Colored wood stain. Choosing a shade to apply to wood: wood stain - colors and combination options. Selecting a stain for interior wood work

Wood will always be popular, because it is a beautiful and environmentally friendly material. However, like all natural decorative elements, boards are afraid of moisture and are a favorite habitat for insects, fungi, mold and other microorganisms. To increase the service life of things made from tree species Various protective agents and antiseptics are used. Today we will talk about such a wonderful substance as stain, with its help you can not only solve some problems associated with premature damage wooden materials, but also to give your products an unusual and noble appearance.

Wood is a strong and durable material that is susceptible to adverse factors. environment, therefore, in order to protect products made from it from possible damage, it is necessary to process them by special means. On the construction market you can find a huge number of different antiseptics, varnishes and other impregnations that change the color and some properties of wood; the most popular and inexpensive product is stain. Some people think that stains are used only to change the color of an object, but this wonderful drug also has other properties.

The properties of stains may vary depending on their composition. However, even if you do this tint yourself, it will still have some protective properties.

Properties of stains:

If you want to change not only the color of the wood, but also highlight its texture, then stain is just what you need. It does not completely cover the design, like paint, but gives the entire product a pleasant shade.
Staining wood will protect furniture from insects and rot, while maintaining the texture and grain of the wood.
Stain is a protective agent that increases the service life of wooden objects and costs several times less than varnish and paint. In addition, due to its watery consistency, it penetrates deeper into the wood structure.
With the help of stain, you can make even inexpensive pine, painted with colored stain, look like noble and strong oak and exotic mahogany.
Tinting with stain can lighten the wood. This technique is especially often used before painting wooden products.
Impregnation with stain will strengthen the structure of the wood and give it a slight moisture-proof property.

Not all stains have the above qualities. To understand what kind of stain you need, you need to read its composition and see what the instructions for use say. By the way, you can treat not only solid ones with stains. wooden boards, but also chipboard, items made of plywood or parquet and other wooden crafts.

Water-based wood stain and alcohol stains

Stains on water based– these are the most environmentally friendly beads. They don't have any sharp unpleasant odor and easy to use.

This product can be sold as a dry or ready-made mixture. Such dyes are most popular due to their low price and the possibility of their use for both interior and exterior work.

Main characteristics of water stain:

The colors of water-based stains are very diverse. With their help you can create a very interesting iridescent effect.
You can use water sprays without fear for your health. Even with the most high temperatures, such products do not emit harmful fumes.
If you decide to experiment and are wondering: “Which stain to choose so that it can be washed?” – then water stain is what you need. This tinting agent can be easily washed off with water, so painting the floor with it is impossible.
Tinting a wooden surface with this method makes its texture more noticeable. Unfortunately, this makes the product more sensitive to moisture, so it will need to be opened with varnish.

It is extremely undesirable to tint resinous tree species with such impregnation, as unsightly stains may appear on them. For such products it is better to use alcohol impregnations.

How long does alcohol impregnation take to dry? Almost a few seconds! This property is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Thanks to it, you can cover the butt of a sporting rifle with alcohol stain, and use it in just a few minutes, however, a large area can only be stained with a spray gun, otherwise the surface of the product will become covered with unpleasant stains and stains, and even varnish will not help correct the situation. The alcohol impregnation consists of alcohol and dyes.

Treating wood with this impregnation will make it more resistant to ultraviolet radiation and high humidity. However, due to the unpleasant odor of this product, working with it is only possible in an open space.

Advantages of oil-based stains and wax and acrylic stains

stain on oil based has a wide range of colors and shades. It costs more than water fighters, but also useful properties she has more. This preparation can be used not only to change the color of the product, but also to emphasize its texture.

Treating wood with oil-based stain is easy and convenient; it is applied in a thin layer and does not lift the fibers of the product. Also, this tint does not fade when exposed to sun rays, gives the tree resistance to temperature changes and protects it from moisture. Oil stains can be removed using white spirit solvent; it can also lighten painted wood a little. It differs from compositions with similar properties in that it does not require varnish to secure it. The disadvantages of staining with oil include: long drying of the tint and its toxicity.

It is very important to find a stain from a responsible and conscientious manufacturer. Judging by the reviews, the most popular companies are Vartan, Latek, Novbytkhim and Herlak.

Acrylic and wax stains are very easy to apply; they apply in a uniform layer and do not leave stains or streaks. However, due to the rapid drying of such stains, you need to work with them very quickly.

