three ways, including the distressing narrative. I find it particularly interesting in this connection to consider in more detail how you apply colour oil and then a seal on top. I notice that Belgian parquet floor fitters like to use oil and think it’s nicer to look at (as I do myself), so I want to help fitters to use it properly because it gives so much more flare.’

Fitting high-traffic floors

In his explanation Mr Lepais refers to the Blanchon product which stands out the most, namely Solid'Oil™. This product has already yielded exceptional results for several years and is particularly suitable for high-traffic areas. References such as the Pleyel Hall, various Printemps stores in Paris, and Ile de France or the men’s fashion specialist Gant stores are testimony to that. ‘Making parquet watertight with a lacquer offers superior protection to that of oil and also has its place in the ordinary interior. If we think, for instance of the current trend of allowing parquet to run into the kitchen, a high-traffic area. There, too, you have to meet various requirements to keep it looking good. In these cases the use of lacquer on a colour oil is recommended.’

‘A lot of parquet floor fitters prefer to apply only tinted oil, and that leads to a splendid effect via a simple manner of application, but they thereby forget that clients also opt for easy maintenance. That’s why you can best apply a seal with a finish system which combines decorative beauty and easy maintenance both safely and durably.’

Extra cost is relative

Vincent Lepais points out that the costs as compared to traditional oil and varnish are quite modest. Certainly when you realise there’s a remarkable end result just waiting for fitters and end users.

‘That’s particularly the case with the application of a colour before one or two coats of varnish, where very often an interim application of a hard primer is needed to ‘establish’ the colour before the lacquer and at least two layers of kit for maximum protection. In the case of white and pearl grey on wood which contains tannic acid (most of the cases), an anti-tannin primer is recommended. In that case six coats are needed, something which is practically and financially unaffordable.’

‘With the “tinted oil + kit” system, it’s seldom necessary to apply two coats of oil. However, it is possible to achieve great depths in colour in certain shades such as white, black, or anthracite. This achieves decoration and protection in three coats (sometimes four).’

Takeover of Debal Finance

Over to the takeover of Debal Coatings, or, rather, Debal Finance, well known under the Ciranova and Geka trademarks, in June of last year. This family business is located in Roeselare (Belgium), has over 90 years of history, and specialises in the development and production of finish products for floors, furniture, and related products for professional and industrial clients. Geka Coatings produces special UV coatings for diverse industrial applications.’

Our interviewee explains: ‘This takeover is part of the Blanchon Group’s strategy to speed up its international growth and become a European leader in the protection, maintenance, renovation, and decoration of wooden and vinyl floors. Due to the complementarity of the Blanchon and Ciranova product lines, our strong brand awareness, and the respective client portfolios, this takeover has made the Blanchon Group the Belgian leader in the supply of products and services to professional and industrial clients.’

‘What I particularly want to emphasise is that this takeover hasn’t involved even the slightest bit of aggression. Both companies have known each other for many years and got on well with each other. Actually, it’s best to call the takeover an enthusiastic partnership because we’ve allowed all 60 well trained Ciranova employees to join our multifunctional Blanchon teams. Moreover, the former owners, Katrien Vandermarliere and Wouter Devaere, are still fully involved in the company and they’ve taken over the general responsibility for the industry segment for both groups and, together with the current shareholders, they’ve invested in the Blanchon Group.’

‘The reason for this takeover? It enables us to offer our clients new product innovations and services worldwide. Our ambition here is twofold. Firstly, we want to support the development of all our clients in the short, medium, and long term, and, secondly, we’re aiming to expand the market share of the Group considerably both in the professional and industrial segments.’

In previous editions, we’ve outlined on various occasions how to colour wooden floors. However, one point which has had less coverage was how parquet floor fitters can avoid the traditional pitfalls which can arise when you colour wood.

To get more information, we called upon two companies with strong reputations in this field, namely the Blanchon Group and Lecol. We start at the very beginning. Which wood sorts are most suitable for colouring and, on the other hand, are there any sorts which are best avoided? Both of them told us at once that in our part of the world oak is by far the most suitable.

Oak – the European leader

A spokesperson at Lecol tells us: ‘Other European wood sorts can play a part, but the often reddish tropical wood sorts are less suitable, if at all. Moreover, the use of coloured products with dark wood sorts will often have little effect.’

