The document provides information on various types of timber finishes including stains, paints, and clear finishes. It discusses factors that affect finish performance such as wood type and grain, moisture, surface preparation, and weathering. The purpose of finishes is to both protect the timber from the elements and add aesthetic qualities. Proper selection and application of finishes is important for durability.
2. Learn more about wood at UTAS Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood Graduate Certificate in Timber (Processing & Building) 4 units, part time, online Areas covered include: Wood science Design for durability and service for life Timber as a renewable resource Sustainable design and construction Engineered wood products International technologies and developments Plus, selected topics of individual interest More information: Associate Professor Greg Nolan (03) 6324 4478 or enquiries@arch.utas.edu.auwww.csaw.utas.edu.au
3. Learning Objectives After this presentation you should be able to: Describe the basic types of finishes for timber and wood products. Understand the factors effecting finish performance. Specify finishes for timber and wood products. For architects - AACA Competency: Documentation
4. Finish Purpose Finishes on timber have two purposes to improve the durability of the building to add to the aesthetics Project: The Letterbox House Architect: McBride Charles Ryan Location: Blairgowrie, Victoria Image: John Gollings
5. What is a Timber Finish Three types of timber finishes: Stains Contain pigments and are used to tint the timber Paints Contain coloured pigments and sit on the wood to form a protective coating Finishes Paints without pigments that lay down a clear protective coating
6. Why Finish Timber Unfinished, unprotected timber will inevitably weather as a result of gradual changes to its physical and chemical structure caused by temperature and moisture content variations. The weathering process leads to a slow breaking down and wearing away of surface fibres, changes in colour and roughening of the surface. The rate is generally slow, Exterior – aprox. 6 mm per century Mawson’s Hut, Antarctica
7. Finish Performance Performance depends on choosing an appropriate finish considering the use conditions applying finishes correctly in sufficient amounts Project: Outcrop House Architect: Peter Stutchbury Architecture Engineer: Simon May Location: North Beaches, NSW Image:Michael Nicholson
8. Selecting a Finish Goal Finish qualities It must have the desired appearance It must protect the timber It must be durable enough for the intended application It should be easily applied Project: Herringbone House Architects: Alison Brooks Architects Engineer: Price & Myers Location: South London, United KingdomImage: Cristobal Palma
9. Types of Finishes Evaporative Reactive Coalescing Project: Permanent Camping Architect: Casey Brown Architecture Location: Mudgee, NSW
10. Evaporative Finishes Evaporative finishes dry as their solvents disperse into the air They will always redissolve into the solvent originally used to thin them, making them easier to repair, but also less durable Common solvents are alcohol, acetone and nitro-cellulose lacquer thinners
11. Evaporative Finishes All finishes contain additives to control colour, drying time, sanding, etc. These additives are resins (solids) dissolved in a solvent. As the solvent dries the resin forms a film S S S S R S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R S R R R R R R R R R
12. Evaporative Finishes Adding a new coat of evaporative finish to previous coats will dissolve the previous layer, allowing the new resin to bond with the previous coat S S S S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
13. Evaporative Finishes Types: Nitro-cellulose lacquers and shellac Cellulose polishes and thinners and lacquer and lacquer thinners are the in the same family Wax is an evaporative finish because it is dissolved in turpentine or petroleum distillates to make the familiar soft paste. After these distillates evaporate, the wax remains.
15. Reactive Finishes Reactive finishes are those where the resin undergoes a chemical change as the solvent evaporates The resins crosslink to form new large molecules Use solvents such as white spirits and naphtha R R R R S S S S R S R R R R R
16. Reactive Finishes Oil varnishes and linseed oil are reactive finishes, as they change chemically as they cure At cure, the solvent/thinner evaporates and the resins cluster tightly together, a chemical reaction then occurs, which causes the resins to cross link in a different chemical format
17. Reactive Finishes Scuff sanding is necessary between layers of cured finish so that subsequent applied layers have something to grip to. The solvent won't re-dissolve the cured film, e.g., white spirits do not soften cured oil based varnish. R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R Smooth Surface
18. Reactive Finishes The oil based varnishes dry from the top down by reacting with oxygen. The catalysed lacquers dry from the bottom up (which is like evaporative finishes) and the solvents migrate upwards to the film surface and then out leaving behind molecules that then crosslink. Tung oil and linseed oil are reactive finishes that cure by reacting with oxygen, but do not really form film finishes when cured. Water based finishes generally fall into the coalescing category.
