Woodcare Buying Guide

Q: Why is woodcare important?

Proper woodcare is crucial because wood is susceptible to damage from moisture, sunlight, pests, and wear and tear. It helps prevent these issues and prolong the life and beauty of wooden surfaces.

Q: What are common woodcare products?

Common woodcare products include varnishes, oils, waxes, paints and stains which are all designed to protect, finish, and maintain wooden surfaces. Each type of woodcare product is better suited to a different environment or provides different qualities.

Q: How often should I use woodcare products on wooden furniture?

How often you need to treat wood depends on factors such as wood type, finish, and where the wood is. Typically, applying protective products like varnish or wax every year is recommended, although some fence and decking products can protect the wood and look fresh for up to 15 years.

Q: Can I apply varnish over an existing finish?

Yes, varnish can be applied over an existing finish, provided that proper surface preparation, including sanding and cleaning, is carried out to ensure good adhesion.

Q: What's the difference between oil-based and water-based wood finishes?

Oil-based finishes generally provide deeper colour and require more drying time, while water-based finishes dry faster, have lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and are easier to clean up.

Q: What's the best way to protect outdoor wooden surfaces?

To shield outdoor wood surfaces from UV rays and moisture, it's best to use exterior-grade varnishes, paints, and oils.

Q: Can I use the same woodcare product for different types of wood?

While some woodcare products are versatile, it's essential to choose products tailored to the specific wood type you're working with. Different woods have varying needs and characteristics; for instance, exterior wood requires hardy products to withstand the elements, while interior wood may need safer options, such as food-grade varnish for kitchen use.

Wood is a natural material known for its aesthetic appeal and the warmth it adds to indoor and outdoor spaces. However, to retain its beauty and increase longevity, it requires proper care and protection.

Factors like the type of wood, exposure to weather, and the location, play a role in determining the level of care and maintenance needed.

You’ll find a variety of woodcare products, including stain, oil, and wax, and this buying guide will help you choose the right type of woodcare products, so you can preserve and protect your wood for years to come.

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Types of Wood

Hardwood

Hardwoods, such as oak and walnut, are strong, durable and not prone to warping or splitting. However, hardwoods are generally more expensive than softwoods and need to be washed yearly with soapy water to prevent algae building up on the surface. Compared to softwoods, they’ll need less maintenance to keep them protected from the elements – although it’s still recommended to keep them topped up with stain, wax, oil or paint.

Types of Hardwood

Oak
Walnut
Mahogany
Maple
Ash

Softwood

Softwoods, including pine and cedar, are more cost-effective and versatile than hardwoods. However, they need more regular maintenance than hardwood and are more commonly used internally to keep them protected from the elements. You’ll find some softwoods are pressure treated which can offer up to 15 years of protection making them better suited to outdoor use – especially when stains, paints, or oils are applied.

Types of Softwood

Pine
Cedar
Fir
Redwood
Yew

Types of Woodcare Products

Wood Preserver

Wood preserver is a specialised treatment that can be applied before paint, stain, or varnish - or on its own to untreated or bare wood. It is mainly used to add extra protection against wood rot and insect damage. If you have untreated or bare wood surfaces, preservers are a perfect starting point.

Wood preservers are usually colourless and are absorbed deep into the wood, meaning it can keep its natural appearance but still provide protection.

If you’re looking to stain or paint the wood, a wood preserver can add an extra step which takes more time. You’ll find plenty of woodcare products that have preservative properties which can save you time and money.

Advantages

Absorbed deep into the surface for powerful protection
Eco-friendly option for wood preservation
Prevents rot, fungus and woodworm

Things to Consider

Adds an extra step to woodcare

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Wood Paint

Paint is a coating primarily used to change the colour of the surface of the wood. It can also be used to seal and shield wood from water, and it’s commonly used for outdoor fencing.

Paint offers a wide spectrum of colour options to fit your style, no matter what you’re after. Wood paints offer a natural level of protection on the surface of the wood, but many wood paints also include a protective formula for added strength against the elements.

