We examine the properties of some of these popular products and when each might be used.

Wood stain

Purpose: Designed to penetrate and change the colour of wood while leaving the grain visible.

Advantages

• Highlights the natural beauty of the wood
• Can be colour matched to your styling
• Offers some wood protection
• Wears away gradually, only requiring periodic re-coating
• Easy to clean and maintain

Disadvantages

• Doesn’t offer a lot of protection to the wood, especially in harsh environments
• Can raise the grain in wood

After staining, oils or varnishes can be applied to the wood as a protective layer.

When to use: To expose the natural beauty of a timber installation.

Varnish

Purpose: Varnish is an older finish made up of oils, resin and solvents that coats the wood as a protective layer.

Varnish can be compared to paint without the pigment.

Advantages

• A protective coating can be applied after stains
• Ensures the natural grains of the wood remain exposed
• Durable and hard wearing
• Choice of matt, satin or gloss like paint
• Exterior varnishes are often microporous and have an added fungicide
• Available as a ‘fire retardant’ treatment
• Offers UV protection (where stated)

Disadvantages

• Varnish can’t be used on its own as it doesn’t protect the wood inside
• Accentuates stains, bumps and marks so preparation of the timber is essential
• Dries slowly

When to use: When finish is important for decorative purposes and when a project requires the  natural timber look to be retained.

Polyurethane varnish

Purpose: Tough protection for wood after staining.

Advantages

• Can be used in place of varnish with the same benefits and more
• Extremely durable with a hard finish
• Heat resistant

Disadvantages

• Has a plastic, unnatural look about it
• Not UV resistant (unless specifically stated on product)

When to use: Applications where a durable surface is required, especially in high traffic areas.

Combined Products

There are some combined stains and varnishes available on the market designed to be applied for one-step colour and protection.

These varnishes with added colour can be a time-saver, however they may need more maintenance and reapplying more frequently.

Paint

Purpose: To protect and change the look of timber.

Advantages

• Many different colours on the market
• Choice of matt, satin or gloss
• Can be considered aesthetically pleasing
• Can cover up unsightly timber
• Available as a ‘fire retardant’ treatment
• Durable and hard wearing

Disadvantages

• Coats the top of the wood rather than penetrating the wood
• Hides the natural beauty of timber
• Can peel and look unsightly particularly after exposure to the elements
• Surfaces must be thoroughly prepared before application, usually including sanding
• Is expensive to reapply when used on vast areas

When to use: In situations where it is desirable to cover or weatherproof timber without exposing the natural grain at all.

Wood oils

Purpose: Designed to bring out the character in wood whist offering some protection.

Advantages

• Brings out the natural beauty in wood (more so than a stain) and makes the grain ‘pop’
• Replaces natural oil in wood that dries out over time
• Adds protection against moisture
• User-friendly; easy to apply and maintain
• Long-term, cost effective option

Disadvantages

• Traditional wood oils aren’t as durable as varnish
• Oils are not easily covered with varnish or paint

The CUTEK® Difference

CUTEK® exterior wood oils are a professional option that offers more protection than traditional wood oils as they works from the inside out by deeply penetrating the timber. CUTEK® oils are long lasting making them a great choice for timber exposed to the elements. CUTEK® Extreme CD50 has been developed for tough conditions.

CUTEK® timber protection oils are designed to minimise warping, cupping and splitting over time. CUTEK® oil is versatile, a Colourtone can easily be added for a stunning effect.

Timber is amazingly versatile, with the right level of care it can be used for a vast array of projects. Wood does need to be looked after and treated with respect in order to ensure that it retains its beauty over time. Choosing the right timber treatment or finish for an installation is critical.

The post Timber oil vs stain vs varnish vs paint appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

To start with, native Australian timbers are beautiful – so they’re fantastic for feature areas such as decking, flooring, cladding, walls and ceilings. Most architects and builders won’t hide our native timbers away but will allow our native species to shine.

Many Australian timbers are hardwoods, and are incredibly durable, so they’ll stand up to repeated use and perform well in weather. Here are a few of our favourite Australian timbers.

Blackbutt

As a class one timber with fantastic durability Blackbutt is a great all-rounder and structural timber option. It’s easy to machine, takes on fixing and is termite and fire resistant. This native hardwood also grows quickly in plantations, meaning regeneration is easy, so it’s a reasonably sustainable choice. Blackbutt responds well to stains and finishes – preserve the beautiful colour with CUTEK®. We recommend Blackbutt for flooring and decking.

Jarrah

Highly sought-after Jarrah is a premium Australian timber that adds instant style to any space. It offers a beautiful range of colours, with the sapwood a light yellow and the heartwood dark red. This Western Australian timber offers class 2 durability and it has a high resistance to termites, rot and weather. It also offers a high Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating. Jarrah looks best as a feature – use it on floors, decks, balustrades, in furniture, cabinetry or feature cladding.

Myrtle

The cool temperate Tasmanian climate gives us the Myrtle tree, or as it is also known Tasmanian Myrtle, with its rich colours of red and brown. Architects and builders seek out Myrtle for its fine appearance, and the fact it is very easy to work with. While it is a strong timber it’s not as durable over the long-term as other hardwoods. Therefore it’s best suited to use indoors on panelling, joinery, architraves, internal flooring and furniture.

Spotted Gum

Incredibly strong and known for its versatility, Spotted Gum is a favourite for its structural and architectural applications. Boasting a hardness rating of 1 (scale 1-6) and with class 1 durability, you can use Spotted Gum with confidence for claddings, flooring, joinery, decking, fencing, furniture – even on boats, sporting goods and tools, such as axes. Spotted Gum offers a variety of colours from light brown to dark red and interesting grain patterns. With a lower tannin content than other natives, Spotted Gum won’t “bleed” as much, making it ideal for coating and finishing.

Ironbark

An east coast native, Ironbark is as strong as its name suggests. It is of very high density and scores 1 on the hardness scale and 1 in the durability class. As such a strong timber, it’s not as easily workable as alternatives like Spotted Gum and Blackbutt, however you can be assured of its strength and resistance to pests. Ranging in colour from light to dark reddish browns, Ironbark is receptive to stains and has a high natural sheen. Choose Ironbark for a solid deck, fencing, retaining walls, outdoor furniture and landscaping.

Australia is ripe with native woods that are a sustainable, economic and stylish choice for timber construction projects. Add to their natural beauty with a Colourtone to retain a freshly oiled look or simply use clear CUTEK® oil for a natural weather appearance with long term protection from the effects of water.

Talk to us about choosing the right type of Australian timber for your next project.

The post Five Australian timbers from our neck of the woods appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.