How to Apply Lacquer

If you’re working on finishing (or refinishing) flooring, a piece of furniture, or a portion of your home, you might receive a recommendation to use lacquer. Knowing how (and why) to apply lacquer is an important skill that many homeowners and/or DIYers should be familiar with. This article will teach you more about lacquer, helping you to determine if your current home project requires a coating of lacquer.

What is Lacquer?

Lacquer is a damage-resistant, durable, and hard coating that is often applied to different materials to serve as a protective layer. Usually, the mixture of lacquer contains a material such as shellac, cotton, resin, or cellulose ester solids to help in the hard texture and shiny finish that it has after it dries. Sometimes, a certain pigmentation is added to a lacquer mixture to give the layer a finish after the lacquer is dried. Usually, lacquer is used to coat metal or wood and comes in solvent-based and water-based varieties. Solvent-based lacquer can occasionally have a yellow tint once it dries, so keep that in mind when you’re trying to achieve a certain color. Compensating with a preparatory whitewash might help if your lacquer is more yellow than you wish. Water-based lacquer can have a little bit more flexibility than solvent-based lacquer, which can prevent any small chips or damage.

What is Lacquer Used For?

There are many benefits of using lacquer. Lacquer dries incredibly fast, which makes it a time-efficient solution to protect your wood or metal. This is one reason why it is a popular choice among first-time DIYers and professionals alike. The finish of your lacquer will blend into any existing stains or finishes, which makes it easy to restore and refinish old pieces of furniture. It is also easy to fix and hide damage since a new coat will blend in perfectly with the existing lacquer. That said, most lacquers are highly protective and damage resistant. For this reason, lacquer is often used to finish hardwood floors, especially in areas that are going to have a lot of foot traffic. A lacquer finish can help hardwood floors maintain their stain, beauty, and shine, without becoming quickly worn down or damaged.

Lacquer can be applied using a brush or sprayer, depending on the variety of lacquer that you’re using. There are even some aerosol lacquer products that are available on the market. For certain projects, a particular application might be more successful. For example, a brush application can be easy for a small surface that requires a lot of attention to detail, while a spray application will be easier for large surfaces that will take a long time to cover. Just be aware that the fumes emitted by certain lacquers can sometimes be dangerous to your health or can even be a fire hazard. Make sure that you wear the necessary protective clothing and equipment so that you are well-protected during the application process. You should also have a fan or other resources for ventilation in the application area.

Where Shoul I Buy My Lacquer?

 Vista Paint is a high-quality, eco-friendly paint brand that always creates quality products, including lacquers, with low-VOC or VOC-free products. Our incredibly durable lacquer products are also non-flammable, which makes them a better option. 

What Lacquer Products Does Vista Paint Have?

Here are a few top-rated products we create and sell. Each of these lacquer products has slightly different purposes and qualities, so make sure you choose the right lacquer for the material that you’re going to be painting or finishing. Additionally, keep in mind that some types of lacquer have a slight tint from the materials used to create the lacquer. Make sure to spend some time researching the different finishes and tints to ensure that your lacquer of choice won’t alter your material’s coloring in a way that you wouldn’t like. Some lacquers have pigmentation added to give them a trendier colored finish and other lacquers are mostly clear. Here are a few of the lacquers for you to consider.

9200 AquaLac Gloss:

This premium type of lacquer is water-based, giving it a clear finish without any yellowing tint. It is low-VOC, low odor, non-flammable, and damage-resistant. If you’re looking for a hard, damage-resistant lacquer that is also eco-friendly, this is a great option. This lacquer works best for cabinets, doors, pieces of furniture, and other wooden objects. This product has a shiny, gloss finish.

9100 AquaLac Eggshell:

This premium type of lacquer is water-based, giving it a clear finish without any yellowing tint. It is low-VOC, low odor, non-flammable, and damage-resistant. If you’re looking for a hard, damage-resistant lacquer that is also eco-friendly, this is a great option. This lacquer works best for cabinets, doors, pieces of furniture, and other wooden objects. This product has a muted, eggshell finish.

6600 AquaLac Waterbourne Lacquer Undercoat:

This premium water-based lacquer has excellent sanding properties and minimum grain raising and includes tanning resistance. It works well for finishing wood, drywall, paneling, hardboard, and other projects. It is very durable and has excellent adhesion.

If you’re also shopping for regular paint colors for other surfaces in your home’s interior, you’ll find many beautiful and timeless options at Vista Paint. Similar to their lacquer products, their paint products are low-VOC or VOC-free and will be safe options for your home and health. Check out their color palette to see the many stunning and trendy options that are available to you. You can also order paint chip samples to see how their colors will look in your space. A new splash of paint on your walls will pair perfectly with your freshly lacquered floors or furniture.