‘That’s absolutely right,’ says a spokesperson from Blanchon, where they first consider the correct preparation of the wood before examining the various wood sorts. ‘The first mistake to avoid is incorrect wood preparation. Colour or shade can only be applied properly to wood which has been sandpapered perfectly. Take care if a very fine finish (grain 120 or even 150) is recommended for an oil or a distressing agent, a fine grain is to be recommended for a tinted oil; sanding too finely will ‘close’ the pores of the wood so that the oil cannot impregnate the wood properly and the strength and intensity of the required shade will therefore be limited. It’s also important not to work hastily; some products dry quickly, whilst others need more time to accept the application of the chosen finish. Finally, it’s important to check with suppliers that the products used are perfectly compatible.’ ‘One other point when it comes to wood; oak is certainly the most popular wood sort in Europe because it’s absolutely ideal for colouring. Moreover, it’s also a European hardwood which is well known for its durability and the beauty of its grains, with which you can obtain outstanding effects.’

‘You can also apply oils (coloured oils or wood shades) to chestnut or pine floors where certain prominent grain patterns highlight the effect. What often disappoints us is if coloured oils are applied to exotic wood sorts. In this case it’s best to opt for natural oils (with no pigment) or oils which have been chosen in the original shade of the relevant sort (for instance, a shade which reinforces a floor in wenge, panga-panga, or ebony wood in an interesting manner). Any oil colouring on beech wood should be avoided because its slender grain almost completely disappears under any colour.’

Long-term thinking

One point on which everyone agrees unanimously is that you give clients precisely what they would expect of a colour and what can happen in the long term.

The spokesperson from Lecol tells us: ‘It’s a good idea to make some samples with exactly the same wood as that from the floor which is

new or to be renovated. When you renovate a floor it is also usual to make a sample in advance in a corner or under a couch. When you make the sample, it’s necessary to sandpaper and, if necessary, treat the wood in advance in exactly the same way as you’ll also do later on the floor. If necessary, get clients to put their signature to the sample to avoid any arguments later. You should always stress that wood is, and always will be, a natural product and that this is part of its charm. This means colour deviations are still always possible.’

The spokesperson from Blanchon comments: ‘You should make it clear to clients that they cannot assume that the shade (or colour) of the wood will stay exactly the same for the entire lifespan of the floor, or at least the finish. With all wood sorts, the original colour changes over time. And so, oak turns brown, pine and chestnut turn yellow, padauk discolours, and so on. Even an extra stain will not stop this development. A ‘medium oak’ stain on new oak will thankfully not hinder the slow transition to ‘dark oak’ and it would be neither technically nor economically ‘reasonable’ to add an anti-UV agent which limits the yellowing efficiently, but merely temporarily. However, the use of a white pastel shade (this means inclusive white) provides a ‘natural’ anti-UV effect, since this pigment is an ideal filter for solar radiation.

Sources: Our thanks to the Blanchon Group and Lecol.

What’s on the market ?

Blanchon

Blanchon offers a complete range of colour, decoration, and distressing products for parquet and woodwork. It has two ranges of colour shades, one range of distressing products, and various reactive products, all designed for specific effects on parquet. Aquateinte 2K: 2-component waterborne colouring, perfectly stable as regards light, specially created and developed for parquet floors. It is easy to apply, for direct cover with any water-based finish, six wood shades, six shades of pure white to deep black. Teinte à bois (colouring wood): ideal for small rooms. Fast-drying and odourless. 12 wood shades, white, black, and give shades of grey. Vieillisseur Bois (distressing agent for wood): gives an exceptional ‘distressed wood’ effect by highlighting the grains. All wood sorts. Creation of infinite patinas and spheres, especially in harmony or contrast with the Huiles-Cires (wax oils). 10 colours, including five shades of grey. Huile pour parquet (Parquet oil), Huiles-Cires (Wax oil) and Solid'Oil™ (High Solid hard wax oil): 135 shades in total. Bona

Bona Oil System gives you the freedom to create an almost infinite range of colours. The entire Bona Oil assortment is made from vegetable materials and has exceptionally low levels of VOC. The high content of oil combined with a minimal content of solvents guarantees greater saturation and thereby healthy and durable floors. These natural wood-protecting agents possess excellent drying qualities. The 2-compartment parquet oil Bona Craft Oil 2K yields the natural and ‘gentle’ look of an oiled floor, but if the surface requires extra protection, you can apply a top coat of lacquer with one of the Bona Traffic parquet lacquers for extra durability! This is suitable for most sorts of wood, even difficult types such as jaboty, cherry, and walnut. Floors treated with Bona Craft Oil 2K are ready for light use after just eight hours and, if necessary, can be lacquered over after 12 hours. 2-dimensional effects: Bona Nordic Tone helps to highlight the unique character of the interior with the traditional Scandinavian colour treatment. Bona Rich Tone gives the floor the deepest colours and gives the interior an unmistakable touch of elegance. Moreover, Bona Mix Colour intensifies the effects even more.

