Parquet Lacquers: The Chemistry of Protection, the Science of Choice, and the Secrets of Long-Lasting Floors

Parquet is more than just a floor. It is an investment in the future — comfort, aesthetics, and the lasting quality of a space. And the only thing standing between natural wood and daily wear is a properly selected lacquer. But how do you choose the right product from the vast range of modern coatings? Let us explore the science and practice.

What Happens to Wood Without Protection?

Wood is a living material. Even after processing, it continues to 'breathe': it absorbs and releases moisture, responds to temperature fluctuations, and expands and contracts.

Without a protective coating, wood fibres are exposed to:

• mechanical wear — scratches from footwear, furniture, and grit carried in from outside;

• hydrolytic degradation — moisture penetrating the wood cell structure promotes the growth of mould and fungi;

• chemical damage — household cleaning agents, spilt wine or coffee gradually deteriorate unprotected fibres.

A quality parquet lacquer forms a polymer matrix on the wood surface that absorbs all of these impacts. However, not every matrix is equally effective — and this is where the chemistry begins.

Chemical Composition: The Foundation Is Everything

The functional properties of a lacquer are 80% determined by its chemical base. Understanding the composition is therefore the first step towards making an informed choice.

Polyurethane Lacquers (PU)

Polyurethane is formed through the reaction of polyols with isocyanates. The result is an exceptionally dense three-dimensional polymer network with high mechanical strength. Such lacquers withstand intensive loads, offer good elasticity (they do not crack when the floor deforms), and are resistant to a wide range of chemicals.

Two-component PU lacquers with a separate hardener are considered the professional solution for commercial spaces with very high traffic. Within the Eskaro range, the primary focus for residential and standard commercial applications is on single-component water-based and alkyd-urethane systems.

Alkyd and Alkyd-Urethane Lacquers

Alkyd lacquers are based on alkyd resins — products of the reaction between polyols, acids, and vegetable oils. They penetrate the upper layers of wood effectively, enhance the natural texture, and give the surface a warmer, richer appearance.

Classic alkyd lacquers are valued for:

• good adhesion to wood;

• a pronounced decorative effect;

• their ability to accentuate the natural depth of the wood grain.

To improve abrasion resistance and mechanical strength, alkyd resins can be further modified with polyurethane components. These products are known as alkyd-urethane lacquers. They withstand wear better, dry faster, and offer greater resistance to everyday use compared to classic alkyd systems.

Eskaro alkyd-urethane products:

• Eskaro Parketilakk SE 30 — a semi-matt lacquer for wooden and concrete floors, staircases, and other surfaces;

• Eskaro Parketilakk SE 60 — a semi-gloss variant with enhanced resistance to everyday wear.

Water-Reducible (Acrylic and PU Dispersion) Lacquers

Modern water-based lacquers are far from a compromise. Thanks to advances in colloid chemistry, acrylic and polyurethane-acrylic dispersions now deliver protective performance approaching that of solvent-based products, while offering:

• significantly lower VOC (volatile organic compound) levels than solvent-based lacquers;

• no strong odour during application;

• complete preservation of the natural wood colour (no yellowing over time);

• suitability for application in occupied residential spaces.

The drying mechanism of water-based lacquers is coalescence: polymer dispersion particles draw together as the water evaporates and fuse into a continuous film. This is why the correct inter-coat drying time must be observed — to allow full coalescence to occur.

Eskaro products:

Aura Luxpro Parkett Elit — a gloss polyurethane water-based lacquer for parquet.

Aura Luxpro Parkett Elit Matt — a semi-matt polyurethane water-based lacquer for parquet.

UV-Curing Lacquers

Polymerisation by ultraviolet radiation is an industrial-grade technology. These coatings are applied in the factory (for example, to engineered parquet boards) and cure within seconds under UV lamps. The result is an exceptionally hard, uniform coating with zero solvent content.

UV lacquers are not available for DIY floor renovation, but they are worth bearing in mind when selecting pre-finished parquet boards.

Classification by Gloss Level: More Than Just Aesthetics

The degree of gloss is not merely a stylistic decision. It directly affects the practical characteristics of the coating.

GU (Gloss Units) — the standardised unit of gloss measurement.

Important: the matt effect is achieved by adding micronised silicon dioxide (SiO₂) or wax to the lacquer, which scatters light. This slightly reduces the abrasion resistance of the surface layer, so in areas with very high traffic (entrance halls, corridors) a semi-gloss option may sometimes be preferable.

Choosing the Right Lacquer for the Right Application

Primer Coat

Before applying parquet lacquers to wooden surfaces, a primer coat may be used to even out the surface absorption and improve adhesion of the finish coat. For this purpose, diluted lacquer can be used as a primer to create the preparatory base layer.

Parquet Lacquer

The classic choice for residential spaces. Optimally balanced in terms of strength, elasticity, and drying time.

