Stripping Shellac Floor

The gloss on a floor in an older home may not be the ubiqutous polyurethane but shellac which requires specific care.

Stripping shellac floor.

Shellac has many advantages as a finish. 1 mop the floor with a strong solution of a wax cutting detergent and hot water. Varnish lacquer shellac and other clear coats are applied to protect wood furniture and flooring from scratches scuff marks and stains. Shellac can be applied to the stripped and prepped surface by pad brush or spray.

That s because unlike varnish or polyurethane each new coat of shellac dissolves into the one before it so you can blend new into old without too much fuss. But if the finish is shellac a natural nontoxic coating commonly seen in houses of this vintage stripping isn t necessary. If the floor is old and oversanded though you can also strip shellac with denatured alcohol. These types of chemicals can damage your lungs eyes and skin and are not healthy for the environment.

If you would like to try applying shellac yourself zinsser makes a french. Removing shellac with chemicals. There are also disadvantages. It can be used to refinish hardwood floors or it.

Made from flakes of resin. Shellac finishes were common on wood floors. It is non toxic dries quickly provided the product is fresh when applied can be tinted and is relatively easy to apply. How to care for shellac floors.

Then put on rubber gloves to protect your hands and rub the shellac with steel wool to remove as much of it as possible. However you can achieve a good result on your own using virtually any stripping solvent to remove the shellac. The downside to chemical strippers is their health hazards. Use this link for information on how to remove the finish yourself.

Removing shellac with a chemical stripper is an effective method that will not damage the wood. Shellac finishes scratch easily and shellac isn t the most water resistant of finishes.