Wax stain is used to protect wood from moisture. It can be used to treat parquet. This kind of fighter is not resistant to mechanical damage, so to extend its service life, it is better to use varnish.

Acrylic, also known as rustic, stain perfectly emphasizes the texture of wood. With its help you can get the most different shades That's why this drug is so popular. Wood painted with such stain will still need to be opened with several layers of varnish.

Wood stain colors

Wood stains differ not only in composition, they come in different colors and shades. Most often, a dark mixture is used; it gives the products a more noble appearance. With the help of such stains, ordinary larch and maple can be turned into oak boards.

Modern stains can give wood the most unusual shade. However, to this day the range of natural wood colors is considered the most popular.

The most popular stain colors:

Pine;
Birch;
Bleached walnut;
Plum; Red tree;
Olive;
Rosewood;

There are many such examples. It is noteworthy that the names of the same shade from different companies can differ greatly. When choosing the color of the stain, first of all, pay attention not to color palette, which is printed on the packaging, and samples printed on birch boards.

It is also important to consider that the intensity of the color of the stain depends on the type of wood on which it is applied. Giving a dark shade to an item if the wood from which it is made will be more difficult than darkening an oak item. Non-aqueous stain will not stain well enough pine board, unless it is first desalted, but water-based stains are generally unsuitable for resinous wood species.

White wood stain

To give your furniture a white color, you don't have to paint it. A lightening stain is also suitable for such work, which will not only make the product lighter, but also emphasize its structure.

Wood stain is intended not only to give the product a lighter shade, but also to protect it from adverse environmental conditions. It is very important to consider, when considering different types of such a product, how and what you will apply it to. If there is a risk that moisture will spill onto the surface of a bleached object, then it is best to use wax, oil and acrylic preparations, but if your craft will be in a dry and ventilated place, then water stain will also work.

Using white stain you can achieve a very interesting effect and create an aged finish. It must first be painted with stain white water-based, after it dries, the item must be treated with a stiff brush. A dark-colored wax or oil stain is rubbed into the formed pores on the wood.

When using water stain, do not forget about the protective layer. The painted product must be treated with wax or oil.

Light stains do not always have a pronounced color. There is a colorless stain that is applied solely to protect the wood from adverse natural factors.

How to make your own stain

It is not necessary to buy ready-made stain. By mixing dyes such as coffee, a few drops of iodine or black bark shavings, and some chemical elements, it can be made at home. Homemade stain is not only effective, it is also natural.

Boil a glass of larch bark in a glass of water. The resulting product can be used to coat birch products; it will give them a beautiful reddish tint.
Grind the dried shells walnut into powder and boil for ten minutes. The resulting decoction must be mixed with soda. Apply the solution to light-colored wood and it will turn brown. If you want to change the color of the product, you can treat it with vinegar or potassium bichromate. In the first case, the shade will be gray, and in the second, red.
Brewed tea or coffee can give the wood different shades. The intensity of the colors depends on the strength of the brew.
Using a solution of potassium permanganate you will paint the product cherry color.
A red tint can be achieved by soaking rusty nails in vinegar for several days. Black stain is obtained by adding a decoction of oak or walnut leaves to a vinegar solution.

They make their own stains quite often. They turn out to be environmentally friendly and harmless. Unfortunately, they all tend to fade, so to preserve the color of the product, you need to apply a layer of varnish over the stain.

Tinting wood with stain: step-by-step instructions

To make the product look neat and beautiful, you need to cover it with stain correctly. If the stain is applied poorly, it can fade in just a few weeks; also, if you do not follow the staining technology, you risk getting a surface covered with stains.

How to properly stain objects:

First of all, it is necessary to remove a layer from the surface of the product old paint. You can do this using sandpaper.
Next, the surface is degreased with alcohol, white spirit or gasoline. If the product is made from resinous tree species, then it is deresined.
The stain is heated and applied in a thin layer to the surface of the product. The top of the item is processed first. Layers are applied on top, one on top of the other, until the desired shade is achieved.

After the stain has dried, the product must be coated with several layers of varnish. Before applying a new layer, the dried varnish is treated with fine-grained sandpaper.

Wood stain (video)

Stain is a great way to change one color of wood to another. There are such means different types, they may have various compositions and colors. Use stain correctly and you will be rewarded with a beautiful product.

Using in home interior wood, you wonder how long it will last. The answer depends on whether you know how to choose stains and varnishes for interior work on wood. It is worth considering further use: for furniture, choose non-toxic compounds, for flooring - abrasion-resistant.