Suitable for any wooden substrate in enclosed spaces — parquet, engineered boards, solid floorboards, and staircases.

Eskaro offers two parquet lacquer lines:

• Alkyd-urethane system (solvent-based): Eskaro Parketilakk SE 30 and Parketilakk SE 60 — for maximum abrasion resistance.

• PU water-based system (ECO): Aura Luxpro Parkett Elit and Elit Matt — for comfortable application and safety in residential environments.

Lacquer Impregnation

This occupies a middle ground between lacquer and oil-wax impregnation. It penetrates the wood fibres, strengthens them from within, and creates a thin protective coating that preserves the matt, natural tactile feel of the wood.

Ideal for those who want minimal 'plastic' appearance while maintaining reliable protection.

Which Coating for Which Room?

Living Room and Bedroom

Load level — moderate. Priority — aesthetics. Here you can opt for a gloss or semi-matt PU lacquer on a water base.

Eskaro Recommendation:

Aura Luxpro Parkett Elit Matt — semi-matt, odour-free. Does not alter the wood colour and will not yellow over time.

Entrance Hall and Corridor

The most heavily trafficked zone. Quartz sand carried in on footwear from outside acts as a natural abrasive with a Mohs hardness of 7.

Maximum abrasion resistance is essential here. A system consisting of a primer coat plus three finish coats is recommended.

Eskaro Recommendation:

Eskaro Parketilakk SE 60 × 3 coats (first coat diluted 5:1 with White Spirit). The semi-gloss surface conceals minor scratches better than a gloss finish, while providing maximum durability.

Kitchen and Dining Room

Mechanical load is compounded by moisture and chemical exposure. Water resistance and resistance to cleaning agents are essential requirements.

Apply in 3 coats. Prior priming enhances the hydrophobic properties of the entire system.

Eskaro Recommendation:

Eskaro Parketilakk SE 60 — resistant to cleaning agents and household chemicals.

Commercial and Public Spaces

For offices, shops, restaurants, and hotels, coatings rated for high usage classes (31–34) are required, in accordance with commercial flooring classification standards and the requirements of EN 13696.

Two-component polyurethane lacquers or specialist commercial systems with enhanced abrasion resistance are recommended.

Eskaro Recommendation:

Eskaro Parketilakk SE 30 or SE 60 — 3 coats with inter-coat sanding.

Correct Application: Common Mistakes

Even the finest lacquer can produce unsatisfactory results if applied incorrectly.

1. Surface preparation — 50% of the result

Sanding removes the old coating, levels the surface, and opens the pores. Without proper sanding, the new lacquer will not achieve adequate adhesion.

2. Temperature and humidity

Optimal application conditions:

• +10 to +25 °C;

• relative air humidity 40–75%.

At low temperatures, lacquer viscosity increases and film formation slows. At excessive humidity, there is a risk of coating cloudiness.

3. Wood moisture content

Before lacquering, wood in heated spaces must have a moisture content of no more than 7–9%. A higher moisture content increases the risk of deformation and delamination of the lacquer coating.

4. Inter-coat sanding

After the first coat (especially with water-based lacquers), wood fibres raise.

Light sanding with fine-grit abrasive:

• grit 120–150 for alkyd-based lacquers;

• grit 180–220 for water-based lacquers

between coats ensures a perfectly smooth final surface.

5. Number of coats

Minimum:

• 1 primer coat;

• 2 finish coats.

Optimal for high-traffic areas:

• 1 primer coat;

• 3 finish coats.

6. Observing drying times

'Dry to the touch' and 'fully cured' are two different things.

• Parketilakk SE — recoat after 24 hours; full cure in 7–14 days.

• Aura Luxpro Parkett Elit — next coat after 2 hours; heavy furniture can be placed after 14 days; full polymerisation in 21–28 days.

Until fully cured, it is advisable to avoid heavy traffic and laying rugs or heavy furniture.

Environmental Safety: Why It Matters

The modern quality standard for lacquer and paint products encompasses not only durability but also safety for human health and the environment.

VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) is the primary indicator of the environmental safety of lacquers.

EU Directive 2004/42/CE establishes the maximum permissible VOC levels for parquet lacquers:

• no more than 140 g/l for water-reducible products;

• no more than 500 g/l for solvent-based systems.

This is critically important for children's rooms and bedrooms, for people with allergies or asthma, and for spaces with limited ventilation.

How to Choose: A Quick Reference Guide

Conclusion

A correctly selected and applied parquet lacquer is not an expense — it is the protection of an investment. Parquet with a quality coating can last for decades, retaining its beauty and functionality. Parquet without a coating or with an incorrectly chosen lacquer will require costly restoration within just 2–3 years.

Chemical composition, gloss level, room type, environmental standards, and application techniques — all of these are components of a single system in which every detail matters.