The finish you apply to any piece of timber—be it structural cladding, a piece of custom furniture, or a floor—is a critical layer of engineered protection. Its purpose is threefold: to enhance the aesthetic, to protect the wood from moisture ingress, and to guard against physical wear, UV degradation, and fungal attack. Choosing the wrong finish can lead to costly and frustrating failures, such as peeling, warping, or discolouration.
Penetrating finishes: Stains and oils (aesthetic enhancement)
These finishes absorb into the wood fibres rather than sitting on the surface. They colour the wood while leaving the tactile feel and texture of the grain intact.
- Wood Stains
Stains contain pigments designed to change the colour of the wood, mimicking more expensive timbers (like mahogany or walnut) or simply adding depth.
- Oil-Based Stains: Offer deeper, more consistent penetration and tend to dry slower, giving you more time to work. They are often used outdoors as they work well on rough-sawn or pressure-treated timber. Crucially, they offer little to no protection against moisture and must be topped with a clear protective sealant.
- Gel Stains: Thicker consistency, which makes them easier to apply vertically without runs. Excellent for fibreglass or difficult-to-stain woods like pine.
- Natural Oils (Danish, Tung, Linseed)
Oils penetrate deeply to “feed” the wood, enhancing the natural grain structure and providing a level of water resistance. They don’t form a brittle surface film, so they are easy to repair—a quick re-application is all that’s needed.
- Best for: Interior furniture, kitchen worktops (Tung oil is often food-safe), and chopping boards.
- Maintenance: Requires regular re-oiling (annually for high-traffic areas) but the process is simple and requires no stripping.
Film-forming finishes: Varnishes and lacquers (durable protection)
These products dry to form a durable, continuous film on the surface of the timber, acting as a complete physical barrier against wear and moisture. They offer superior durability over oils but can chip or scratch, requiring stripping before re-application.
- Polyurethane (PU) Varnish
The workhorse of modern clear finishes, offering exceptional resistance to scratches, abrasion, chemicals, and water.
| PU Varnish Type | Best Application | Key Benefit |
| Oil-Based PU | High-traffic flooring, external doors (with UV additives), bar tops. | Extreme durability and hardness; imparts a subtle amber tone that deepens over time. |
| Water-Based PU | Light-use furniture, interior trim, children’s toys. | Low odour, faster drying time (allowing multiple coats in one day), maintains the wood’s natural pale colour. |
| Finish Options | Matt, Satin, Semi-Gloss, Gloss. | Satin is the most popular choice for flooring as it hides small scratches and imperfections better than high gloss. |
- Specialist Varnishes
- Marine Varnish: Formulated for flexibility and UV resistance, crucial for exterior wood exposed to extreme sunlight and temperature fluctuations. It contains UV stabilisers and allows the wood to expand and contract without cracking the film.
- Epoxy Finishes: Used as a clear sealant or grain filler, often applied before a PU topcoat. Creates an extremely tough, chemical-resistant surface, ideal for garage floors or industrial workbenches.
Opaque finishes: Paints and wood preservers (full sealing)
Paint offers the highest level of surface protection by completely sealing the wood, making it the most reliable choice for exterior elements constantly battered by the UK weather. However, it entirely conceals the natural grain.
The crucial role of priming
A professional paint job on timber always begins with preparation, specifically a high-quality primer.
- Primer Function: Primer seals the porous end-grain and, most importantly, locks in the natural oils (resins) contained in wood knots, particularly in softwoods like pine.
- Knotting Solution: For softwood, a shellac-based knotting solution applied directly to the knots is mandatory before priming. This prevents the resin from ‘bleeding’ through and yellowing the final paint layer months or even years later.
Exterior paints
- Microporous Paint: Modern exterior timber paint is often microporous. This means it is water-resistant on the outside but allows the wood to “breathe” (i.e., allow trapped moisture vapour to escape from the inside). This prevents the paint film from blistering, peeling, or cracking—a common failure point of old, non-microporous gloss paints.
- Best for: All exterior cladding, window frames, doors, and garden sheds.
By selecting your finish based on the required level of protection and the wood’s intended use—not just the colour—you ensure a professional result that will stand the test of time.
Finding vetted tradespeople with Rated People
Connecting with a qualified local tradesperson who specialises in finishing can be done efficiently with Rated People.
- How it Works: Rated People acts as a bridge between homeowners and local, reviewed tradespeople. You post the details of your job—e.g., “Need a joiner to spray-finish a new custom built-in wardrobe with water-based PU varnish” or “Need a painter/decorator to apply microporous paint to exterior window frames”.
- Quote Comparison: Once the job is posted, local tradespeople including trusted local carpenters express their interest. You typically receive multiple quotes, allowing you to compare prices and proposed methods.
- Verification and Reviews: With Rated People, you can access the customer review system. You can view feedback and ratings from previous clients to gauge the quality of their work, reliability, and professionalism before you commit to hiring.
By utilising Rated People, you move beyond guesswork and hire a professional whose skills in the art of timber finishing have already been verified by your community.
With Rated People, you have the power to get it done. Find a trusted, local tradesperson today.
