Rating of the best parquet varnishes for 2024

Parquet is, by definition, a respectable floor covering that is characterized by aesthetic beauty and increased practicality. However, over time, parquet flooring tends to become sensitive to mechanical damage and high humidity, and can simply turn black and lose its attractive appearance. To avoid such problems in the future, to preserve the original appearance of the parquet board, processing it with a special varnish will help, which will give not only decorative beauty, but also increase the service life of the coating.

Types of varnishes for parquet

Modern varnish coating for parquet boards is a process of final application of special compounds to wood, which, after curing, form a hard film, thereby increasing the durability of the parquet. Varnishes can vary in composition - they can be based on oils or polymers, and it is also permissible to include special inclusions or pigments in them.

Parquet varnishes differ in the following parameters:

• Technological characteristics - fluidity, volatility, viscosity of the mass itself;
• Chromaticity - toning or colorless;
• Gloss level - gloss / semi-gloss or matte / semi-matte;
• Completeness - consisting of one or two components;
• The base used - the base can be polyurethane, water, formaldehyde or oil resin.

Before you start painting the parquet, you should pay great attention to the composition of the lacquer base, which should be selected in accordance with the purpose of the room where the painted parquet is located. You also need to take into account the future load on the painted flooring (constant, periodic). Today, varnishes on the following bases are especially popular:

• Aquatic;
• Alkyd;
• Acrylic;
• Polyurethane;
• Formaldehyde.

Each of the above basics has its own characteristics, which are worth considering in more detail.

Aquatic

Such a varnish coating is the most popular among the general consumer masses due to the fact that it dries quickly and does not have pungent / unpleasant odors. The base for such varnishes is ordinary water, which is simply mixed with emulsifiers or with solvents at a concentration of 5 to 15 percent. The undoubted advantages of such a varnish will be:

• A high degree of adhesion to the treated surface, which allows them to be used both on fragile and expensive types of wood, and on rough massive boards;
• Increased moisture resistance;
• Maintaining environmental cleanliness.

However, such varnishes have a big problem with wear resistance, which directly speaks of a short service life. Moreover, they are very picky about the application process itself - the processing of a wooden surface must be carried out only with a special tool (a roller with a large pile), and upon completion of the entire procedure, a mandatory priming of the treated area is required.

Alkyd

They are based on resins, which are obtained in the process of random mixing of oils and acids, rosin and various organic substances. Due to the fact that the composition of the varnish includes organic oils, the wood treated with it will be reliably protected from mechanical damage or moisture penetration. This effect is achieved due to the deep penetration of oils into the structure of the tree. The alkyd coating has a pronounced gloss and matte sheen. The main positive qualities of this mixture include:

• Giving the treated surface an attractive appearance by deep penetration into the structure and texture of wood;
• Hanging viscosity, due to which the varnish tightly closes all the voids between the dies of the parquet, which eliminates its creak;
• High resistance to temperature extremes and increase / decrease in humidity in the room.

One of the disadvantages of an acrylic base is that after processing it requires special drying conditions (creating a cool temperature in the room). At the same time, if the alkyd coating is applied too thickly, then at the end of drying, folds may form, which will be a big problem to eliminate. Among other things, varnishes on this base do not have a long life span and constantly need to be refurbished.

Acrylic

These varnishes are based on methacrylate synthetic resins. This suggests that after the completion of the drying process, the surface treated by them will be extremely resistant to increased mechanical stress, and will also be able to safely tolerate temperature changes. The very texture of such a varnish has a characteristic color, which, after processing, can impart aesthetic appeal to even inexpensive types of wood. The completeness of these mixtures can be two-component, which means the presence of polyurethane in the composition.

Polyurethane

They are the best solution for premises in which there is a permanent high throughput. Highly recommended for use in government agencies, hotel halls, restaurants, health resorts. It is worth noting that these varnishes have a fairly high cost, however, their consumption is small, which will compensate for the high cost of paintwork. The kit may include a special solvent that will help to cope with emerging folds after drying. It is clear that the main advantages of polyurethane samples will be:

• Environmental friendliness and safety for human health;
• Resistance to high humidity;
• Increased service life;
• Resistant to mechanical stress (scratches or impacts).

