Ultimate A-Z Guide to Professional Wood Coatings

(Ultimate A-Z guide to professional coatings ) - Author - Andy Potts September 29th 2021 (reading time 2 mins)

Video: A quick video guide to the different type of wood finishes

Wood coatings have many boxes to tick to live up to the expectations of professional joiners, architects and interior designers. They must provide the right aesthetic appearance; protect the wood from atmospheric conditions, aging, and chemical and physical stress; and have minimal environmental impact.

This quick-reference guide will help you to choose the best product for the job every time. It explains the different types of wood coatings, when to use them and the best products on the market (tried and tested by our Total Paint Shop Support Team).

Acid-catalysed coatings

Also known as AC lacquers, these two-pack products are easy to apply, quick-drying and extremely hard wearing. Acid-catalysed products outperform pre-catalysed products when it comes to hardness and durability.

Use for: wood interiors, furniture and high-use areas that require a good level of resistance to abrasion, heat and chemicals.

Suitable for: domestic and contract use.

Finish and colour: available as clear lacquer and coloured coatings in a range of gloss levels.

Browse our recommended products >>

Acrylic lacquers

Durable and scratch-resistant lacquers that resist yellowing.

Use for: bleached timber, natural briars and pale-coloured timber.

Suitable for: domestic and contract use.

Finish and colour: available as clear lacquer in a range of gloss levels.

Browse our recommended products >>

to completed wood paint

Fire-retardant coating systems for wood

Coating systems that achieve Class 1, or Class 0 (now known as Euro B) fire protection rating while retaining the visual appearance of standard premium wood coatings.

Use for: panelling or furniture in interior applications that require fire-retardant properties for insurance or building regulations approval.

Suitable for: domestic and contract use.

Finish and colour: available as clear lacquer and coloured coatings in a range of gloss levels.

Browse our recommended products >>

Polyester basecoats

Polyester basecoats achieve a fast, fully closed-pore finish.

Use for: timbers with deep and absorbent pores and are highly susceptible to strong air release (e.g. elm, zebrawood, rotary-cut mahogany veneer, briar, MDF). Well-suited to car and boat interiors, pianos and furniture.

Suitable for: domestic and contract use.

Finish and colour: available as a clear or white basecoat that can be over-coated with a polyurethane or acrylic topcoat to achieve a gloss, satin or matt finish.

Browse our recommended products >>

Polyurethanes

Two-pack polyurethane coatings are versatile, quick-drying and offer exceptional adhesion, elasticity and durability. Products are available for interior and exterior use

Use for: coating furniture that requires a good level of surface hardness, chemical resistance, mechanical strength and UV-stability (e.g chairs, cabinet doors, frames, joinery, wood flooring).

Suitable for: domestic and contract projects; furniture finishing on an industrial scale.

Finish and colour: available as clear lacquer and coloured coatings in a range of gloss levels.

Browse our recommended products >>

Pre-catalysed coatings

Also known as pre-cat coatings, these are easy to use, durable one-component lacquer systems that contain a hardening agent.

Use for: indoor cabinetry and furniture, and timber work surfaces

Suitable for: domestic and contract use.

Finish and colour: available as clear lacquer and coloured coatings in a range of gloss levels.

Browse our recommended products >>

Water-based exterior joinery coatings

Quick-drying single-pack coatings with excellent elasticity, durability and resistance to water and UV. Water-based exterior coatings are much safer for the environment and the user than solvent-based equivalents.

Use for: hardwood and softwood structures that are exposed to outdoor environments (e.g. conservatories, doors, windows).

Suitable for: domestic, contract and industrial use, depending on the product.

Finish and colour: available in a wide range of gloss levels in clear, tintable and solid non-blocking colours.

Browse our recommended products >>

Water-based interior joinery wood coatings

High-performance water-based interior wood coatings offer the same appearance and smoothness as solvent-based products but are much safer for the environment and the user.

Use for: interior furniture, woodwork and cabinetry

Suitable for: Domestic and contract use.

Finish and colour: available as clear lacquer and coloured coatings in a range of gloss levels.

Browse our recommended products >>

Wood Stains used to good effect in the manufacturing of bespoke beds

Wood stains and dyes

Stains and dyes change the colour of timber while allowing the natural grain to show through. Dyes are purely decorative coatings that do not offer any form of protection, whereas stain products can be purely decorative or can possess protective and preservative properties. In our own customer base stains have been particularly effective with bedroom furniture manufacturers allowing customers to choose a natural stain effect, order their bed and have it delivered rapidly to their custom specification.

Use for: interior and exterior wooden structures and furniture where a specific colour is change is required while bringing out the natural grain of the wood.

Suitable for: domestic and contract use.

Finish and colour: stains and dyes are available in a wide range of colours and gloss levels.

Browse our recommended products >>