Surface preparation before varnishing

Wood moisture content must not exceed 18%. Perform application at the temperature between 15 °C and 25 °C, relative humidity between 40% and 75%, and varnish temperature between 18 °C and 25 °C.
Do not perform the application in direct sunlight, at high temperatures and in case of exposure to draughts.
Clean the surface from dirt, grease, oils, silicone or wax.
Use White-Spirit to wipe new hardwood surfaces (oak, beech).
Dampen rough surfaces, using a spray, let them dry and sand off the fibres of wood raised by dampening.
Before finishing previously varnished surfaces, make a varnish swatch on a small surface patch to check that the
materials are compatible.
Previously varnished surfaces do not require preliminary priming; they need to be thoroughly cleaned from old peeling varnish, carefully sanded and cleaned from dust.
Use coarse sandpaper and apply firm pressure for the first sanding; make sure to sand the surface as smooth as possible.
Use fine sandpaper and apply low pressure for the last sanding.
Sanding will remove separate fibres and improve the adhesion of the following coats.
Sand the surface along the grain of the wood or in the direction of the light from the window.
Use a vacuum cleaner to carefully remove any dust from the floor, baseboards, windows and radiators after sanding. Then wipe the surface with a clean damp non-pile cloth. For priming new non-painted surfaces, dilute the varnish with White-Spirit in the ratio of 5:1. Freshly cast concrete surface must cure for at least one month before varnishing and must demonstrate sufficient hardness and low moisture content (below 4%). Concrete floors must be cleaned from dirt, oil or grease before varnishing. Remove the loose top layer (so-called lime milk) with a steel brush or power grinder, and then remove dust thoroughly. Fill cracks, holes and chips with a putty meant for repairing concrete floors.

Application

Before application and in the process of working, stir the varnish thoroughly but carefully (to make sure you do not cause air bubbles to form in it). Stirring ensures that the gloss of the varnish coating will be even when it dries.
Apply 2 coats of varnish on the surface along the grain of the wood or in the direction of the light from the window.
The number of varnish coats depends on the porosity of the wood and the instrument you use.
Sand the surface with fine sandpaper (120–150) and remove the dust before applying each following coat on the new surface that have not been previously painted.
Apply finishing varnish on previously varnished surfaces in thin coats without priming.
Only apply each following varnish coat after the previous coat has fully dried.
To check the tint, we recommend making a varnish swatch on a separate board as the final tint of the coating depends on the species of wood (exotic or unknown wood species can change their colour or get stains), the initial hue and the number of varnish coats.
If tinting is necessary, you can use the decorative wood protecting coating Balance (in supplied colours or tinted according to the EskaroColor system) as the first coat. Use the colourless Parketilakk SE varnish for the following coats.
Hardwood species should be used for surfaces exposed to mechanical impacts or requiring high durability (for example, floors). Softwood species (spruce, pine, lime tree etc.) are likely to suffer deformation even after varnishing.
To prime concrete floors, dilute the varnish with White-Spirit in the volume ratio of 3:1 for the first coat. Cover the primed surface with two more coats of undiluted varnish, letting it dry between coats for at least 24 hours.
Attention! The varnish might slightly alter the saturation of surface colour. Make sure the working area is well-ventilated, but with no draughts that can cause surface defects. In a dry and hot climate, turn down the ventilation to prevent the paint from drying too fast and avoid lap marks.

Care for the varnished surface

As the coating reaches its peak hardness and durability a month after varnish application, avoid using detergents or vigorous cleaning of the freshly varnished surface. If necessary, the coating can be lightly wiped with a soft moist cloth during this period.
Use clean water and a soft cloth to clean the surface from impurities; if necessary, use neutral (pH 6–8).
Rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water after cleaning and dry it.

Store and transport in undamaged containers at the temperature up to +30 °C. Protect from direct sunlight. Keep cool