If you want to keep the natural wood grain, you may find wood stain is a better option – as wood paint will cover it up completely. Wood paint also needs regular maintenance to maintain its fresh appearance, often every year or every few years depending on the environment and the product.

Advantages

Wide array of colours to choose from
Protects from the elements

Things To Consider

Covers the natural wood grain
Needs regular maintenance

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Wood Oil

Wood oils protect and enhance the look of interior and exterior wooden surfaces. Danish and teak oils are best for interior wood such as worktops and tables. Whereas UV and decking oils are ideal for garden furniture and other outdoor features, protecting the wood against the elements.

Oils replenish the wood's natural oils to provide protection and ensure your wooden features look and feel fresh for years to come by bringing out the natural qualities of the wood. Wood oil is a great way to replace the oils lost in wood through ageing and weathering over time.

Wood oils should be applied regularly to ensure they’re providing protection and looking fresh.

Advantages

Some oils protect from UV and the rain
Encourage natural qualities of the wood
Replace oils lost through ageing and weathering

Things To Consider

Regular maintenance and reapplication needed

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Wood Varnish

Varnish is a protective finish that excels at guarding against scuffs and knocks while enhancing the wood's overall beauty. It is an excellent choice for hardwood doors and exterior wood surfaces such as outdoor furniture.

Varnish provides robust protection and highlights the aesthetics of the wood it covers. You’ll find wood varnish in a range of colours and finishes, including matt, satin, gloss and silk so you’ll always have the right look for your space.

Before applying varnish, you’ll need to carry out thorough preparation for each coat to make sure it fully protects the wood and gives a professional-level finish.

Advantages

Provides protection against scuffing, chipping and the elements
Highlights the natural wood grain
Range of colours and finishes available

Things To Consider

Thorough preparation needed before and between coats

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Wood Wax

Wax is used to give wooden surfaces a natural shine while preserving the natural colour and grain. It provides a natural-looking finish and is most commonly used on finishing sealed or pre-polished interior wood such as floorboards and table tops. You’ll even find small wax repair sticks which are perfect for touching up small scuffs and marks.

Wax maintains the wood's natural colour and grain and leaves a natural soft matt finish, so is a perfect option if you’re looking to keep, rather than cover up, the wood.

Waxed surfaces can become slippery so care needs to be taken especially soon after applying the wax on floorboards. Some waxes are less suited to high-heat environments. You’ll also find that wood wax offers lower levels of protection against scuffing than varnish.

Advantages

Preserves natural wood colour and grain
Leaves a natural, soft matt finish

Things To Consider

Can sometimes be slippery, especially after just applying
Less suited to high-heat environments
Less protection than varnish

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Key Woodcare Considerations

Finish

Select from options like gloss, matt, satin, silk, or smooth semi-gloss finishes to achieve your desired appearance. For a really natural, classic appearance, matt finishes are perfect – while gloss finishes are more modern and reflect a lot of light.

Colour

When it comes to wood paint, you can choose from a wide range of colours. Meanwhile, you’ll find stains, waxes and varnishes come in natural shades such as natural, medium oak, natural, dark brown and other similar shades. If you’re not after any colour, there are plenty of clear options available which provide protection and highlight the natural wood colour.

Slip Resistance

Some woodcare products, particularly those designed for decking or floorboards, have slip resistant qualities which is especially important in wet weather – no more worrying about stumbling over!

Application Method

Consider the most suitable application method for your project, whether it be brushing, spraying, cloth application, or buffing. Brushes are the most common option, but you’ll also find paint sprayers to speed up the process - or you can use a cloth which can offer a streak-free finish.

Shower Proof

In the UK, it’s never long before the next downpour. Exterior woodcare products will tell you how long before they’re ‘shower proof’ - meaning the amount of time that needs to go by before rain won’t affect the finish or the protective qualities of the stain, paint, oil or varnish.

Coverage

Make sure you have enough stain, paint, oil, wax, preserver or varnish before you get going by multiplying the surface's length and width in square metres. Then refer to the manufacturer's coverage guidelines to see how much it covers.