Wood Finish

Wood finishes are necessary part of wood furniture, floors and many other wooden home décor. Finish loosely refers to any chemical applied to a wood. However, the official definition is that it is a clear protective coating that sits on or in the surface of the wood. There are typically five common types; oil, varnish, shellac, lacquer and water based finishes. The type of wood finish that is used depends mainly on the use of the wood. A wood that is going to get a lot of use will need a finish that is extremely durable. Durability refers mainly to the chemical makeup of the finish as opposed to the number of coasts that are used.

Oil finishes have been used for centuries. The oil seeps into the wood right down into the fibers. The oil finishes can't be built up into a thick coat, which makes it offer less protection. When picking out an oil finish make sure to get one that has been cured, like linseed oil or tung oil.

Varnish is a very common wood finish. The fact that it is the most protective available makes it one of the most popular finishes to use. The more layers with this finish the more protective and durable it becomes. The downside to this wood finish is that it is really slow to dry which can allow for dust and dirt to settle and ultimately damage it. The composition of varnish is a mixture of oil and resin.

A very old resin that is still used today is shellac. Shellac is not good for tabletops, chairs or kitchen cabinets - basically, any wood that is going to get a lot of use. Shellac is a very fast drying wood finish. It is available in a wide range of colours from clear to amber-orange. This wood finishes variety in colour and the fact that it is fast drying makes it very popular for use.

Lacquer is a common wood finish used in furniture factories. The reason for this is that it is fast acting. Since this wood finish dries fast it leaves less room for dust and dirt damage to the finish. The main caution for this wood finish is that the fumes are harmful to health and lacquer dust can be explosive.

A more environmental friendly finish to be used is water based wood finish. These wood finishes are basically a latex base with out the pigment. The downside to the water based wood finishes is that they can hold visible brush marks and have a tendency to bubble but they are easy clean up which if used on floors can make the flooring child and pet friendly.

Wood finishes are not only necessary to extend the life and quality of wood but they can also be used to create ambiance to a room.