Choose the Right Wood Finish for Your Project (2024)

Wood finishing is the process of applying a solution to wood to increase its durability, longevity, resistance, and lustre. Wood finish is a blanket term for solutions that you add to wood to preserve, protect from the elements, resist wear and tear, and beautify.

People have been using products to finish wood for millennia. Ancient Greeks used to soak timber in olive oil. Mariners used to coat wooden ship planks with pine tar, pitch, beeswax, or whale grease. Although wood is naturally sturdy and durable, humans have long understood the necessity of a good wood finish to enhance the hard-wearing performance of wood.

Regardless of the finish, a wood finishing step is crucial to maintain the look and structural integrity of lumber or wood furnishings. Without it, wood can warp, crack, discolour, and decay.

Any wood hobbyist or master carpenter worth their sawdust will tell you that the wood finish you choose will depend on your project.

Consider your project. Are you finishing a backyard redwood deck that will get pummelled by sun and rain? Or a tigerwood bathroom vanity that must withstand the effect of heat and moisture? You won’t apply the same product to an antique china cabinet as you would to a reclaimed barnwood plank. Although your sun-bleached driftwood coffee table may look earthy without a coat of clear lacquer, it might not hold up well when your guests don’t use a coaster. And, finally, a high-gloss finish on your white oak floorboards might look too plasticky, making a deep-penetrating oil a better option. The project should dictate the wood finish!

Available in a kaleidoscope of colours, it’s little wonder that paint is a common wood finishing option. To achieve a smooth finish with paint, sand wood to close the pores and get a smooth, even surface. Plug any imperfections and dents with wood filler or putty and sand the treated areas. Clean off any dust particles or residue by vacuuming or wiping. Next, add a coat of primer. Once the primer has dried, sand again and repeat the cleaning step. Apply the paint of your choice to the wood, taking care to use a paint that includes a sealer if the wood surface is designated for outdoor use.

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Polyurethane can be water-based or oil-based. Water-based polyurethane is sometimes also called a polycrylic. Water-based polyurethane dries more quickly than oil-based polyurethane because it does not soak into the wood as much as its oil-based counterpart. Water-based polyurethane also tends to infuse wood with less tint than the oil-based kind, which often gives wood a golden or amber cast.

Some woodworkers favour polyurethane because the finish is long-wearing, durable, and fast drying. Polyurethane products are relatively inexpensive; however, an often-cited downside is that the wood has a wet, plasticky finish that is not in everyone’s taste or suitable for all types of surfaces.

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The fastest-drying finish available, lacquer does not require a mechanical bond, which means sanding between layers is not necessary to make one layer adhere to the other. Lacquers are often sprayed onto wood surfaces with handheld cans or high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) spray guns. Much of the wood furniture sold in stores has been finished with clear lacquer during manufacturing. A disadvantage of lacquer is that it can get gummy if overmanipulated and, unlike natural finishes such as oil, it has a high, unpleasant odour. Wearing a respirator or mask is highly recommended when working with this product.

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Varnish is a catch-all term for layered finishes of the synthetic or non-synthetic variety. Varnish refers to products that combine oils, resins, drying agents, and thinners or solvents. One or two coats of varnish are usually sufficient as a finish on wood.

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Shellac comes from the sticky resin produced by the lac bug (Kerria lacca or Kerria chinensis), a type of insect native to South Asia. The resin secreted by this bug is collected from the trees the insect inhabits and is processed into dry flakes, which come in multiple colours.

Shellac can be purchased as a premixed solution or as flakes, which are mixed, or cut, with denatured alcohol to produce a clear coating. Shellac is known for its strong adhesive properties and resistance to oil, moisture, acid, UV rays, and boring insects, like termites. It’s safe, decomposable, non-toxic, natural and renewable. Shellac is often used by restoration specialists, high-end furniture makers, and musical instrument craftsmen. Because shellac layers well, some woodworkers like to layer shellac over tung oil, linseed oil, and polyurethane. It is fast drying but not as durable as varnish or polyurethane.

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Pure tung oil originates from the nuts of the tung tree (Aleurites fordii), a species native to Asia. Tung oil is more durable and water-resistant than shellac and linseed oil and is food safe. Pure tung oil, which contains no solvents, is also low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One of the drawbacks of tung oil is that it takes approximately five coats to achieve a polished-looking finish and takes up to three days to fully set.

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Linseed oil has long been a beloved staple in the wood shop. It is often found in varying concentrations in stains, paints, and varnishes. It derives from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum). Raw linseed oil is 100% pure linseed oil without additives, chemicals, or drying agents. Its applications range from interior uses, like hardwood flooring, and outdoor uses, like decks. Boiled linseed oil has been heat-treated to hasten curing time. Unlike a film-finish like polyurethane, linseed oil deeply penetrates wood, nourishing it from within. The effect is a smooth, organic, natural finish that doesn’t mask the grain and knots in wood and is at once water resistant, natural, non-toxic, renewable, and sustainable.

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Danish oil, unlike the name, is not a true “oil.” It is a mix of tung oil or linseed oil, a varnish, and chemical thinner. It is sometimes mixed with polyurethane. The idea behind the addition of the polyurethane is to add the hard-wearing, resistant properties of polyurethane to the otherwise natural, deep-penetrating nature of the oils.

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Hardwax oil, as the name implies, combines a wax (or waxes) with an oil (or oils). It typically combines tung or linseed oil with beeswax, candelilla wax, or carnauba wax. It dries to a satin or matte finish and is often used on floors and wood furniture.

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Epoxy is often used in decorative flooring, such as chip flooring, terrazzo, or aggregate flooring due to its impressive adhesion and extremely hard finish once bonded. It gives surfaces a high-gloss, “wet” look.

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Stain refers to the products that imbue wood with colour, either to enhance weathered wood that has dulled due to the elements or dye raw lumber with a desired hue. Available in multiple colours, stain can be layered beneath a coating of sealer or purchased premixed with a sealing agent.

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