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Treating Chestnut Floors


Adrian

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I'm about to sand down the Chestnut floor in the grenier and I'd value any suggestions about what I do afterwards (apart from cough lots!) French friends are divided between wax and varnish; the former goes white if you spill water on it and the latter chips and flakes being the main sticking points. I've read through this sub- forum and can't find anything directly relating to floors (although Dick's thread on whatever he is making seemed to suggest that varnish would be frowned upon by anyone with any skill). As I have to do the whole house I'd rather it wasn't anything too expensive!

 

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Thanks for the replies. As often they have generated more questions so please bear with me...

"Try vitrificateur"  - I think I've heard of  this. Isn't it some sort of non solvant based varnish?  Any idea if it chips?

"I'll be oiling them" I'm more attracted to this treatment but what type of oil are you using (Linseed?) and where is the best place to source it? Leroy Merlin et al or a specialist shop?

Thanks again

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  • 6 months later...

Hi

I would think it depend on the what you are going to be doing on the floor.

I fitted a chestnut floor in our kitchen. I got a 'cuisine' strength vitrificateur (water based) this was uncoloured which lets the wood colour through but is washabl, very happy with it.

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Thanks for the suggestion. I've actually now treated the floors but coincidentally I think I've arrived at the same point as you. After much consideration I bought some water based acrylic lacquer from Screwfix called Aqualac. It goes on with a deck treatment roller, dries with a satin finish within 30 minutes and (so far) seems to be very hard wearing. It resists water and chemical spills and doesn't appear to chip or scratch too easily. We did 120m2 in about an hour and it took about 10 minutes to clean up the brushes and roller afterwards. We sat down with a glass of red and by the time we'd finished it the floor was dry enough to walk across.

I realize this will probably invoke howls of anger from the 'natural product police' but you have to do what suites your circumstances. Everyone who has seen it has been very complementary (or probably just too polite to say what they think)!

 

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