Of all types of wood finishes, yacht varnish is considered one of the most wear-resistant and durable, and therefore, the most preferred. Initially, they covered the hulls and rigging details of wooden sailing boats, boats, and yachts to ensure water-repellent properties and protect the material from the effects of dirt, wind, sun, premature destruction.
Properties and chemical composition
The name "yacht" or "yacht", "ship", "deck" in relation to varnish has become an indicator of high practicality and is used by many manufacturers as a marketing move. The popularity of finishes has increased. And the point is not that buyers began to acquire sailing water transport in large quantities, but in the application of this type of coating for repairs in houses and apartments. The performance of yacht varnish is considered to be an order of magnitude higher than that of traditional products designed to cover floors, furniture and doors.
In general, these types of paints and varnishes are more resistant to moisture, more durable, flexible, withstand significant temperature changes. But, choosing them to cover surfaces indoors, you need to remember an important drawback - severe toxicity. Not intended originally for domestic household needs, yacht varnishes, in addition to organic resins, contain toxic chemicals: toluene and xylene as solvents. Substances during work and after application easily evaporate. Toluene, disintegrating into carbon and hydrogen, causes severe irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory organs, lacrimation, sharp headaches, and nausea. Xylene is able to penetrate the body not only through the lungs, but also through the skin. Toxic fumes occur for some time after the surface has completely dried. Accumulating, it causes diseases of the internal organs and dysfunctions of the nervous system. For this reason, during the work it is required to ensure full ventilation, it is impossible to use a similar varnish to cover furniture in the nursery, bedroom or kitchen or large areas in the premises of the house that do not have proper ventilation.
Kinds
Depending on the basis, there are several types of yacht varnish that differ in operational characteristics:
- Alkyd. Due to its low cost it is popular, but not the safest. Contains white spirit, benzene compounds, toluene in large quantities, has a heavy pungent odor. Throughout the entire period of operation, the surface coated with it evaporates chemicals, therefore, it is possible to use such a varnish exclusively for external work: coating wooden fences, roofs, arbors. The service life is about 5 years with moderate mechanical stress.
- Alkyd-urethane. It has properties similar to the previous material, dries quickly, contains plasticizers, is suitable for processing soft wood. Extremely toxic, used only for outdoor use.
- Urethane Alkyd. The composition is dominated by urethane compounds, which prevent the rapid evaporation of volatile toxins, therefore it is less hazardous to health. Resistant to temperature changes, plastic. This type of deck varnish is well suited for indoor flooring, can be used for heated systems, as it does not crack. Service life - up to 10 years.
- Acrylate. This species is the least toxic, consists of water-soluble components, and is well suited for indoor use. The disadvantages include a rather high cost and low moisture resistance. It is impossible to cover the hulls of sailing boats and boats with such varnish, marking “yachting” by the product manufacturers is applied as an indicator of high quality solely for marketing purposes.
Glossy, semi-glossy and matte varnishes are distinguished by their degree of gloss. The use of the latter is more justified if large areas of the floor are processed in bright rooms, technical buildings. In addition, dust, small cracks and defects are less visible on matte surfaces, and gloss emphasizes all irregularities and imperfections, suitable for decorative decoration or flooring in small and darkened rooms. Otherwise, the choice depends only on taste. The reflectivity of the materials does not affect the technical characteristics. The range of many manufacturers includes pigmented paints for customers who prefer color tinting.
Manufacturers and pricing
When choosing deck varnish for floors and other wood surfaces, you need to take into account product parameters such as: moisture resistance, resistance to abrasion, temperature extremes, mechanical stress, elasticity, toxicity, decorative qualities. It must be remembered that this type of coating is inferior in strength to ordinary varnishes for parquet, although it surpasses the latter in water-repellent properties.
It is safer to prefer the products of proven and reputable brands:
- Glossy varnish for wood of the German company Alpina (Alpina Yacht) - based on alkyd resins, is highly durable, resistant to salt and fresh water, adverse weather conditions, does not turn yellow for a long time. The disadvantages include prolonged drying. Product price: 600–700 rub. for a can with a capacity of 2 liters.
- Urethane-alkyd shipborne varnish Evroteks (Eurotex) of the Russian company Rogneda - suitable for external and internal works, resistant to ultraviolet radiation, abrasion, contains fungicidal and biocidal additives, dries quickly. The cost of a standard can of 2 liters is about 450 rubles.
- Russian-made Alum-urethane yacht varnishes Neomid (Neomid Yacht) have high wear resistance, tolerate the effects of water, sun, low temperatures. Price: 190-250 rub.
- Varnishes of the well-known Turkish brand Marshall (Protex - glossy alkyd-urethane and Protex Yat Vernik - matt urethane-alkyd) are designed for external decoration, elastic, durable and moisture resistant. Cost: 300-400 rubles.
- Prestige alkyd domestic varnish is well suited for outdoor use, creates a glossy finish, dries quickly, has a budget cost: 160-200 rubles. for 1 liter
- Glossy yacht varnish Parade L20 of Russian production on an alkyd-urethane base for outdoor use, does not turn yellow for a long time, and is resistant to high humidity. The price of 1 liter of the product is about 270 rubles.
Work
Before applying varnish on the floor or other surfaces, fresh boards are thoroughly cleaned, sanded, and trash is dealt with. Before starting work, the liquid is mixed, bringing to uniformity, if necessary, diluted with white spirit or another suitable solvent. The coating is applied with a roller, brush or using a special spray gun. Work is carried out only at a positive temperature of atmospheric air - at 15-30 ° C and medium humidity. At the same time, hands and respiratory organs are necessarily protected. For outdoor processing of wood, warm but not hot weather is chosen without strong wind and rainfall.
A cleaned wooden surface is treated with diluted 20 percent varnish or a suitable primer mixture. When the lower layer dries, the material is again ground with fine-grained paper, removing possible roughnesses identified, and a new layer is applied, without already diluting the varnish. Depending on the density of the finish, a two-layer or three-layer application is required. If the wood has been varnished earlier, it is necessary to clean off an old covering only in case of its cracking. When the condition of the wood requires a simple upgrade, first try out the finish in a small inconspicuous area. If, within a few days after drying, the varnish does not swell and does not peel off, you can cover it with the entire surface in 2 or 3 layers, each subsequent only after the bottom has completely dried. The drying time of the material is an average of 4-8 hours. Between applications for strength, you can grind with an abrasive. Consumption of yacht varnish per 1 m² is about 100 mg. For successful drying, the surface should be protected from direct sunlight, heating with electrical appliances and moisture. Full hardening of the coating takes from 4 to 7 days.
Residues of the material must not be stored in the cold or near heating appliances; it is forbidden to pour it out of the sewer.