Varnish or Stain for Hardwood

Exotic hardwood is fast becoming a popular building material for a variety of wood products including doors, wood trim, lawn furniture, flooring, and various wooden structures,. Coating and Maintenance Care and Protection is quite different with these hardwoods.

Due to their high natural oil content, and extremely dense wood fiber, hardwoods are hard to protect with coatings and stains because very little of most products are absorbed into the wood. Only a small layer of surface wood deteriorates and needs rejuvenated (re oiled) seasonally. Therefore any oil type wood sealer or stain will need more frequent, but easier maintenance. Unfortunately, many products are not suitable for exotic hardwood. Below is a summary of products that have tested well with us.

Interior

Wood Floors

Wood floors, countertops, walls, trim, doors, and other hardwood surfaces can be naturally beautified and protected, eliminating the disadvantages and difficult maintenance issues with most exotic hardwood finishes.

A Tung oil and resin blend like Waterlox can offer the ease of maintenance, and lack of peeling of an oil finish with the hardness of varnish. It does not give a "plastic" look to wood, but gives a hand polished, natural looking finish.

For exterior flooring applications, Waterlox Marine is available in a clear satin or gloss.

Exterior

Decks and Wood Furniture

A quality oil finish like Nature Color will re-oil the light layer of weathered wood and rejuvenate color.

One TIME Wood Protector offers longer protection, and cures by sunlight.

Film forming products like Structures Nature Color , or Sikkens DEK Finish can offer a "more finished" look, but require a little more preparation, and are a little more technical to use. All wood requires sanding before the initial application.

An oil and varnish blend like Waterlox can offer the ease of maintenance, and lack of peeling of an oil finish with the hardness of varnish. It does not give a "plastic" look to wood, but gives a hand polished, natural looking finish. For exterior applications, Waterlox Marine is available.

Doors and Trim

Film forming products like Sikkens Door & Window can offer good protection, but require a little more preparation, and are a little more technical to use.

For exterior hardwood doors and trim , Waterlox Marine is a great system to consider.

Exotic Hardwood Decks
Hardwood Floors

Acetone can be used to remove natural oils from the surface of exotic hardwood prior to coating for better performance of the finish.