I ve been so used to living with modern 1930s and after hardwood floors that i didn t realize how much i had to learn about pumpkin pine wood floors that are 240 years old or so.
Shellac on pine floors.
As wear occurs on the floor the finish not the wood is worn away.
These types of finishes include shellac and varnish and more modern coatings such as swedish finishes and polyurethanes.
The oldest part of our colonial farmhouse dates back to the 1780s.
It s good for bookcases desks side tables and picture frames anything that won t be exposed to extremes.
Made from flakes of resin.
Minwax polycrylic is an example of a fortified water based polyurethane than can stand up a bit better to rough conditions.
Varnish is typically heavier than shellac and will usually require only one maybe two coats to finish.
When you touch the floor you are really touching the finish.
Shellac floors shouldn t be mopped with any water based or water mixed product including plain soap and water.
The most natural but least water resistant film finish is shellac.
It dries very fast so 2 3 coats can be applied in one day and is ready ot walk on in 2 3 hours.
Additional rooms were added on in the early to mid 1800s.
Shellac is made from the excretions of the lac bug in india and is picked by.
As with shellac water based polyurethane won t hold up well to heat and chemicals.
Shellac is a versatile non toxic wood finish that enhances the natural grain while adding smoothness without the plastic like qualities of polyurethane or lacquer.
For you purposes at least 5 6 coats of shellac can be brushed or rolled on to a well sanded pine floor.
Woodworkers and floor finishers often mix clear and amber when using new shellac to match older shellacked surfaces.
Paint of course would also be in this category along with lacquer furniture finish and wax.
Water softens shellac and can damage the wood underneath.