WOOD COATINGS

 Protecting Wood

Because of its warm, natural look, strength and budget-friendly price tag, wood is the most commonly used building and decorating material for a variety of home applications, including flooring, cabinets, furniture and decks.

Wooden surfaces are often stained or painted, but these finishes only serve a decorative purpose. To ensure that your wooden items last, it is crucial to apply a topcoat or sealer product to them. Coating your wood has a variety of benefits that not only increase its life span but your enjoyment of it as well, so it is a step that you should not skip.

• Smooth Finish
• Preserve Color
• Prevent Moisture Damage
• Easier Cleaning

Smooth Finish

Even wooden objects that are carefully sanded can have uneven or rough areas across their surface. Applying a topcoat or sealer product to your wood provides a smooth, even finish that gives it a finished look. Most topcoats and sealers dry to a hard, shiny finish that is durable and long lasting, so your wood will maintain its attractive appearance for years. In particular, wooden items such as furniture and flooring benefit from the smooth, shiny finish that a coating product provides.

Preserve Color

Many wooden items are stained or painted to provide a more decorative appearance. Coating the wood after applying paint or stain helps preserve the color that you’ve chosen by forming a protective seal over the wood’s surface. Some stains and paints also have a tendency to bleed when applied, which can cause a blotchy finish for your wooden surface. Coating the wood with a topcoat or sealer helps prevent bleeding, so the stain or paint has a smooth, consistent color across the entire surface.

Prevent Moisture Damage

Wood is a porous material so it readily absorbs water and other liquids. When moisture is absorbed, the wood may start to decay, making it prone to breakage and discoloration. Preventing moisture damage is especially important in wooden items used outdoors because they are subject to rain and other moist weather conditions. Unlike paint and stain, which are simply absorbed by the wood, a coating product like topcoat or sealer actually fills in the wood’s pores so moisture that sits on its surface cannot penetrate down into the wood. Some topcoat products used for decks and other outdoor applications contain a water repellent, which causes rain and other moisture to bead up when it hits the wood.

Easier Cleaning

Coating wood flooring or furniture can make cleaning the surface much easier. Because the coating provides a hard, durable finish that moisture cannot penetrate, the wood is less likely to become stained when spills occur. In most cases, the liquids will simply sit on the surface of the wood where they can be easily wiped away. As a result, coated wood floors simply need to be swept and mopped to stay clean, while coated wood furniture usually requires only light dusting