Ciranova

Ciranova is the reference when it comes to color your wooden floor with water-based color stains for on-site use or industrial application. Reactive Stains interact chemically with the natural tannins inside the wood and this interface creates very unique finishes. There are endless possibilities in combination with coloured oils (reaction time +/- 6 hours). Aquastain is a new water-based pigment stain

based on micro pigments for staining all types of wood for indoor use. Aquastain provides a uniform coloring that accentuates the woodgrain (drying times +/- 3 to 4 hours). After drying, the stains can be finished with oil or waterborne finishes, such as our new PLUS RANGE to achieve an invisible finish and natural appearance. It is also possible to finish the stains with our coloured Hardwaxoils, creating unique finishes and endless possibilities.

Chimiver

LIOS BIOIL Colorato is a colored natural oil treatment for wooden floors with easy application, very durable and soft effect on the surface. LIOS BIOIL Colorato is available in 20 different colors, miscible together to make a wide range of new colors.

Osmo

Osmo offers different products for applying a coloured base coat to wooden flooring: Oil Stain, Polyx®-Oil Tints, Polyx®-Oil Effect as well as Wood Wax Finish. With Oil Stain, Polyx®-Oil Tints and Wood Wax Finish, different colour intensities can be achieved from transparent to intensive and even opaque; depending on the product and the application, different results are created. Shimmering gloss effects are made with Polyx®-Oil Effect Gold/Silver. Wooden floors treated with Polyx®-Oil Effect Natural look if they are almost completely untreated. The final coat should always be carried out with a clear Polyx®-Oil. The products can also be used by professional craftsmen as well as by end consumers.

Pallmann

With the Pallmann Color Collection Pallmann provides a range of 24 coloured oil primers. Each color consists of 3 components: The 2K oil primer Pall-X 333 A / B is given a color C concentrate as a third and final component: This combination is suitable for the priming and simultaneous colouring of many commercial wood types, especially oak, ash, pine on site. The surface can then be protected with the 2 component water-based wood floor coatings Pall-X 98, Pall-X Zero 2K, Pall-X Pure as well as with the 2-component wood floor oil Magic Oil 2K Original. We provide special trainings for the individualisation and for the coloring of wood floors for our customers as well as a huge package of marketing and sales support e.g. color tester to see the color result on the wood chosen by the end customer.

RIGO Verffabriek

A wooden floor lends a timeless, natural foundation to an interior. By experimenting with the type of wood, laying method and finish, any desired style can be achieved on oak, but also on many other wood varieties. The ROYL-OIL from RIGO Verffabriek penetrates deep into the pores of the wood and gives the wood a matt natural look. The oil can also include colour pigments so that the floor can be coloured and protected in a single process. The finish is so strong that a single layer is sufficient. RIGO Verffabriek displays the standard colours in two colour swatches with a letter/number combination. The letter refers to the base, the number to the colour pigment (W10 Livid = base White + colour pigment 10). The ROYL Wood Tone Range features 24 colours from Basis Clear. The ROYL Greyscale Range contains 18 colours from Basis Clear, White, or Black. As the bases and colour pigments can be blended with one another, the colour possibilities are endless. The most popular colours are also available ready-mixed in a half-litre container. Convenient for furniture craftsmen and interior designers. With ROYL Reactieve beits, you can create your own unique finish. With this stain, you can apply an aged effect to the wood. Depending on your preferences, you can achieve a greyscale, smoked, burned black or whitewashed look. The stain must be finished with oil. Would you like the appearance of an oil floor, but with the power of a varnish? Use SKYLT Overlakbare Kleurolie. The colour options are identical to the ROYL-OIL line. SKYLT Overlakbare Kleurolie can be varnished directly with SKYLT after it has been wiped dry.