the technique of lacquering

Lacquered walls may not be for the faint of heart, but they can certainly create unforgettable, dramatic rooms. While the process is more labour-intensive than other finishes, the end result packs a punch that eggshell or semi-gloss just cannot match.

A lacquered appearance can be used in any room and any colour can be used depending on the taste of the client and designer.

One way is to use real lacquer, which must be spray applied. Lacquer has a very 'hot' solvent and cannot be applied over most other coatings without creating a barrier coat between the previous coatings and the lacquer. The setup for spray, multiple coats required and extremely high solvent odour mean that it is usually not the preferred choice in an existing home.

Most often we use an enamel coating, finished off with a high-gloss coat of varnish. This not only gives the high gloss associated with lacquer, but also helps provide a translucent depth.

The preparation work needed to achieve the very smooth surface needed for this finish can often require a great deal of man hours and cost. This is all dependent on the existing surface conditions and the expectations of the client. Preparation can range from minor patching and sanding to a full resurfacing and sanding of the surfaces to make them extremely smooth.