Wood is a primary material in building Furniture. To enhance its appeal, modern furniture manufacturers apply finishes on its surface. Wood finishes add to its beauty and elegance. Wood furniture manufacturers classify these finishes into five groups.

Why Wood Finish is Essential

We have always admired the sheen of wood furniture. We see it on traditional, antique, and even modern and contemporary furniture. The lustrous look of wood furniture stays as seen on modern Italian furniture and even in country-style furniture. Wood finishes keep the furniture from:

• Drying or dehydrating
• Cracking or splitting
• Bulging and contracting due to weather changes
• Scratches and blisters
• Accidental stains

The Types of Wood Finishes

1. Penetrating Finish

As the name implies, penetrating finishes permeates deeply into the wood grain, dries inside the wood, and is inclined to go hard. Oil finishes fall into this type of finish and are very easy and simple to use. The penetrating finish gives a beautiful sheen on the furniture surface for a more natural look; however, it requires more maintenance. Country or modern furniture has this kind of wood finish.

2. Surface Finish

The surface type of wood finish is clear, fortified, and highly durable. This characteristic makes surface finish maintenance-free. Unlike the penetrating finish, it stays on the wood furniture surface and dries on the top layer of the wood. It enhances the color and grain and adds depth and warm that makes the wood furniture more visually appealing, although not all surface finishes can give this result. Lacquer, varnish, wax, and shellac are examples of surface finish. Surface finishes are water and stain resistant that adds to the lifespan of your wood furniture.

3.  Evaporative Finish

The evaporative finish uses solvents and thinners, such as acetone, alcohol, and nitro-cellulose lacquer.  Shellac and nitro-cellulose lacquers belong into this category. The solids look like strings and are soft that stuck together once the solvents evaporate, making them a solid mass similar to a dried spaghetti. Consecutive layers merge into one another to make a solid mass. The solvent will dissolve or weaken the film. For example, cured shellac softens with alcohol while cured lacquer softens with lacquer thinners. The best example of evaporative finish is was.

4.  Reactive Finishes

Reactive finishes change chemically while curing the wood. The molecules bind together as the thinner dries up and re-applying thinner will not disintegrate them. This process is known as ‘polymerisation’. Tung oil and other oil-based varnishes fall into this category.

5.  Coalescing Finishes

Coalescing finish is a mixture of evaporative and reactive finishes. Most of these finishes are water-based like water-based polyurethane. Its basic characteristic is that they consist of slow evaporating thinners (basically water) and the solvent is most likely to be a glycol ether.

6.  Natural Finish

Furniture manufacturers use natural or clear finishes to add warmth, sheen, and character to the wood material and protect it from early deterioration.

Choosing a Wood Finish

 Choosing a wood finish would depend on your preference and needs. Following are factors to consider when choosing a wood finish.

•  How you are going to use the furniture
• The degree of protection and maintenance
• The visual appearance
• Safety – the toxicity of the finish is important so your home will be environment-friendly
• Price – While it matters for the modern furniture to have a superb finish, the budget still matters the most. Remember to buy modern furniture that you can afford!

If you are looking for superb and elegant furniture, check modern furniture Los Angeles for the latest designs and styles.

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