How to Apply Shellac Finishes to Wood Floors
Shellac is an older, more natural finish than polyurethane, and it is commonly applied to wood floors. Shellac is made from insect secretions. It imparts a softer, less glass-like surface than polyurethane when applied to a wood floor, giving it a natural look while still providing some shine and moisture protection. One advantage of shellac is that if the floor starts looking dull again the next year, you can simply add a few more layers without stripping off the previous finish. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vibrating sander with fine sandpaper
- Vacuum cleaner
- Rubbing alcohol
- Old rags
- Bucket
- Finishing paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Sand the floor with the vibrating sander and fine sandpaper to degloss the top finish. Vacuum up the dust.
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2
Wipe down the surface of the floor with rubbing alcohol and old rags. Let it dry completely.
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3
Mix 1 part shellac and 1 part rubbing alcohol in a bucket. Make enough to cover the floor -- typically, 1 quart of shellac will cover about 100 square feet, the equivalent of a 10-by-10-foot room.
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4
Brush on the shellac solution, starting at the far corner of the floor from the doorway or entrance to the room. Apply it in the direction of the floorboards in a thin, even coat. Coat the entire floor.
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5
Let the first layer set for eight hours. Sand it very lightly with your vibrating sander and fine sandpaper to dull the surface so the next coat will stick. Vacuum up the dust.
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6
Apply a second coat of shellac, repeating the process used in Steps 3 through 5.
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7
Brush on a third and final layer of shellac, this time using the shellac undiluted. Let it set for a full one to two days before walking on it.
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