Simple interior wood finishing methods deliver exceptional DIY results

Many people have trouble finishing interior wood properly and this is understandable given the complicated array of products and approaches out there in the world. But trouble is also completely avoidable with the right information. The difference between success and failure comes down to understanding the basics of interior wood finishing, then applying these basics properly and in the right order. That’s what this course is all about. 

What You’ll Get In This Course

This course teaches three main types of interior wood finishing strategies, each is ideal for different situations. This course is broken down into five teaching sections, depending on the finish you want and the situation it will exist in:

• The Basic Finish

A transparent urethane finish with no significant colour added to the wood. 

This is a good choice for most interior situations, and it delivers great protection for high-wear items such as cabinets, coffee tables, trim in high-traffic areas and any surface that may be subject to occasional water splashes. If you’ve got a table, furniture or trim to finish, this is an excellent option. I’ll also show you how buffing is a fast, simple and effective way to make this finish as smooth as glass, even if you’re applying it initially with a paint brush in your basement, garage or house. No special situation is needed.

• The Basic Finish With Colour 

A transparent urethane finish with colour added to the wood with stain. 

This is similar to The Basic Finish, except that stain is added to the wood to make it darker before the sealing coats are applied. This Basic Finish With Colour is useful for all the same reasons the Basic Finish is, though it can be less than ideal in high-wear areas where the finish will get rubbed off, revealing light wood underneath. 

• The Super-Easy Finish

Wipe-on polyurethane. 

This is one of the simplest and most easily mastered wood finishing options, and it even works well in some situations on metal. While this option is easy, it delivers only light to moderate protection.

• The Maintainable Finish

Several classic oil finish options.

So-called “oil finishes'' form a wide category, including several different families of products that operate in somewhat different ways. There are products generically called “Danish oil” and “teak oil” (not really oils at all), plus other oil finishes such as linseed oil, tung oil and long-oil varnish-type products are different enough that they need their own application approach. 

• Antique Painted & Distressed Finish

A beautiful way to go back in time with your wood finishing.

This is a painted finish that hides most of the wood grain, but the results sure do look good on the right project. The key is using chalked paint or milk paint as part of intentional distressing that simulates wear in an attractive way. This is also the kind of finish that looks better with age and wear.

Why Finish Wood?

Fresh, bare wood looks great, so why would anyone want to finish it? There are several reasons, but the main one is protection from stains, water and abrasion. This is true even for interior wood that’s finished. Bare wood is porous, and this means it picks up dirt and moisture easily. Even touching bare wood with dirty fingers can leave behind marks that can’t be wiped off. For rough, outdoor applications, wood can certainly be left bare. Interior wood, however, is rarely left unfinished. 

Another reason for finishing wood is to enhance its appearance. Finishing benefits some woods more than others, but in all cases proper finishing results in greater beauty and more attractive grain patterns. Texture and tactile qualities are yet another reason wood gets finished. A smooth, sealed wood surface is more pleasant to touch and it’s certainly better for wiping down and keeping clean than bare wood. Also, different finishes result in somewhat different textures. A high-build varnish oil finish, for instance, has a different feeling under the hand than, say, urethane.