You installed a wood floor or deck, Great choice! Now a regular question is “how do I protect my wood decking?”.

We will give you some hints

It is tricky trying to work out what to finish timber with, and this is particularly so for the novice and environmentally conscious. The more we look into it and think we understand, the wider the field expands!

Wood finishing is a highly complicated and somewhat scientific field. What works for one species is not necessarily the best product for another.  

Sometimes the best decision is NOT to finish the wood, like this naturally eroded Ulin board, which has a beautiful patina on the surface from years of being walked on. It has been finished by body oils seeping out through the soles of people’s feet and into the wood. 

Finishing wood in an appropriate way is exceedingly important if you want to get the best out of your wood.

We surveyed different types of wood finishes for you to decide what is right for you according to your preferences, and the type of wood.

For those of you with experience in this area, you may have noted there are limited choices in certain areas. Your average local builder will tend to offer the standard polyurethane-based finished that they know, interchangeably called “Politur” or “Mowilex”, a brand-name.

However, there are a number of options available for timber finishes.

SOLVENT BASED

●       Polyurethane Coatings Modern varnishes and polyurethanes are generally petrochemical-based which

are thinned with petroleum distillates to enable easy application. Some varnishes are

made by heating oils and synthetic resins, then thinned with hydrocarbon solvents.

 OIL BASED

●     Unblended Wood Oils: Oils that are extracted from plants or nuts. Can be 100% pure or blended with other oils.

Common wood oils: Tung / Linseed / Soy / Castor.

 ●     Polymerised Wood Oils

Specially processed oils that have been heated to cause ‘thermal polymerisation. More expensive than unblended oils.

●     Pigment Oil

Pigment gives longer protection to timber from harmful UV rays.

Stain will darken the timber colour.

 WATER BASED

●     Pigmented Paint

Many types of paints on the market, some better than others.

Traditional finishes such as lime wash are pigment-based.

Will protect wood indefinitely.

Paint will cover the wood so characteristics are not displayed.

 ●     Water Based Coatings & sealants (petrochemical-derived).

Developed in a move away from traditional solvent finishes, are supposed contain less VOCs (volatile organic compounds) than solvent-based products. The type of coating that you use should be determined by timber type, use, desired gloss level and appearance and your own personal preferences.

Once again, there is so much choice that it comes down to three main aspects to decide the best oil:

-       Environmental preferences,

-       Type of wood

-       Desired look