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Finishes

There are many types of finishes that can be applied to a completed outdoor project. This includes but is certainly not limited to paints, varnishes, oils and sealers to name a few. However, it is important to understand that all finishes essentially fall into one of two categories: surface and penetrating. The qualities and characteristics of each finish should be carefully considered before selecting a finish, if any, for your completed project. Some of these traits are detailed below:

Surface finish characteristics:

• Lie on the surface of the wood.

• Includes natural varnish, polyurethane, shellac, lacquer and oil or water base paints.

• Overall thickness increases with each successive application.

• Tend to take longer to apply; less forgiving

• Will show signs of cracking, peeling and fading over time due to the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.

• Offer high moisture resistance, durability and abrasion resistance.  

Penetrating finish characteristics:

• Penetrate deep down into the pores of the wood and forms a finish that resides in the wood.

• Includes tung oil, Danish oil, linseed oil, mineral oil and salad bowl oil.

• Easily applied with a brush, roller, sprayer or wiped on with a clean cloth; more forgiving.

• Durable and long-lasting yet are easy to repair with another application.

• Most tend to darker the wood while highlighting the grain structure of the wood.

•  Does not offer the abrasion resistance of a surface finish.

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