We select the mixture according to the type of surface and its further use

Each surface has its own characteristics and risks of damage. To protect the tree and preserve its beauty, you need to carefully choose the composition of the mixture covering it.

The coating may have the following properties:

toxicity - the safest ones are made based on water, wax and oils. Nitrovarnishes and polyurethane varnishes are applied in a respirator;
drying speed - alcohol-based compositions dry the fastest (almost instantly). Varnishes and stains on water and nitro varnishes are slightly inferior to them (about three hours). Oil solutions take the longest to dry (at least a day);
the ability to prime small irregularities and porous wood - conditionally divided into ready-made self-priming compositions, nitro varnishes with a large dry residue and varnishes with the addition of a filler;
wear resistance - most resistant to any damage polyurethane varnish, but if used carelessly, it tightly glues the planks together. The most unstable nitrocellulose;
fire resistance - ready-made fire-resistant varnishes. Fire resistance directly depends on the thickness of the layer;
lack of odor - no fuse present acrylic varnishes and water-based stains. The smell from epoxy and oil compounds disappears in up to three days.

They differ according to the type of application:

with a brush - viscous compositions based on oil, resins and wax are applied;
spray gun - a mixture based on alcohol and water.

Selecting a stain for interior wood work

The first thing that interests any person is what visual effect the stain will give, and they start from this when choosing the composition.

Select by visual effect

Painting wood with stain is used not only as a decorative covering, sometimes tinting hides errors in previous experiments or helps achieve a uniform color for a porous wood product. For tinting, powder stains are used, mixing them with a solution to which pigment is added.

If you are a follower ancient technologies, use organic dyes, they retain color for centuries. Their color range is more sparse, but if you have a recipe, you can create the same shade decades later.

Using plant ingredients, you can achieve the following shades:

red - a decoction of larch bark or onion peel;
brown - nut shell powder with the addition of soda. If a rich color is needed, mix willow and oak bark, alder catkins and walnut shell, brew a tincture with this mixture with the addition of soda;
gray - after applying the stain with nut broth, soak the surface with vinegar;
black - with the addition of a decoction of oak or alder bark;
yellow - mix a decoction of barberry root with alum and boil;
scarlet - juice composition wolf berries and Glauber's salt;
blue - wolfberry juice with the addition of soda;
green - potash with wolfberry juice.

The powder stain is diluted with a decoction and applied as if diluted with water.

Colorless stain to highlight the natural beauty of wood

This category includes all types of stains, without additives. True, they set off the color of the boards a little. This is due to the type of wood - on dense wood the natural color will remain, but on a porous structure it will become several shades darker.

Rustic stain for an antique look

There are two ways to get this effect. Purchasing a ready-made composition with increased penetration into deep layers or applying a regular stain to a sanded surface and then removing it in convex areas. To enhance the contrast, you need to walk along the grain of the wood. wire brush, then the softer areas will become deeper and darker.

Compositions for multi-colored application

Used to obtain the color “Arctic oak”, “ bleached oak"and other options with bleaching. For work, purchase water-based stain with white pigment, oil stain and wax. The first layer is applied for bleaching, and the second is a mixture of stain with the addition of melted wax. Excess is removed with a rag. The oil is absorbed into the veins, highlighting the wood structure.

Not all solvents are universal; some are not suitable for children, but they are indispensable when processing parquet. Before purchasing the composition, decide where it will be used.

Which breeding basis is right for you:

alcohol - UV resistant, does not require additional protection varnish;
oil - perfect option for beginners without special tools, environmentally friendly and abrasion resistant;
waxy - not suitable for further coating with polyurethane and two-component acid-curing varnish;
nitro - applied with a spray gun due to capriciousness and frequent appearance of stains;
water-based - requires sanding after application due to lifting of the fibers.

It is better to purchase several types than to spoil the product in pursuit of savings.

Protecting wood with varnish

Stain is not able to protect the wood from contact with other objects, so after it has completely dried, it is recommended to varnish the product.

Desired effect upon completion of work:

glossy - looks good in rooms with poor lighting, giving the surface depth. In a room with bright light, it creates a mirror-like shine that hides the beauty of the wood;
matte - maintains a natural look;
pearlescent - during the play of light, internal flickering appears;
tinted - with the addition of pigment to change the shade.

When applying pearlescent and tinted varnish, do not forget that the color saturation depends on the number of layers.

Varnish types

Like stain, varnishes have various bases, some of them emit toxic substances during operation and require long-term ventilation.