20. Coalescing Finishes Generally in water based finishes, droplets of resin are suspended in an emulsion of water and slow drying alcohols – glycol ether As water evaporates, the glycol ether softens the resins which then fuse together to form a dry film
21. How do Finishes Settle on Timber Penetrating Finish Surface Film Finish Penetrating Film Finish Project: Sunset Cabin Architect: Taylor Smyth Architects Location: Lake Simcoe, Canada Image: Ben Rahn
22. Penetrating Finishes Finishes absorbed into the pores of the wood Generally oil finishes Tung Linseed Danish oil Disadvantage - offer little protection from water, chemicals, and wear Advantage – easy to apply and repair damage
23. Surface Film Finishes Finishes that do not penetrate into the wood but dry to a film on the surface Wax and water based finishes Advantages – resist moisture, stains, and wear Disadvantages – lack colour of oil finishes , repairing requires more work, adhesion of one coat to the next may be difficult
24. Film Forming v Penetrating Finish Film Forming Film forming finishes appear as a distinct layer and usually display a plane surface. Due to the greater coating thickness, film forming finishes are more resistant to wear
25.
26. Penetrating Film Finishes Finishes that form on the surface as well as penetrate into wood pores Examples: nitrocellulose lacquers, oil based varnish, polyurethanes Advantages – film forming properties make them more ware resistant, and penetrating qualities give better finish qualities
27. Factors Affecting Finish Performance Project: Seaford Surf Life Saving Club Architect: Robert Simeoni Architects Location:Seaford, Victoria
37. Substrate Summary The density, moisture content, absorbency, flexibility and the nature of its extractives may vary considerably The finishing system must be sufficiently flexible to cater for movement
38. Moisture Moisture Use wide eave overhangs, verandas, pergolas etc. Use timber profiles with rounded arrises Fit drip caps over doors and windows Avoid or minimise joins in horizontal sidings likely to allow moisture ingress Use sacrificial timber that can be easily replace or maintained instead of critical element Project: Dunsborough Residence Architect: Wrightfeldhusen Location:Dunsborough, WA Image: Robert Frith
39. Moisture Moisture Provide adequate ventilation of roof space and subfloor space Use the recommended nail size and pattern for various types of timber cladding Selectively use boards that show knots or the like. Use them in the least exposed areas
40. Surface Preparation The purpose of preparing a substrate is to ensure that it will accept and retain the finish with minimum interference from surface contaminants or from surface deterioration of the substrate itself Factors affecting this are: the profile of the surface and its porosity adhesion of the paint system and its ultimate durability. A sawn or roughened (coarse sand papered) surface will give a more positive mechanical key to applied coatings but, in the case of a conventional paint system, will result in a much thinner film on the surface peaks which will deteriorate more rapidly. Some surfaces are, however, ideally suited to opaque or semi-transparent stains
41. If timber has been exposed to the elements for a considerable time and suffered the weather’s oxidative effects, it should be sanded or dressed to a fresh surface before priming Alternatively, the use of penetrating type stains, after a simple brush down, will give good results Any holes or depressions in the surface should be scraped clean, primed and filled with putty compatible with the paint system Emphasis must be placed on preventing moisture ingress, particularly where end-grain is concerned. Adequate sealing, with sealants, water repellents or primers is essential Surface Preparation
42. Extractives Extractives vary between species. Some extractives are water soluble and abundant in woods, such as merbau, blackbutt, tallowwoods and other dark coloured wood Extractives can discolour the finish, as water and high relative humidity can transport them to the coating surface
43. Resins Resin can be found in most softwoods, e.g. pine, spruce, or fir Resin is a mixture of rosin and turpentine, and can migrate through the wood Typically, kiln drying wood helps drive off the turpentine, making the rosin less mobile
44. Other Considerations Timber with an excessively high moisture or resin/aromatic oil content should undergo further seasoning to rectify the conditions before painting A special consideration exists with buildings adjacent to the sea, where salt contamination of the surface occurs very rapidly and is not always visible. This must be washed off with fresh water shortly before starting work, while still allowing time for the surface to dry
45. Other Considerations Timber with excessively high moisture or resin/aromatic oil content should undergo further seasoning to rectify the conditions before painting Some coating manufacturers suggest that the timber weathers before applying the finish Refer to the coating manufacturer for guidance
46. Permeability Most coatings are impervious to water but none are completely impervious to water vapour Surface films are superior in this regard but after initial cracking or peeling, protection is dependent on the finish that has penetrated into the wood Penetrating finishes may therefore be more effective
