what kind of paint on wood

What Kind of Paint on Wood – Best Three Kinds of Wood Paints

To paint wood, you need to use an undercoat to prepare your woodwork for painting. The best kinds of paint you can use on wood include Acrylic paint, Glycerophtalic paint, and Alkyd paint.

Those kinds of paint, give your wood finishes such as matt, satin, and gloss finishes. However, you have to make sure you use the right undercoat, for the paint to show its characteristics well.

Today, thanks to specific undercoats that allow to use after application any paint with the same base, the quality and the rendering are of high quality and it is no longer necessary to bother.

The wood undercoat allows you to prepare your support as well as possible and to optimize your result. It is also possible to buy directly wood paints all in one multi support (valid for wood, metal, radiators).

The interior of the house is then tailor-made and can be easily renewed as desired.

What Kind of Paint on Wood – Paint Finishes

Used for wood maintenance, interior wood paint is available in three categories: acrylic, glycerophthalic and alkyd.

Acrylic paint

Acrylic paint is the most common interior wood paint because it has very little smell and dries quickly. Its water-based component gives it a less toxic image. Easy to use, acrylic paint allows for cleaning tools with water. Acrylic paint is available in monolayer (which means that it has very good covering power) or in two coats.

Glycerophtalic paint

Glycerophtalic paint is a paint still used today in spite of the very strict regulations it is subject to. Having a strong smell, glycerol paint remains toxic. Solvent-based, glycerol requires the use of a specific product for cleaning tools (solvent, white spirit).

It is recommended to ventilate the room when using it. Glycerol paint is ideal for giving a lacquer effect. Efficient and resistant in the kitchen and bathroom, glycerol is not recommended in bedrooms. It is the paint with the best opacifying power and the best rendering.

Alkyd paint

Alkyd paint is a new generation paint that combines the natural water base but has the same resistance as glycerophtalic paint. It has a low odor and becomes dry to the touch in a very short time (less than an hour).

Alkyd paint is less toxic and allows water-based cleaning of tools for a stretched finish.

The Finishes of a Wood Paint

Matt finish

For a deep and stylish look, you will opt for the matt finish. This finish is particularly suitable for bedrooms. However, it is an aspect that does not like flaws and even less the strong passage.

Satin finish

For a luminous and easy to use effect, you will naturally go for the satin finish. It allows you to hide slight defects and is perfect for all rooms.

Gloss Finish

For a reflection that gives light and the feeling of space, the glossy finish is recommended. Also used for damp elements, this finish does not appreciate damaged surfaces.

Specificities of Woodstain in Wood Treatment

Interior wood stain is a finishing product used indoors for paneling and/or mainly beams. The stain protects the wood.

Tinted Stain and Colored Stain

For the interior, you can opt for tinted or colored stain. The stain is mainly decorative, it is available in all colors and shows the wood grain.

While colorless woodstain, less used in interiors, is more classic, tinted woodstain and colored woodstain keep the natural appearance of the wood without degradation of its color.

The woodstain can be in gel form (for a better hold), and has many specificities depending on its destination, such as fungicide treatment to fight against molds or anti-UV treatment. Do not hesitate to prefer the latter for woodwork behind south-facing picture windows.

Wood gilding

Gilding makes it possible to cover a wood with a thin layer of metal.

Gilding preparation: Gluing the wood

To do this, the wood is first glued together using various techniques known as:

  • Tempera gluing: Using animal skins and egg whites, special!
  • Oil gluing: Varnish, which dries faster;
  • By metal powders

It is an ancestral art, which for the first techniques requires a certain mastery. For the rest, today we find all-in-one products that allow us to transform our woodwork in a jiffy or more exactly, in a brushstroke!

The Advantages of Varnish for Wood Protection

To bring back to life an antique varnished furniture or to protect a piece of furniture, different kinds of products are used.

The maintenance of the varnish is very simple because it is a protective product that preserves the appearance of the wood. However, as with other wood protection products, it is the varnish’s support that will determine its choice.

Type of Varnish

Opt for a satin waxed varnish to obtain warm shades. A clear matte varnish will be perfect for protection only, while a color varnish will give a light, natural tone while protecting the wood.

Difference Between Stain And Varnish

What’s the difference with stain? Varnish creates a transparent film when applied to the surface of the wood. The varnish protects well against stains, wear, scratches and moisture. Woodstain, on the other hand, leaves the grain of the wood visible, it can be liquid or gel.

Unlike varnish, woodstain penetrates the wood to protect it from external aggressions. Stain is not recommended for horizontal application because it is not resistant to wear and tear.

Painting a Wooden Surface Well

To obtain a perfect result, even before you start painting; a few precautions should be taken on the preparation.

First of all, you need very clean, dry and healthy surfaces. Avoid using chemical products to clean them as this could alter the paint. Do not forget to lightly grit (sand) the surface to ensure good adhesion of the product (paint or undercoat). Do not hesitate to invest in quality painting tools that will make the work easier.

Rollers and brushes must be perfectly adapted to the type of paint and rendering chosen. Finally, get something to mix your paint before use in order to guarantee the good distribution of color pigments (a simple mixer, or propeller mixer, mounted on a drill will do the trick).

Conclusion – What Kind of Paint on Wood

The kind of paint you use on wood can be acrylic, glycerophthalic and alkyd, to get a matt, silk, or gloss finish. However, the type of paint used is not the only requirement to get a nice paint finish on wood. You must also use the right paint undercoat. We hope that you found this guide to be informative, and you will get the right paint for your wood paint joint.

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