Special Who has reaction stains?

SIMILAR, YET COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

A REACTIVE STAIN REACTS COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY FROM A CLASSIC STAIN

Photo – Ciranova

We’ve already devoted articles to reactive stains, which work totally differently from standard colour stains. When you apply a reactive stain, the stain reacts with the tannic acid in the wood to discolour the stained wood. The discolouration is very intense since it occurs in the cell wall of the wood.

It’s worth knowing that no two trees contain an identical quantity of tannic acid. This means that the end result will always depend on the amount of tannic acid. In this article we ask a number of specific questions and we start with how reactive stains are applied.

The application

The basic application principle is the same as with classic stains i.e. in contact with the wood and without a primer. You start by sanding the wood carefully. Don’t forget that a reactive stain reacts differently from classic stains and works in more on hard fibres than on soft ones. You can apply it with a roller or spatula. It’s advisable to apply a thin coat in the direction of the fibres, and not to rub with a single brush, to get the best possible effect. Rubbing could mitigate or blur the effect.

A closely related point is that you have to know what the function of reactive colouring agents is. Here, you should always remember that they are used mostly for their distressing effect. The trend is towards lighter shades which imitate the passage of time on the wood.

Beware of water

Colour stains are usually water-based, so they are sensitive to water. If you apply them mechanically with friction (e.g. with a spatula, roller, or brush), it’s not advisable to cover them with a primer, sealant, varnish, or an oil in the water phase. It is technically possible to ‘block’ the resulting shade with a solvent primer, but this will reduce the decorative effect to some extent. In this case makers like the Blanchon Group recommend a traditional oil (i.e. a solvent oil) in a neutral shade, either in harmony with the reactive shade or precisely the opposite. All decorative effects are possible.

If the finish is applied by spraying (or rolling) on an application line, there will not be any friction, so all water or solvent finishes are possible. This means that the distressed effect which is obtained stays the same or is even reinforced.

Another question is how well reactive stains are doing at the moment. The brief answer is that they are faring quite well, especially because distressed floors are still very much in fashion. Distressing is still a major trend, both with new construction and renovation. Moreover, an attractive feature is that you can apply reactive stains on site, on the production line, or in the workshop.

Difference with coloured oil

In conclusion, we also need to consider the difference with a coloured oil. Here we have to consider how both products work. Colour oil impregnates the wood fibres, applies a coat, and thereby provides decoration and protection in one operation. By contrast, a reactive stain identifies the fibres on the basis of their nature (in fact, summer fibres/winter fibres), the quantity and nature of the tannic acid in the wood, the quality of the sanding, and, possibly, the defects on the planks (defects which can be natural). For that matter, the best effects are obtained on ‘natural’ or ‘rustic’ choices or by means of special treatments [against the grain in brushing, bumps, scratches, etc.).

Above all, don’t forget that a reactive stain should always be covered. It doesn’t have the capacity to protect the wood, but serves solely to apply a decoration, a tone, or an atmosphere.

What’s on the market ?

Bona

Bona Nordic Tone and Bona Rich Tone are pre-treatments which can be mixed with Bona Mix Colour to obtain the widest range of shades and nuances. Combine them with Bona Craft Oil or a contrasting colour for two-dimensional effects. For an elegant and durable finish you can finish the floor simply with Bona Hard Wax Oil. This oil, used as part of the Bona oil system, creates the exact shade which suits any style and character.

Ciranova

Ciranova is the absolute market leader in reactive stains. Ciranova has various ranges such as Reactive stain, Reactive stain NT, Aquavintage and Vintage. Each Reactive stain has its own specific properties and applications. Since parquet fitters and manufacturers are always looking for novelties, Ciranova reactive stains offer a wide range of possible colours. The big advantage is that you can obtain highly natural distressed floors in combination with the water-based Ciranova finishes. You can also combine reactive stains with Ciranova colour oils to obtain unique finishes. Many parquet manufacturers worldwide are industrial spraying reactive stain and finishing with industrial products from the Ciranova range of industrial products. Onsite our reactive stain is used more frequently by the specialized professional. They are using a pressure sprayer to apply the reactive stain on the floor and for leveling afterwards. The floor can be finished with a Ciranova Hardwaxoil Magic. We are proud to announce our new REACTIVE STAIN COLLECTION, the Château collection, containing 16 brand new reactive stains, finished with different systems, a combination of Ciranova and Blanchon technology. For more information or for samples please contact Ciranova.

Chimiver

OLD WEST LINE Water-based wood ageing reactive system The R&D laboratory in CHIMIVER PANSERI S.p.A. has developed a new and innovative range of reacting solutions for ageing your wood: OLD WEST. The use of OLD WEST allows to obtain a large variety of effects imitating the old weathered woods. OLD WEST is different from

classical stains or dyes which are coloring the wood hiding its grain structure; OLD WEST enhances the natural beauty of wood standing out color differences into the wood grain. The OLD WEST reacting solutions are clear and pigments free; the natural wood color is changed through the reaction of the solution with the tannin or resins contained in the wood.

Devo®

DevoNatural® Reactive 300-600-1200 is a reactive distressing product with a smoked effect for ‘oak’ parquet and wooden floors, doors, windows, furniture, etc. The product is an ecological mix of hexa hydrates and does not contain any harmful or irritating substances or ammonia! Reactive 300-600-1200 can be applied only to oak! Devo Natural® Reactive is a distressing product which is available in three concentrations, namely 400, 600, and 1200. The higher the figure, the stronger the reactive distressing. On oak wood DevoNatural® Reactive gives the wood a naturally aged look. The effect can vary, depending on the area of growth, the sort of oak, and the diversity of the oak wood. The tannic acid content of the oak determines the colour effect!

Osmo

Oak surfaces with the on-trend antique look Artificially aged surfaces are really in style. With Reactive Stain from Osmo, this antique look can be achieved on flooring, furniture and other building elements made from Oak. Reactive Stain comes in three different intensities: Grey Effect Light, Grey Effect Medium and Grey Effect Intense. Since every piece of wood has its own natural tannin content and the stain works by reacting to the tannin in the wood, individual and varying staining results are always created. The application amount and application type also influence the appearance of the finished surface.

RIGO Verffabriek

ROYL Reactive Stain

The master oil makers of RIGO Verffabriek have been making ROYL floor oils from 100% vegetable oils for almost 40 years. ROYL oils are available in the 45 standard colours of our Greys and Woods ranges. These colours can also be mixed. By combining ROYL shades of grey and wood colours with a primer coat of ROYL REACTIVE STAIN, you can open up a world of limitless colours to create your very own, unique finish. ROYL REACTIVE STAIN gives wood an aged look. The stain can be processed as oil: apply, rub, rub dry. 1 coat is sufficient and after drying overnight, the floor is ready to finish. ROYL REACTIVE STAIN is available in four colours: White #4011, Grey #4012, Burned #4013 and Smoked #4014. The stain must be finished with a ROYL oil product or SKYLT Overcoatable colour oil + SKYLT. Only the white stain can also be coated immediately with STEP or SKYLT.

Tover

Tover can propose a pre-colouring system with reactive agents giving a more or less intense aged appearance to new wood. These waterbased products - Bosch Vej, Ciair, Fossil, Antique - create a greyed, smoked, black or bleached effect according to their reaction with the tannin contained in the wood, accelerating the process of natural oxidation of the matter. They are particularly suited to tannin-rich oak. The finishing cycle can be completed with an oil as well as with a traditional or UV/LED lacquer.