47. Permeability Solvent borne finishes are more resistant to water vapour than water borne finishes, so where a high level of protection is desired, a solvent borne system should be selected Where recommended by the manufacturer, a solvent borne primer and/or undercoat system may be used under a water borne finishing system to provide improved water vapour protection
48. Semi-Transparent Stains These are available in typical timber colours and are formulated with relatively low pigmentation to enhance both the grain and texture of the timber Low pigmentation act as a U.V. screen to some extent The pigment also remains as a colouring for the timber surface after the natural timber colours have faded They have low build-up properties and are easy to apply and maintain
49. Semi-Transparent Stains These stains are usually solvent borne. They contain fungicides to prevent mould growth on the stain itself and repel water, while still allowing moisture vapour permeability Pre-treatment of the timber product with a water repellent-containing preservative or pressure preservative treatments, will extend the expected life of the system. However, if used alone, such pre-treatments will not prevent deterioration by weathering
50. Opaque Stains, Solvent Borne These are fairly heavily pigmented, low viscosity, low solids, flat paints. They allow the timber texture to show but obscure the grain pattern. The increased pigment, compared with semi-transparent stains, gives a longer service life Re-painting, and surface preparation in particular, is minimal compared with conventional paint systems
51. Opaque Stains, Water Borne These are also referred to as acrylic or solid stains. Many are based on 100% acrylic emulsions, although other polymeric emulsion binders can be used They are now used extensively as an alternative to oil-based solid stains and generally give superior performance, particularly over knotty timbers
52. Clear Exterior Finishes Clear finishes are generally not recommended for timber elements that are fully exposed to the weather Some good quality clear finishes incorporating U.V. absorbers are available but have not as yet been proven to have a long service life in Australian conditions
53. Clear Exterior Finishes If a short service life is acceptable, a clear finish can be used successfully where attention to surface preparation is followed in detail: remove sharp edges and fill and stop grain irregularities apply only under optimum conditions of both timber and atmospheric moisture content sealing the end-grain and all round to prevent moisture ingress is very important for the satisfactory performance of these finishes Maintaining a clear finish in good condition does require an ongoing commitment to regular inspections and touch-up or recoating of any areas showing initial breakdown or discolouration
54. Clear Exterior Finishes Solvent borne exterior clears, usually in alkyd or alkyd/ urethane vehicles, have been improved by the inclusion of U.V. absorbers Water borne clears, based on specific pure/acrylic emulsions, are showing considerable promise of extended durability comparable to conventional paint systems, provided regular maintenance is carried out. Inclusion of U.V. absorbers is essential Some products also include small quantities of pigments to obtain a neutral timber colour
55. Paints Pre-Primed Timbers Some timbers and wood based building boards are supplied pre-primed and provided they are not exposed to the elements for extended periods, may be finished with undercoat and an enamel paint or two coats of an acrylic paint without further priming (or as recommended by the manufacturer)
56. Paints Undercoat These are the bridging coats between the primer or previous paint surface and the finishing coat. They have good bridging properties across cracks, good brushability under warm windy conditions, facilitate sanding, good gloss hold out, enhance the durability of the total system and have good opacity that is capable of substantially obscuring the background colour
57. Paints Undercoats Similar to primers, they can be solvent or water borne Solvent borne undercoats are better for adhesion if applied to slightly chalky or powdery surfaces Water borne undercoats have better colour and non- yellowing qualities. They are faster drying with much shorter times before overcoating They may be overcoated with either water or solvent borne coatings
58. Paints Differences in paint performance over earlywood and latewood can occur particularly on softwoods where latewood is generally harder, smoother and darker than earlywood Paints with a tendency to become brittle with age (i.e., those that are solvent borne) may ultimately crack and peel away from the harder surface despite having good initial adhesion Uniformly fine textured timbers have better paint holding characteristics than coarse textured species
59. Paint Colour Research has demonstrated that externally, lightly coloured paints provide much better service life for both the timber and paint Dark coloured surfaces heat up significantly more than light coloured surfaces and this will cause timber to dry to a lower moisture content than it otherwise would. The subsequent greater shrinkage and movement may lead to checking, splitting and short term cupping Higher temperatures also promote resin bleed in some boards of species that can be prone to it As a rule of thumb, the Light Reflective Value (LRV) of the paint should be greater than 30%. Light reflective paints should be used where possible.
