Varnishing floorboards, advice please

[Handbag]

I'm looking to use Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze on the upstairs floorboards, particularly as it comes in light oak satin which will hopefully go some way to matching the existing skirting and light oak doors:

http://www.duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk/servlet/Prod...

It claims to be 10 times harder than conventional varnish so I'm happy to buy it if it means I'm not faced with sanding the floorboards again in a few years time because I skimped on varnish. Also I'm thinking of using a roller to apply it, but I'm not sure if it'll cover between the floorboards (tongue & groove) properly whereas with a brush I can at least get between the floorboards but may not be able to brush it quickly enough.

Anyone got any advice please?

[m4ckg]

I have used this and its very tough stuff, you won't get in the joints with a roller so use a brush, apply a first coat that will lift the grain, let dry then sand to a smooth finish and then apply a second coat. It may be worth buying a tack cloth to remove all the dust from sanding

[Handbag]

Thanks m4ckg. Will buy a tack cloth. So a light sand over with a hand held electric sander and some 120 paper after 1st coat? How did you find it to brush on, does it start to dry very quickly?

[Spudler]

Not cheap http://www.osmouk.com/osmofloor.cfm?chapter=22 but i wouldn't use anything else, as long as you prep well the finish is top quality. Use a micro pile roller for a nice even finish.

[m4ckg]

from what I can remember it didn't dry too quickly, dont have the room too warm and you should be ok, try and keep working with a wet edge

[Handbag]

Spudler said:

Not cheap http://www.osmouk.com/osmofloor.cfm?chapter=22 but i wouldn't use anything else, as long as you prep well the finish is top quality. Use a micro pile roller for a nice even finish.

Unfortunately whilst I'm sure it's excellent, I don't think I'll have enough time to allow it to dry properly. I've only got next weekend to get it done before new furniture arrives on the Tuesday morning, so need to be sure it's properly dry by then.

m4ckg said:

from what I can remember it didn't dry too quickly, dont have the room too warm and you should be ok, try and keep working with a wet edge

Great thanks

[Jonnas]

I used Osmo on my Oak floors and it is incredible stuff. Five years on and it still looks like the day I put it on........

[brianlewis]

Osmo is fantastic.

i used the new version osmo rapide which dries a lot quicker and gives the same finnish.

cheapest place and they have it in stock as they posted it to me by Fedex

www.hancockandbrown.co.uk in Swansea

[s1962a]

We've just had a sold wood floor installed which comes pre-lacquered from the factory. I'm not sure the type they use but would the Osmo product be able to be used on top of that? It doesn't really need it but if we can protect the floor further by adding another coat of varnish then i'd rather do it at this stage whilst the room is empty.

Cheers

[brianlewis]

Osmo is fantastic.

i used the new version osmo rapide which dries a lot quicker and gives the same finnish.

cheapest place and they have it in stock as they posted it to me by Fedex

www.hancockandbrown.co.uk in Swansea

[Spudler]

Handbag said:

Spudler said:

Not cheap http://www.osmouk.com/osmofloor.cfm?chapter=22 but i wouldn't use anything else, as long as you prep well the finish is top quality. Use a micro pile roller for a nice even finish.

I don't think I'll have enough time to allow it to dry properly. I've only got next weekend to get it done before new furniture arrives on the Tuesday morning, so need to be sure it's properly dry by then.

You only need two days. Put the first coat on late one afternoon and you can walk on it the next day, second coat that same day and your good to go the following day, move your furniture in!
Up to you!

[Handbag]

I've looked up Osmo, but the only tint that looks anything like light oak appears to be "honey" and I can't seem to click the image to enlarge it. I'll contact my nearest stockist tomorrow and see if I can get hold of a tester pot.

Cheers all for your help so far.

[Spudler]

s1962a said:

We've just had a sold wood floor installed which comes pre-lacquered from the factory. I'm not sure the type they use but would the Osmo product be able to be used on top of that? It doesn't really need it but if we can protect the floor further by adding another coat of varnish then i'd rather do it at this stage whilst the room is empty.

Cheers

Wouldn't like to say, I've only ever used it on bare flooring.
You can ask one of Osmos advisers, details are on their web site.

[m4ckg]

s1962a said:

We've just had a sold wood floor installed which comes pre-lacquered from the factory. I'm not sure the type they use but would the Osmo product be able to be used on top of that? It doesn't really need it but if we can protect the floor further by adding another coat of varnish then i'd rather do it at this stage whilst the room is empty.

Cheers

I would check on a sample as some finishes can react with each other.

[russ_a]

I doubt very much you will be able to apply any product to a pre-finished plank.

We used a two pack varnish (has lots of health warnings on the tin) on a walnut worktop and it worked a treat. The builder had used it on his own oak floor.

On our birch floor we used an oil and whilst it is not as hardwaring it does not scratch like a varnish finish does.

With wood floors you just have to accept the maintenance that goes with it.

[tobeee]

Handbag said:

So a light sand over with a hand held electric sander and some 120 paper after 1st coat?

I don't think m4ckg responded to this part of your question, so I will. Although I haven't used the varnish you are discussing, I've used other types, and the process is always the same... apply liberally with a brush, and leave to dry; go over very lightly by hand with fine grade sandpaper (this is just a few mins job for a standard room, to remove the raised fibres) and vacuum the dust; apply two more coats of varnish, though more sparingly than the first (and apart from the occasional rough patch or stray brush hair, shouldn't require further sanding).

[JustinP1]

Handbag said:

I've looked up Osmo, but the only tint that looks anything like light oak appears to be "honey" and I can't seem to click the image to enlarge it. I'll contact my nearest stockist tomorrow and see if I can get hold of a tester pot.

Cheers all for your help so far.

I've used Osmo oil for doors. Superb stuff.

If you want to keep the natural colour of the oak, don't go for a colour just get clear.

The oil will darken the oak slightly and bring out the grain nicely. If you don't want to darken the colour at all, there is a tint they do in white which looks like milk which you rub into the wood. I did it with a small sponge and the white brought out the grain nicely and the wood was the same tone as if it was not oiled even after a coat of oil.

[Handbag]

Thanks for the tips so far, all gratefully received

Just to clarify, the floorboards are pine and had a tinted varnish on, so I'll need to apply a tinted varnish.

I rang the only Osmo supplier local to me who was very nice but basically, they're a flooring supplier so they only carry the clear stuff in stock and anything I order including tester pots wouldn't arrive in time.

I rang my nearest dulux decorator centre who don't do sample pots of the Diamond Glaze as it's for trade use and the nearest colour match if going off the ici website colour chart would be "new pine" which I don't think is right. The guy on the phone wasn't very helpful to be honest and after a busy day at work I can't really be arsed to travel 40 mins each way to get something I'm not confident is right.

So after some more internet searching I came across Ronseal Diamond Hard floor varnish. Went to my local Focus DIY just to have a look, on my way home from work and they had samples of wood varnished in the available tints. I ended up picking up a tin of dark oak which seemed the closest match (doesn't look very dark to me, but hey ho).
http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/RonsealDiamondHardFloorV...

Have tested on a piece of spare skirting board and so far the first coat seems to be a very good match. I'm off to try a 2nd coat now to see how the colour is and see how it dries!