They are divided into the following types:

alcohol - most often used for small objects by restorers or when processing musical instruments;
water-soluble - odorless and unafraid detergents, suitable for children's furniture;
oil - used to cover the floor, tint the wood with a yellow color;
alkyd - glyphthalic and pentaphthalic synthetic resin is used as a base;
polyester - suitable for items with frequent use, form protective film. They withstand not only washing, but also the ingress of reagents;
epoxy - as durable as polyester, but with higher speed drying;
polyurethane - one of the most resistant, most often covering parquet in in public places and yachts;
acrylic - used for processing children's toys and furniture, the safest for health.

When mixing, make sure that the components of the stain and varnish do not conflict, but it is better to apply them separately. The varnish prevents the stain from penetrating into the wood, so such experiments end in unsightly dark stains and spots on the surface.

Tree under the influence of negative factors Over time they lose their natural attractiveness and deteriorate performance characteristics: they fade under the influence of UV; deformed from excess moisture; rot when pathogenic microflora multiply.

To give a rich shade, preserve the structure, protect from destruction and extend service life, a special wood stain is used. Read more about what types of compositions there are, how to prepare them and what are the processing features wooden surfaces.

What is stain used for?

Stain, or stain, is a special deep penetration composition that allows save natural structure wood and give it required shade. It can also be used to treat surfaces made of plywood, fiberboard, chipboard and MDF.

The main difference between stains and decorative enamels and paints is deep penetration of toning components, which allow you to paint wood from the inside, preserving its texture and without forming a protective film on the surface.

You need to stain a tree to achieve the following goals:

wood staining V specific color or imitation of expensive breeds;
from rotting and internal destruction due to the negative effects of moisture, infection with mold and pathogenic microorganisms;
restoration and restoration of old and damaged wooden surfaces;
giving wood natural attractiveness;
increasing strength and weather resistance;
increase service life material;
decoration by combining different shades.

When choosing impregnation, it is important to consider that not all compositions have the above characteristics.

Types and composition

Modern impregnating stains can be classify according to their composition. The following types are distinguished:

aquatic;
oil;
alcohol;
acrylic;
waxy.

Water based

Such impregnations are produced in powder form (soluble in water) and ready-made liquid formulations. This environmentally friendly and safe a product with an impressive range of shades.

Water stain does not have a pronounced odor, so it can be used to treat interior and exterior wooden surfaces. Moreover, she characterized by high elasticity and adhesion to wood.

Despite its safety and practicality, the composition has some disadvantages.

The main one is she not suitable for processing wood with high content resins. This may cause dark spots to appear.

The next drawback is that when dyeing, wood fibers rise, which entails mandatory surface grinding. To eliminate this drawback, a non-aqueous wood stain is used.

Another drawback - reduction in moisture resistance characteristics wood with prolonged contact with moisture. They are quickly washed out by water, so they are not able to provide reliable protection material.

Oil based

The basis of oil stains are coloring solutions in linseed oil or drying oil.

They are easy to apply to anyone accessible tool, are characterized by good resistance to fading, high humidity and temperature changes.

In addition, they do not lift wood fibers and do not fill them excess moisture when dyeing.

Due to its high performance characteristics, this type of composition is suitable for treating structures inside and outside, forming a moisture-resistant protective film.

Thickened stain is diluted using white spirit.

Alcohol based

Impregnations are special solutions consisting of aniline dyes and denatured alcohol (alcohol base). They come in powder form and in the form of ready-made formulations.

Deep penetration of dyes into wood fibers leads to quick painting and drying of the surface.

For uniform coloring of wood with alcohol stain It is recommended to use a spray gun. This will avoid the appearance of characteristic stains and stains.

Such compositions provide reliable protection of wood from negative atmospheric influences, therefore they have been used for a long time for treating surfaces used outdoors.

Important! The main disadvantage of alcohol stains is the presence of a strong chemical odor.

Acrylic and wax based

Acrylic and wax impregnations are practically devoid of those disadvantages that are characteristic of traditional types . The compositions allow you to paint surfaces in any shade and increase their water-repellent properties.

The composition of the stains includes special acrylic resins And natural wax, creating a thin film to protect against the negative impact of external factors.

Acrylic stains. They are environmentally friendly, fireproof and practical materials intended for various types wood They do not have a pronounced chemical odor, dry quickly, and have a wide color palette. To obtain a high staining result, it is better to apply the stain in two layers, the thickness of each of them should not exceed 3-4 mm.
Wax stains. They are designed for treating painted wooden surfaces. Provide reliable protection from high moisture and temperature changes. The compositions are applied using soft fabric with circular rubbing movements.

