Picking the Right Wood Finish
Consider Function and Looks With Trim, Cabinets, and Siding
Dec 30, 2007
Picking the Right Wood Finish
Make no mistake about it; there are more wood finishes to choose from than ever before. How to go about choosing the right wood finish for a particular DIY project? The first consideration is how the wood in question will be used. What environment will it be in? What is its purpose? This is a good time to examine the wood finish choices.
Painting Wood Surfaces
During a home makeover or during new construction, many wooden objects around the house will take a paint finish. It’s important to choose the right paint for the project. For example, when remodeling kitchen cabinets, a gloss or semi-gloss sheen is the way to go.
A shiny surface on kitchen woodwork reflects available light, which opens up the space and makes potentially dangerous work (like using sharp knives) safer. Also, both gloss and semi-gloss paints lend themselves to easy cleaning.
When painting exterior wood surfaces such as siding and fascia boards, make sure to use a paint that is labeled for exterior use and preferably contains a fungicide ingredient.
Painting wood paneling has its own considerations.
Any raw wood surface should be primed with the proper primer (oil-based primer or water-based latex primer) before being painted.
Using a Wood Stain
Using a wood stain is the proper way to change the color of raw wood. Kitchen cabinets can be stained, as can door and window trim, stair banisters, crown molding, and more. A polyurethane coat on top of this completes the finish.
But why use a wood stain in the first place? One reason is to use an inexpensive wood species such as pine, and make it look more like a more expensive species such as cherry, oak, or mahogany.
Some wood stains are formulated with sealers. Some applications for this type of product include weatherproofing decks and porches. Also, consider a wood stain sealer for wood siding such as western red cedar.
Using an Oil Finish
Using an oil finish brings out the beauty and the grain in wood. This is particularly true of fine domestic hardwoods such as red oak, maple, cherry, and walnut. Consider using an oil finish on exotic woods as well, such as purpleheart, zebrawood, and cocobolo.
All oil finishes are not created equal. Consider –
- Linseed Oil – Both regular linseed oil and boiled linseed oil may be used, but the boiled variety is generally preferred because of the shorter drying time. Linseed oil should only be used on interior projects such as when restoring antique furniture with an existing linseed finish.
- Danish and Teak Oil – Both Danish and teak oils are better for new woodwork without a previous finish than is linseed oil. What’s the difference? Danish oil is low luster while teak oil is a bit brighter. Personal preference prevails.
- Mineral Oil – Mineral oil is the way to go for surfaces that must be non-toxic, such as butcher blocks.
- Tung Oil – Tung oil is preferred for woodwork that gets a lot of moisture. It’s a natural for marine applications. Applying several coats (going over it with #000 steel wool between coats) results in a beautiful sheen.
These are just the main categories of the most popular wood finishes available. Each category has a myriad of derivatives under it. Manufacturers such as Behr, Minwax, Tried & True, and Glidden are just a few who have busy R & D departments, striving to bring new and environmentally-friendly wood finishes to market.
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