Common Wood Finishes for Furniture & Flooring

Last updated on June 6th, 2022 at 09:47 am

Beyond their capabilities to create biodiverse ecosystems and turn greenhouse gases into clean oxygen, trees also provide one of the most versatile materials on the planet- wood. In addition to being used by carpenters and builders for framing houses, wood is perhaps most commonly used for furniture and flooring, here in the US and around the world.

When properly maintained, wood lasts a long time- generations. But part of maintaining wood means adding a finish. Using a finish on wood furniture and flooring helps modulate the humidity content of the wood. When wood dries out too much, it is prone to cracking and splitting, so it’s important to seal in the appropriate moisture content.

There are lots of options for finishing wood, but when it comes to furniture and flooring, most products fall into one of these categories: oils, varnishes, polyurethanes, lacquers, and waxes.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Raw vs Boiled vs Polymerized Linseed Oil

Last updated on April 9th, 2019 at 10:07 pm

Oiled Wood Furniture
Our Andover Bedroom Set in Natural Cherry with a Raw Linseed Oil Finish

Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, is one of the most popular wood finishes in the world. Like other hand-rubbed oil finishes, linseed oil saturates deep into the wood grain to protect against scratches and changes in humidity. It is easy to care for, eco-friendly, and produces a satin finish that really brings out the color and grain of the wood underneath.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Linseed Oil vs Tung Oil: What’s the Difference?

Last updated on April 9th, 2019 at 10:07 pm

Often times when considering an oil finish for a piece of wood furniture, you might be comparing tung oil to linseed oil or danish oil. All three terms are often misunderstood and misused.

The term danish oil is a catch all term used by manufacturers to describe a blended oil finish that may or may not contain linseed oil and/or tung oil. But what are linseed oil and tung oil and when is it appropriate to use each?

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.