60. Paint Quarter-sawn boards, tend to hold paint better In hardwoods the difference is comparatively small compared to that of softwoods As quarter-sawn boards tend to be more dimensionally stable, they are better under variable moisture conditions and less likely to show surface checking to the detriment of the paint system Most parcels of timber are supplied as a mix of back-sawn and quarter-sawn pieces so this maybe hard to arrange
61. Weathering Sunlight quickly degrades the ability of a wood surface to bond with a coating Research has shown a big difference in paint performance on weathered versus unweathered wood Paint on boards with no exposure to weather prior to painting lasts many times longer than boards weathered prior to painting For maximum coating life, sand the surface if the wood has been exposed to any sunlight, particularly if for more than two weeks
62. Exterior Timber Importance of sanding Sanding (100 grit) can double the life of a coating, for both weathered and freshly planed wood. This is because sanding removes damaged surface fibres and changes the surface chemistry to improve bonding of the coating
63. Exterior Timber Plywood Plywood is characterised by the small cracks (face checks) on the surface that are caused by the lathe when the veneer is cut from the log As plywood goes through moisture cycling outdoors, these cracks tend to get larger and stress the coating bond Generally a good stain can effectively protect plywood. Since checking in stained plywood usually occurs during the first six months of outdoor exposure, best coating results can be obtained by applying a first coat and allowing any checking to occur, then allow six months or so and then apply a second coat Paints service life can be reduced unless efforts are made to reduce moisture uptake and also to use flexible products to accommodate dimensional changes of the wood. Roughening the surface is also important
64. Exterior Timber Finger-jointed products: Coatings may perform differently on different parts of these products, as they may not be uniform in grain orientation or in heartwood versus sapwood content. Roughen the surface to extend the life of the coating and minimise these differences Apply primer and paint all sides if possible to minimize moisture absorption
65. Exterior Timber Because exterior wood shrinks and swells with moisture changes, the coating needs to be flexible. Flexibility varies by product – some products may be clearly identified as suitably flexible for wood’s dimensional changes Water borne coatings are generally more flexible than alkyds Coatings containing urethanes tend to be more flexible than coatings containing acrylics
66. Specifications The following is a check list of items which should be included in the specification of timber finishes selected finish - brand, product range, colour finish system - primer, undercoat, finish coats (number) substrate preparation timber edges to be arrised or rounded priming of joints extra coats - sills, rails, etc. maintenance
67. Maintenance As there is a wide variation in the severity of exposure conditions, the variability of timber substrates, the care taken in priming and finishing, and the number of systems applied over a period of years, it is impossible to predict the service life of a paint system before complete re-coating is necessary It is more likely that specific areas, such as those adjacent to timber end-grain, window sills facing north, or sharp arrised sections, may need remedial coating before this time To minimise such action, it is advisable to give those areas an additional coat of either primer or top coat during initial painting.
68. Maintenance Areas that are well protected, such as under wide eaves or verandas, may not need re-coating on each repaint occasion, particularly as too great a build-up of paint will ultimately require major maintenance involving complete stripping before recoating While excessive paint film build up is to be discouraged, it is important to re-coat before general deterioration occurs
69. Maintenance Stains require more frequent maintenance but this is generally much easier, both in terms of surface preparation and coating application The presence of mould and mildew requires removal with fungicidal washes, and rinsing and drying before subsequent coats are applied. If this is not done, mould can spread between coats of paint and result in lifting of the paint film and discolouration
70. Check List: Selecting a Finish To determine the best finish for a project, consider three factors: appearance application durability How will the item be used? Will it be subjected to a lot of moisture, solvents, and dents? What do you want the wood to look like? Do you want an "in-the-wood" natural look or a thicker film finish that accentuates depth?
71. Specifications The following is a check list of some items which should be included in the specification of timber finishes: selected finish - brand, product range, colour finish system - primer, undercoat, finish coats (number) substrate preparation timber edges to be arrised or rounded priming of joints extra coats - sills, rails, etc. maintenance
72. Summary There is no single timber finish or system that will work for all applications and timber species Good specification and attention to details and site inspections will enhance service life Manage the expectations of your client e.g. furniture quality wood finish won’t last outside
74. Learn more about wood at UTAS Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood Graduate Certificate in Timber (Processing & Building) 4 units, part time, online Areas covered include: Wood science Design for durability and service for life Timber as a renewable resource Sustainable design and construction Engineered wood products International technologies and developments Plus, selected topics of individual interest More information: Associate Professor Greg Nolan (03) 6324 4478 or enquiries@arch.utas.edu.auwww.csaw.utas.edu.au
