Varnishing new floor boards

youth_leader

Hello, I've just had all of the floors of my bungalow replaced with wooden tongue and groove floorboards and need to varnish them.  

Can I please ask what equipment I should buy, and can anyone direct me to a good YouTube video or similar so I can see how to do it please?  Thank you. 

GDB2222

Do they need sanding? That’s hard work. 

The varnishing itself is dead easy. Use water based varnish, and use a mop to apply it. 

plumb1_2

I would leave them for a few weeks let them dry out.
Then fill all the nail holes you might have to punch the nails down further,
then get someone in to sand them down. Then seal/varnish or stain.

youth_leader

Thank you for the advice.  It's brand new wood, do I still have to sand it?  I thought I'd get away with just hoovering,  washing and drying it so it was dust free. 

The storage company can only hold my furniture etc for another week so unfortunately I can't wait for them to dry out plumb1_2.

Bendy_House

Yes, you can varnish straight on as it is.

Undoubtedly there will be some shrinkage over time - sometimes an unbelievable amount - tho' perhaps this prolonged dry weather will largely have pre-shrunk it for you!

Have you added insulation underneath it? When it shrinks, will draughts seep through around the T&Gs? Have you sealed - using frame sealant - around the room perimeters, to seal them off against the walls before the skirting boards went down?

Not sure what the best products are, but I've used 'Diamond Hard' (is that Ronseal or Dulux?) before, and if it's in areas that won't have outdoor footwear on them, it should last many years before needing a recoat.

The shinier the more durable, tho' you may not want 'gloss'. Satin is usually a good compromise.

Water-based is FAR nicer to use, and has few drawbacks these days. Fast-drying, little smell, easy to clean up, very durable, doesn't 'yellow' the timber like oil-based can.

youth_leader

Thank you Bendy_House. What a relief, I told a friend and she is searching her garage for her 'sanding broom' to lend me. I am dreading the physicality of it, but I know that's just leftover lockdown lethargy and a lack of confidence, I can do it. 

plumb1_2

As you’ve got the answer you wanted crack on, but when the nails start ripping your sanding sheets, don’t cry be happy.

youth_leader

I can't afford carpets until I've saved for a while  plumb1_2, I will be going over it carefully to check for the nails, thank you for the advice.  

Bendy_House

Ah! Nails!

Um, they'll likely rust a wee bit with the water-based varnish

Call it 'patina'...

Any chance of a photo of what it's like at the moment?

Bendy_House

Best equipment to use? If there are lots to do, I think you'd be hard pushed to beat a decent-sized painting pad on a pole, designed for floors. I haven't used them myself, so cannot give a personal review, but they seem the sensible option.

I just spend hours on my knees with a 3" brush

GDB2222

Bendy_House said:

Best equipment to use? If there are lots to do, I think you'd be hard pushed to beat a decent-sized painting pad on a pole, designed for floors. I haven't used them myself, so cannot give a personal review, but they seem the sensible option.

I just spend hours on my knees with a 3" brush

The water based stuff just goes on with a mop. It’s really quick and easy. A couple of coats should last years.

Umm, work backwards towards the door.