The problem may be that the varnish, having increased adhesion, can glue the strips of the parquet, which then cannot be replaced one by one (for example, in case of a fracture). However, this only applies to special wood species such as Canadian maple or pink beech.

Formaldehyde

Such a parquet flooring is truly considered the most reliable of all of the above. It is based on an acidic or other formaldehyde-based hardener, which provides strong adhesion to any type of wood and protects it from any negative external influences. It is worth mentioning that the formaldehyde coating will have a pungent unpleasant odor after drying, which, however, will fade after a few days.

Competent selection

This process will directly depend on the type of parquet that will have to be processed, i.e.it will be necessary to take into account what kind of wood the parquet is made of, its type (mosaic or array, shield or single), it is necessary to decide in advance on the method of painting. If the varnish is one-component, it can be applied immediately, and the two-component one will have to be independently mixed with a hardener. Other parameters requiring special attention include:

• The level of load of the room - it would be wiser to choose a wear-resistant brand for the hallway or hall, and for, for example, a nursery or bedroom, choose something more decorative.
• Coating life - it can be calculated according to the manufacturer's information. First of all, varnish is a solution, which includes a certain amount of varnish and a solvent. The amount of varnish is indicated as a percentage and can be from 5 to 35 percent. This number is referred to as the "dry residue". So, the higher this residue, the more durable the solution itself.
• Gloss level - this parameter is purely individual and depends directly on the consumer. Today you can choose from a dark matte to a sparkling gloss. Here you just need to successfully combine the gloss levels, while remembering that the varnish tends to wear off, so frequently used "paths" should be refurbished in time to avoid the appearance of "bald spots".
• The speed of drying - again, it all depends on the consumer. There are samples that can dry in a few hours, but they will have to be applied in several layers. And there are samples that dry from a day to two, but lie in one layer. Thus, it all depends on how much time the consumer has.
• Colors - special inclusions can be added to the varnish, which can directly change the color of the treated wood. Here it is important to observe the color scheme and not to cover the parquet in a bright room in "burnt" matte colors.
• Safety and environmental friendliness - in fact, all varnishes throughout their "life" emit harmful vapors into the surrounding atmosphere. Naturally, they are unlikely to be able to cause any significant harm to human health, but they can create a feeling of discomfort. In this regard, water-based formulations are considered the most harmless.

IMPORTANT! And most importantly: before applying the coating, you must make sure that the selected varnish is compatible with the type of wood being processed !!!

Rating of the best parquet varnishes for 2024

Water base

3rd place: Tex Profi Aqua

It is used for processing planed wood surfaces, which means compatibility with parquet processing. In the process of application, it disinfects the treated area. Perfect for parquet flooring in places of permanent mechanical stress. Can be applied to the surface with both a brush and an applicator.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Consumption in liters per square meter	5 to 15
Drying period in hours	12
Diluent	Water
Price, rubles per liter	229

• Relatively short drying time;
• Suitable for both windows and railings;
• Application variability.

• Poorly holds gloss.

2nd place: Luxens

The sample from the French manufacturer is a branded product of the Leroy Merlin chain, it is not distributed in other retail outlets. Possesses good adhesion, is slightly subject to yellowing over time, the second layer can be applied within two hours after the first.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	France
Consumption in liters per square meter	10
Drying period in hours	2 (between layers)
Diluent	Water
Price, rubles per liter	500

• Has no pungent smell;
• Suitable for almost all types of wood;
• Has good grip.

• Works poorly with an unprepared surface.

1st place: Tex Profi Water-borne

A versatile mix that works with all wood elements. It copes well with processing even if inserts from other materials (for example, natural stone) are provided on the parquet area. It has an extremely economical spending regime.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Consumption in liters per square meter	from 8 to 9
Drying period in hours	3 (between layers)
Diluent	Water
Price, rubles per liter	1700

• There are both matte and glossy mix options;
• Long service life;
• Handles pinpoint scratches / bumps well.

• Poorly holds mass load.

