Floor varnish peeling off

[Old_Badger]

We varnished our kitchen and bathroom floors twenty years ago and recoated them with solvent-based varnish every five years or so since. We never had any problems until now!

Last year we couldn't find any solvent-based floor varnish, so we recoated with a water-based one instead. Now we find that the new varnish peels off the old one whenever it gets any sideways force - e.g. when working on a step ladder.

1) Is there some sort of directive to phase out solvent-based varnishes? Will they be impossible to get in five or ten years?

2) Is the problem happening because we put water-based varnish over solvent-based varnish? Or is it because water-based varnish just doesn't stick so well?

3) Has anyone actually tried starting with water-based floor varnish and recoating after a few years? Does it work properly?

 

[woodfinishes1877]

I'm slightly surprised that you've had a problem. Did you lightly sand the entire area before overcoating with waterbased lacquer. If not then that as you say it is probably an incompatability problem.

However I 've just had another thought...is there any chance that the build of 20 years of varnish is causing the problem? It might be best to sand right back to the bare wood and apply waterbased or polyurethane varnish thoughout.

Solvent based Polyurethane Varnish is available from Smith & Rodger at www.frenchpolishes.com and finneys woodfinishes in sheffield...along with many more firms.

Hope this helps.

 

[Old_Badger]

Thanks for your ideas woodfinishes 1877. We cleaned the floors thoroughly but didn't sand them - no trouble with doing this with solvent-based varnishes in the past!

We are thinking of sanding back to the wood as you suggest. If we do, should we use a water-based varnish, even though we think solvent-based varnish is best!

We ask this because we are worried that solvent-based varnishes could be phased out - then we would be faced with the same problem again!

Do people have lots of experience with water-based floor varnishes - are they just as good as solvent-based ones, especially when it comes to recoating? Our neighbour thinks they are rubbish!

 

[woodfinishes1877]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

We have not heard anything about the sale of PU varnishes being phased out.

However there is an alternative to standard waterbased finishes it is a waterbased polyurethane (Aquacoat XTRA or Mega), which is waterbased but gives excellent durability and looks more like a PU varnish.

I certainly wouldn't agree with your neighbour but everyone is entitled to their opinion. We've manufactured and supplied waterbased floor finishes for over 15 years and in that time I can't remember receiving a complaint about durability. They are very easy to use and can be lightly sanded a few years down the line and then overcoated with another thin coat which will bring the floor back to life.

Really hope this helps.

Ian

 

[Old_Badger]

Thanks for your further advice Ian.

It is good to know that most people are using water-based floor varnishes and recoating when necessary without any problems!

Mike