How long does it take to dry?

Each type of stain has different drying times, which are indicated on the packaging or in the instructions for the selected composition.

When applied to a surface, water stains dry from 12 to 20 hours;
alcohol compositions dry quickly, up to 5-7 minutes. In low temperature or high humidity conditions, drying time may be 30 minutes;
oil impregnations after application they dry for 1 to 2 days;
acrylic compositions dry within 60 minutes;
wax stains After application they dry for 12-14 hours.

Color spectrum

In accordance with international classification each color is assigned its own code and name.

For example, “pine”, “walnut” or “fruit wood” stain.

To choose a wood stain that suits you color scheme, necessary carry out a test painting wood and take into account:

natural shade and type of wood processed. Painting with stain can lead to the appearance of new shades;
color range stated in the catalog. Colors under the same code from different manufacturers can produce shades of different depth and saturation. various types wood The same composition on pine will look lighter than on red wood. This can be explained by the fact that such wood has a more saturated natural shade;
quality of stains. Compositions in the same color from different manufacturers can give different coloring effects. Therefore, you should not choose products of dubious quality;
stain density. The lower the density, the more the composition is absorbed into the wood. This results in a less saturated and deep shade.

The following colors of water-based wood stains are considered the most popular:

“oak” – rich brown shade;
"Red tree"– noble burgundy shade;
“pine” – the shade is close to the natural color of the wood;
“natural” – natural light yellow tint;
“light walnut” – practically does not change natural color wood, used as a protective composition;
“cherry” – light red and rich burgundy shade;
"mahogany" - Brown color with light shades of red;
“Wenge” – dark shades of brown;
“larch” – from dark yellow to orange hue.

How to make it yourself

Simple stain for wood processing you can cook it yourself at home:

from plant ingredients;
from tea and coffee products;
from chemical components.

Based on plant materials

Decoction onion peel to obtain a bright red hue.
Peel decoction walnut to obtain a rich brown shade. To do this, the shell is crushed to a powder and boiled for 12 minutes in water. Into the finished strained decoction add 1 tsp. soda. To obtain a red tint, potassium dichromate is added instead of soda, for gray– vinegar essence.
Decoctions from oak, willow and alder bark give a rich black color.
Decoction from buckthorn berries will paint the wood an attractive golden color.

From coffee, tea and vinegar essence

To get a rich brown shade, it is enough to combine natural crushed coffee and soda.
Can be used to color light wood strong black tea brew.
To obtain a deep black shade, you need to put it in a container lay metal nails and fill them acetic acid . Leave for 5-7 days in a dark place.

Based on chemical components

The brown tint is obtained after treating the wood with a solution slaked lime.
A deep cherry tint is achieved by applying to the surface potassium permanganate solution. To do this, you will need 60 g of potassium permanganate, which is diluted with a liter of heated water.
A rich yellow tint is obtained by treating the surface with a decoction of barberry roots, to which alum is added.
Herbal color will be obtained by combining 60 g verdigris and vinegar essence. The mixture is boiled for 10 minutes.
Dark brown color is obtained by combining wolf berries with copper sulfate . Glauber's salt with these berries gives a red color, and soda gives a blue tint.

With whitening effect

Bleaching stains are used as a base before painting wood, allowing you to achieve unusual color solutions . For example, apple wood can acquire a noble milky hue, and walnut can acquire a red or light pink color.

Whitening stains can be prepared as follows:

Composition based on oxalic acid. To do this, 6 g of acid is diluted with 120 g warm water. The finished stain is suitable for processing light or bleached wood. After application, the surface is thoroughly washed with the following solution: 4 g of soda and 16 g of lime are diluted in 110 g of water.
Hydrogen peroxide solution. To do this, you will need a 30% peroxide solution, which is available for sale at any pharmacy. It is suitable for bleaching various types of wood. However, it should not be used on oak, rosewood or mahogany.

The container with stain is shaken and slightly heated to a temperature of 36 degrees. This will ensure deeper penetration of the composition into the wood.
The roller or brush is moistened with a small amount of stain. When using a spray gun, the composition is poured into a special compartment.
The vertical surface is processed from the bottom up to avoid the formation of smudges and sagging.
The horizontal surface is painted as follows: along the fibers - across - along. Impregnation is applied in thin, even layers.
Excess composition is removed with a clean rag.
Surface treatment is carried out quickly and without long breaks to prevent staining.
The desired color is obtained by painting the surface in several layers. In this case, each subsequent protective layer is applied after the previous one has dried.
Finally, the surface must be varnished and sanded using fine-grain sandpaper.

