Wood and timber finishes can be used to embellish the characteristics of the material, or protect its surface from spoiling under one of many conditions. Following sufficient preparation, most timber and wood surfaces, from panelling, flooring, beams and furnishings, to doors, window frames, sills and decking are ready for one of several treatments, coatings or paints:

• Wood oil
• Wood varnish
• Wood and timber paint
• Fire retardant paint
• Wood stain
• Wax
• Lacquer
• Shellac
• Wood preservative
• Wood dye
• And many more

A number of these finishes are available to buy today at Rawlins Paints, and we have published articles on our blog on how to get the best wood finishes, or looked at product recommendations for a specific project.

The products stocked here are not for domestic, DIY or upcycling projects, and instead for renovation, restoration or new-build projects on a grand scale. From heritage sites and state homes, to churches, chapels and art galleries, products available at Rawlins Paints are better suited for high-end, feature focused work in locations such as:

• Hotel foyers
• Sports centres’ court surfaces
• Agricultural structures
• Exposed beams and timber frames in listed buildings
• Public houses, bars, restaurants, cafes and nightclub counters, panelling and exposed stairs that require durable and decorative products to protect them from light to medium footfall, abrasion and where applicable, heat, water and exposure to sunlight and UV rays
• Outhouses
• Wine cellars
• Office and public space corridors and wooden floors
• Plus, many more scenarios within the workplace, retail sector and public buildings

There are three primary types of wood finishes:

• Evaporative
• Wax is one example, where through its application process it is dissolved in turpentine to form a soft paste. As the distillation process continues, a wax residue is left over on the surface
• Reactive
• These types of finishes include the use of solvents and white spirits as a base, which then change chemically as the product cures. Examples are varnishes, linseed or Tung oil
• Coalescing
• Water-based finishes tend to fall into the coalescing category. Several wood finishes available at Rawlins Paints are water-based, some with solvent-based counterparts, too

Key criteria for clear wood finishes, where the underlying substrate’s grain is frequently required to be embellished, are:

• Cost efficiency and subsequent maintenance – cleaning regimes or further refinishing also routinely required
• Final appearance
• Colour
• Darkening of the wood
• Gloss, matt or satin finish
• Level of protection offered
• Durability
• Safety, VOCs, application requirements
• Water-resistance

Water resistance is frequently a key requirement – to protect against spills, splashes and light-cleaning products.

Please refer to product datasheets for further information on:

• Product thinning
• Some manufacturers encourage a product to be thinned for improved coverage rates
• Drying times
• Recoatable
• Maintenance requirements
• Storage of products after use
• Cleaning of application equipment
• VOCs and full chemical make-up of a product
• Whether a product can or must not be stirred

There are so many products and finishes available, that to cover all application and finishing methods per product type would be nearly impossible. So, please visit our blog or contact us for application and ‘best finish’ tips per product.

Bear in mind that water-based and solvent-based products may dry / cure to leave a different result – solvent coatings may be slightly darker, but ultimately are more durable. Wood stains will also soak into the wood or timber and therefore cannot be sanded down, whereas varnishes can be applied as a durable topcoat that can be sanded down or planed to remove it.

Please contact our Technical Support Team if you are unsure which product will deliver the correct finish you require, or test a product on a small off-cut or hidden surface area first, to see to result you will get upon full application.

Finishes for Interior Woodwork

We stock a vast range of surface preparation and finishes for internal use, whether it’s the inside of garden sheds, log cabins, window frames, doors, wooden window trim, wooden floors, kitchen worktops, bar surfaces or furniture.

Depending on your project, you may want to use wood oils which sink deep into the grain of the wood. Often easier to apply than varnishes, wood oils are great for repairs and maintenance on wooden floors and surfaces. Or you may want to choose a heavy-duty varnish if your surface is going to need to be very heard wearing.

Polyurethane clear floor coatings are oil based varnishes that give a good finish to wooden floors, while also being very durable. Coo-Var Polyurethane Clear Floor Coating is particularly good for high traffic areas like restaurant floors, as it gives a hard glaze and a surface that’s easy to clean. Durable and low-maintenance, it’s a good option for floors that need to be hardwearing.

Decorative Wood Finishes

If you’re looking for specific wood paint colours, we have creative options such as Blackfriar Metallic Paint. For interior and exterior wooden surfaces, metallic paint gives an enriched and gilded finish to your woodwork, making your project stand out from the crowd. Particularly good for public areas such as restaurants, pubs, dining areas and anywhere that needs a bit of decorative flair.

Ardenbrite also offer similar wood paints, with a beautiful metallic finish. Choose from Ardenbrite Metallic Paint (Water Based) or Ardenbrite Metallic Paint (Solvent Based) depending on the needs of your specific project.

For a satin-finish wood paint, Mathys Fassilux Aqua XPE Satin can be used on interior and exterior timber and gives a lovely scratch resistant finish.

If you’re not looking to recolour your woodwork, then you could choose a Danish Oil product. Coo-Var Danish Oil gives a very durable, water resistant seal to wood, and can be used on exterior woodwork and interior woodwork. Danish oil brings out the natural beauty of the wood and enhances its appearance, without drastically changing the colour of the finish.

A blend of oils specifically for hardwood, Coo-Var Teak Oil works well on wooden furniture or if you’re looking for a shinier finish, Coo-Var Polyurethane Varnish is a hard wearing, clear varnish that can also be used on interior or exterior timber. With a choice of eggshell, matt and gloss finishes, it’s particularly good for kitchen worktops, furniture and interior doors.

Exterior Woodwork Finishes

Outdoor wooden furniture, fences, sheds and various other timber also needs decorating and protecting. As it’s obviously subject to potentially harsh weather conditions, the protection from Blackfriar's Gold Star wood preservative is different than for indoor woodwork. We stock external varnish, external wood stain and external floor paint for various uses, including waterproofing external walls and floors.

Please note that Jotun Butinox products have now been discontinued by the manufacturer.

Click here for the full range of exterior wood finishes, including products from Ardenbrite, Blackfriar, Coo-Var, Jotun, Mathys, Rust-Oleum, Solignum, Teamac, Wethertex and Zinsser.

Decking Oil and Protection

Timber decking finishes, whether it’s garden decking or boat decking need to be carefully considered based on the requirements of the surface area, usage and environment. If you need more waterproof protection, or want something for specific wood, such as teak decking for boats, then contact our Technical Team for advice.

It’s important to prepare decking properly before applying any kind of timber decking finishes. Non-slip decking properties, fire retardant decking or sprayable decking stain… whatever you’re looking for we can help you out.

Solignum Timber Decking Oil is an oil that can be applied with a brush and provides protection at the same time as enhancing the appearance of the wood. For teak and hardwoods, Teamac Teak Oil gives a good water resistance coating thanks to its blend of natural oils and silicone. You can use this inside and outside to ensure your hardwood is beautiful and protected.