Polyurethane base

3rd place: Dufa Expert D333

An economical option for rooms with heavy traffic. The use of polyurethane in the mixture increases the service life. The material itself has neither color nor smell, therefore it is suitable for processing wood species that have its own "color". After hardening, it has excellent contact with various aggressive detergents.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Germany
Consumption in liters per square meter	8
Drying period in hours	12 (between layers)
Diluent	Polyurethane
Price, rubles per liter	1200

• You can even wash with abrasive products;
• Colorless coating;
• Increased service life.

• Dries for a long time between layers.

2nd place: Marshall Protex Parke Cila 90

This sample contains special inclusions that categorically increase the wear resistance of the coating. However, this will have to sacrifice drying time - as much as 96 hours! It should be noted that the end result is an extremely reliable processing result, and the ingredients present will color the parquet in a noble matte color.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Estonia
Consumption in liters per square meter	7.5
Drying period in hours	96 (shared)
Diluent	Polyurethane
Price, rubles per liter	1000

• Economical consumption;
• The presence of additional ingredients;
• Low cost.

• Long curing period.

1st place: 3V3 Vitrificateur Protection

This French blend is capable of working on virtually any surface (from parquet to simple planks or staircases). You can work with a brush or with a roller. It is characterized by an extremely short dry time "to touch", for applying the next layer - only 30-40 minutes. However, for this you will have to sacrifice a rather large consumption of displacement per square meter.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	France
Consumption in liters per square meter	12
Drying period in hours	0.3-0.4 (between layers)
Diluent	Polyurethane
Price, rubles per liter	2500

• Short hardening period;
• You can work with any tool;
• Blotches provide additional gloss.

• High price;
• Uneconomic expense.

Decoupage mixes

Decoupage is a way of decorating a parquet, which consists in attaching an ornament (as a rule, these are cut applications) to the surface and then coating the resulting composition with varnish.

3rd place: Taika Glow Tikkurila

It is used for fixing applications on parquet, walls and other surfaces. It has additional inclusions that provide a glow of the treated surface in the dark. It is characterized by a fairly fast hardening period.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Finland
Consumption in liters per square meter	8
Drying period in hours	6 (between layers)
Diluent	Acrylic
Price, rubles per liter	3500

• Matte / glowing effect;
• Fast drying;
• Excellent adhesion between parquet and applique.

• High price;
• Requires serious skills to apply.

2nd place: Biofa 2050 Universal

This varnish is made from natural raw materials. It can be applied to parquet floors made not only of wood base, but also of cork. Penetrates deep into the wood structure. Providing excellent adhesion of the ornament to the supporting surface. Resistant to mechanical damage.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Consumption in liters per square meter	12
Drying period in hours	4 (between layers)
Diluent	Acrylic
Price, rubles per liter	1000

• Excellent value for money;
• Versatility;
• Complete processing requires only two layers.

• Sensitive to high humidity.

1st place: Pinotex Lacker Aqua 70

This solution is absolutely odorless, therefore it is ideal for decoupage when decorating rooms intended for children (children's bedrooms, playrooms). Differs in an extremely fast tack-free hardening process. In the process of work, it can give a milky whitish tint, however, in the end it becomes colorless.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Consumption in liters per square meter	12
Drying period in hours	4 (between layers)
Diluent	Water
Price, rubles per liter	1000

• The presence of anti-fungal / anti-mold ingredients;
• Does not darken over time;
• Does not have a pungent smell.

• Not identified (for their segment).

Instead of an epilogue

At the moment, it is not difficult to choose a varnish coating for parquet. Both online stores and retail outlets offer a wide range of options for every taste and wallet. Prices for this material vary very slightly from store to store, the maximum difference can reach 50-100 rubles. The main difficulty is the question of finding the necessary form of packaging - most stores try to sell varnishes in containers with overall volumes, but what if the buyer needs only a small amount for refurbishment? That is why you need to study the information from its official website on the Internet before visiting the store and find out in which container the desired varnish is sold.

Among the popular manufacturers of these mixtures, there have been no special changes over the past 20 years - Western brands are leading almost everywhere, and the domestic manufacturer has occupied a niche slightly below average.

Speaking about buying "for future use", you should give preference to samples with a long shelf life and a universal scope.