Staining wooden surfaces is The best way preserve the natural texture of the material and give it an attractive shade. Stains are suitable for processing wooden walls, ceilings and floors, decorative elements, window and door designs, garden furniture.

Similar product has a lot of advantages, but to get a good effect from coloring, you need to choose the right suitable composition in accordance with the type of surface being treated.

Wood stains are a thing of the past; they only allow you to shade the natural color of the wood or darken it by several tones. Modern stains are wonderful antiseptics that prolong life many times over. wooden products, allowing you to paint wood in a wide variety of colors. The palette of stains is expanding more and more every year.

Varieties of stains

The classification of stains consists of dividing impregnations into groups depending on the quality of the base on which they are made.

Based on this, all impregnations are divided into:

aquatic;
oil;
alcohol;
acrylic;
waxy.

I would like to note that when choosing a stain color, you must first carry out a wood sample of one or another shade of your choice. This need is dictated by the fact that wood of different quality has different ratio absorbency, which determines the final color of the painted product.

For example, conifers, due to the fact that they are impregnated with resins and oils, they do not allow various impregnations to penetrate deep into them, and therefore will not change color much, while deciduous trees with good absorption will be colored more intensely.
Wood testing will allow you to avoid unnecessary costs and get the desired result.
Let's take a closer look at the main types of impregnation, wood stain colors, and photos of painted products.

This type of stain can be presented in two forms: liquid, ready for use, and dry - in the form of a powder for the manufacture of the final product.

A distinctive feature of water-based stain is that with its help, wood can only be painted in wood shades of varying richness; it will not be possible to radically change the color of the product.

Then apply a layer of water-based stain. In this case, the product will have an attractive appearance and will remain protected from the negative effects of moisture.
Excess water-based stain that has not been absorbed into the wood surface must be removed from the surface by blotting it with a lint-free cloth.

This type of stain makes it possible to paint wood in a wide variety of colors and shades. Oil-based stains are dyes dissolved in oil. White spirit, a universal dye for oil paints, is used as a solvent for this type of impregnation.

This type of impregnation is an excellent antiseptic. Alcohol stain does not lift wood fibers, but has another significant drawback: it dries very quickly. Some will say that this is a virtue, but it is not. It dries so quickly that it is not recommended to apply it to wood with a brush, because... stains will remain, and the coloring will not have a decorative appearance.

Their advantages include the following:

They do not raise wood fibers, which means they protect the wood from the penetration of moisture into the wood fiber.
They form a layer on the surface of the wood that prevents the wood from getting wet;
Allows you to paint in a wide variety of colors and shades.
They dry out fairly quickly.
They can be applied either with a brush or with a spray.

The main advantage of stains is that they do not paint over the natural structure of the fibers, but only emphasize and shade it, which gives the interior naturalness and originality.

When using wood in your home interior, you think about how long it will last. The answer depends on whether you know how to choose stains and varnishes for interior woodwork. It is also worth considering further use: for furniture, choose non-toxic compositions, for flooring - abrasion-resistant ones.

We select the mixture according to the type of surface and its further use

Each surface has its own characteristics and risks of damage. To protect the tree and preserve its beauty, you need to carefully choose the composition of the mixture covering it.

The coating may have the following properties:

toxicity - the safest ones are made based on water, wax and oils. Nitrovarnishes and polyurethane varnishes are applied in a respirator;
drying speed - alcohol-based compositions dry the fastest (almost instantly). Varnishes and stains on water and nitro varnishes are slightly inferior to them (about three hours). Oil solutions take the longest to dry (at least a day);
the ability to prime small irregularities and porous wood - conditionally divided into ready-made self-priming compositions, nitro varnishes with a large dry residue and varnishes with the addition of a filler;
wear resistance - polyurethane varnish is the most resistant to any damage, but if used carelessly, it tightly glues the planks. The most unstable nitrocellulose;
fire resistance - ready-made fire-resistant varnishes. Fire resistance directly depends on the thickness of the layer;
absence of odor - there is no fuse for acrylic varnishes and water-based stains. The smell from epoxy and oil compounds disappears in up to three days.

They differ according to the type of application:

with a brush - viscous compositions based on oil, resins and wax are applied;
spray gun - a mixture based on alcohol and water.