VARNISH FINISH FOR HARDWOOD FLOORS Thoroughly cleanse and remove all surface imperfections. Fill all woodwork with a good paste filler, cleaning thoroughly from surface. Stain if required. Shellac one coat, and varnish two coats of best varnish designed for floor use. Each coat must be thoroughly dry before the application of another. Care must be taken to protect floors from damage. (See Note 27.) NOTE 27—Very frequently the color desired for these floors can be obtained by adding necessary coloring matter to the filler. The color of the shellac (white or orange) should be determined by the color required.
If a flat finish is desired, specify to be rubbed with oil and pumice stone to an even, dull surface. A dull rubbed surface does not show surface scratches or abrasions as readily as a bright varnish gloss. Under no consideration use a flat or "dead" varnish to procure this result.
For first-class results you may eliminate the shellac coating and substitute one additional coat of varnish. It is very essential for best results, that each coat be thoroughly dry before the application of another.
This style of finish is suitable for residences; but proper care must be exercised that it be not abused, for at best a varnished floor surface, from its very nature, is more or less fragile.