Varnish and Stain from Everbuild Quick-Drying Results
Most end users probably won’t get too excited about the launch of a new range of varnish and stains. If they need them they will buy them. But if the products are from Everbuild, the UK’s largest independent manufacturer of sealants, adhesives, fillers and building chemicals, then it is worth more than a
was improved by a quick going over with an empty brush. True to the instructions, the coat was touch- dry within thirty minutes and so was able to resist the quick shower of rain that fell that afternoon. The next day I was able to apply a further two coats (three coats is recommended for full colour saturation and weather resistance) and then I was able to stand back and enjoy my new-looking window frame. It is definitely an advantage that
between coats I was able to simply place the brush into a jar full of cold water, and then get the brush clean when I had finished, simply using cold water and a bit of washing up liquid. I was completely satisfied with the Everbuild woodstain because it was very easy to apply and the coverage was good. For a long-term test I also applied it to an out-of-the-way
passing look. First of all there is the fact that Everbuild has a history of expertise and manufacturing in the UK, so it does have strong connections with local users, local conditions and local stockists. Everbuild has strong quality control systems and is accredited to ISO 9001 so we get products that meet the latest specs and safety legislation with the convenience of a company based in Leeds that can deliver speedily all over the country. The products I am focusing on in this particular
review are the new Everbuild Quick Drying Woodstain and the Quick Drying Varnish. Unfortunately I am old enough to remember varnish and stain products that were so toxic and filled with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that using them indoors without breathing protection and good ventilation was a good way to ruin your lungs and give you a pounding headache. The coatings industry has been hard at work for years trying to find compounds that are not as damaging to living things and polluting to water as the “old stuff”. Gradually, as I am sure you have noticed, we have seen on the market, varnishes that can be washed out in water and stains that not only provide good coverage, but last a long weatherproof time too. When considering a test for the varnish, I asked
for a sample tin in Mahogany colour. (there are five other colours, Natural Oak, Antique Pine, Dark Oak, Rosewood and Walnut) I made a mistake, as my window frames were more like a Rosewood, but this does underline the advice given by Everbuild to check your colours before proceeding with the work. However, as the pictures might show, the stain does give a good coverage and a good finish. But that is to get ahead of myself a bit. I started the test by sanding down the exterior of
my office window frame with a delta sander. This need not be anything more than getting rid of any loose or flaking varnish so you might need only a 100 or 80 grit abrasive. The surface is then dusted down to get rid of any dust or small debris. The varnish needs to be stirred thoroughly as the pigment does tend to settle when the tin is stored. Although the stain is easy to apply with a standard brush, it does pay to have some simple rules. Don’t overload the brush and work reasonably slowly and systematically along the grain. I also made sure that the end grain bits of the windowsill were well coated. The initial coat I applied looked quite thin, but the appearance
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fence post so I can see how it lasts when applied to previously untreated wood. I used the opportunity provided by
my son’s new flat to try out the sample of quick drying varnish on an internal window frame that I had to repair. Once again, preparation was fairly straightforward – I just had to feather in the old finish and the gently sand the new wood so the two surfaces could blend together as imperceptibly as possible. Then a quick clean of the resulting dust with a clean paintbrush and a damp cloth was enough to ensure that once it was dry, I could start varnishing. The feel and texture of the varnish is light and creamy, lighter than the old- fashioned varnishes were, and it applies quite easily as
Independent Review by Peter Brett
long as you have a light touch and follow the grain. Again it helps to go over the initial coating with a light feather touch to leave as smooth a surface as possible. The resulting surface was actually touch dry in less than thirty minutes, but I guess that has something to do with warmer temperatures indoors. I was able to apply a couple more coats later that day and the following morning and I was left with a clear glossy surface that had some depth of finish to it. I guess because of its water solubility, it is important not to get water on the surface before the varnish has completely dried. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to wash the brush out using only water and a bit of washing up liquid. I have found over the years that it is best to stick with the manufacturer’s advice when using finishes.
So, if you need an exterior quality varnish, don’t just think that interior quality will do. A manufacturer such as Everbuild has a range of products that will most often provide you with the solution you need. There is no excuse now that we have all the online resources we need to check on what each manufacturer has available – and the Everbuild website gives a good overview of it’s products.
Reply No. 209
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