Guide to Wood Finishing
Credits: 5 PDH
PDH Course Description:
Wood finishes such as paint, varnish, and stain provide a desired appearance, protect wood surfaces, and providea cleanable surface. From a technical aspect, protection is most important for wood used outdoors, and providing a cleanable surface is most important for wood used indoors.
When selecting a finish, one should consider appearance, protection, and cleanability and also how bulk and surface properties of wood affect finish application and performance (how long a finish lasts—its service life). Wood properties such as density (specific gravity), growth rate, heartwood–sapwood, earlywood–latewood, grain angle, vessels, and texture vary within and across wood species. However, if one understands how wood properties, finish, and environmental conditions interact, it should be possible to estimate finish performance for most wood species. Performance depends on choosing an appropriate finish for wood, considering the use conditions, and applying finishes correctly in sufficient amount.
Guidelines in this course explain how to obtain long service life for contemporary finishes on lumber and wood composites
used in the United States and Canada. The course begins with a review of wood properties important for wood finishing and describes effects of water and weathering on wood and finishes. This background establishes a basis for describing finishes for wood, their application, and common types of finish failures (and ways to avoid them).
Topics:
- Factors Affecting Finish Performance
- Wood Surface Properties
- Weathering, Decay, and Insect Infestation of Wood Products
- Control of Water and Water Vapor
- Compliance of VOC Finishes with Pollution Regulations
- Exterior Wood Finishes
- Weathered Wood as Natural Finish
- Penetrating Wood Finishes
- Film-Forming Finishes
- Application of Finishes, Special Uses
- Porches, Decks, Deck Railings, and Fences
- Treated Wood, Marine Uses
- Fire-Retardant Coatings
- Factory Finishing
- Finish Failure or Discoloration
- Paint Cracking (parallel to grain)
- Peeling, Flaking, Cross-Grain Cracking, Water Blisters
- Mill Glaze, Intercoat Peeling, Chalking, Mildew
- Loss of Gloss and Fading
- Water Soluble Extractives
- Blue and Iron Stain
- Knots, Pitch
- Finishing Interior Wood
- Type of Finish and Wood Fillers
- Finishes for Wood Floors
- Finishes for Items Used for Food
- Wood Cleaners and Brighteners
- Paint Strippers
- Mechanical and Chemical Methods
- Lead-Based Paint
To take this course:
1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
(must be logged into your user account)
Download the Study Guide
3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.
Take the final exam
4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.
Print the Certificate of Completion
Intended Audience: This course is intended for Structural, Civil, Materials, Construction, Transportation, and other engineers whose job description may require a comprehensive knowledge of wood finishes, and the use of wood as an engineering material.
Publication Source: US Forestry Service, Wood Handbook, Chapter 16, April, 2010 Edition
Print the Certificate of Completion
Intended Audience: This course is intended for Structural, Civil, Materials, Construction, Transportation, and other engineers whose job description may require a comprehensive knowledge of wood finishes, and the use of wood as an engineering material.
Publication Source: US Forestry Service, Wood Handbook, Chapter 16, April, 2010 Edition
D. Allen Hughes, PE