Choosing the right treatment for your wood can make all the difference to the look, feel, and longevity of your wooden surfaces. A good finish not only enhances the natural beauty of the wood but also offers essential protection against wear and tear, moisture, and UV exposure. This guide will help you pick the best wood treatment for your needs by focusing on two main aspects: colour and durability. For specific products, you can find a range of top-quality wood treatments at Planks.
The colour of your wood finish has a huge impact on the overall look of your furniture or flooring. Wood treatments come in various finishes that can bring out the natural beauty of the wood or give it a tinted hue. Here’s a breakdown of popular options:
At Planks, you’ll find a selection of products that offer different finishes and tones. Remember to test a small patch before applying the treatment to the entire surface, as colours can look different depending on the type and shade of wood.
After deciding on the colour, consider the level of protection needed based on the intended use of the wood. Factors like exposure to sunlight, moisture, and general wear and tear will affect your choice:
The maintenance level of each treatment is another key factor in your choice. Different treatments have different longevity and upkeep requirements:
Some wood treatments require more preparation and skill than others. If you’re looking for a simple DIY finish, oils and waxes are generally easier to apply with a cloth or brush and require minimal prep work. Lacquers and varnishes, on the other hand, may need multiple coats, drying time, and sometimes a sealant base, so make sure you’re comfortable with the application process.
For a curated selection of wood treatments that provide both beauty and protection, browse Planks’ wood treatment collection. Whether you’re looking for a simple oil finish, a durable varnish, or a stain that brings out the character of the wood, their products offer a variety of colours and protection levels to suit any project.
Choosing the right wood treatment will help you create the look you want and protect the wood for years to come. Whether it’s indoor furniture or outdoor decking, finding the right balance between colour and durability ensures your wood projects remain both beautiful and resilient.
We exclusively stock solid hardwoods. Hardwoods are the strongest, most durable and aesthetic woods for use in the home, but are the hardest to buy on the high street.
This includes everything from oak and walnut to maple and iroko. Explore the full range here →
All our planks of wood are Kiln Dried and Planed All Round (PAR). This means every piece has a moisture content of 8-12%, so they’re not prone to movement or cracking. They’re planed for a flat and smooth surface. Then cut to your exact size dimensions and square edged, ready for joinery or treatment.
As all planks are Kiln Dried and Planed All Round (PAR), they are designed for internal use or external use. Unlike air dried or green wood, which isn’t dried to a low enough moisture content to ensure it doesn’t move in the ambient temperature of our homes, Kiln Dried is ready for use.
Whether you’re looking for planks to make shelves, perform glue joint joinery or even a chopping board, our boards are ready for use.
Yes. All boards are suitable for exterior use. We’d recommend purchasing a protective treatment, such as danish oil or a strong varnish, which has UV filtering to help protect the wood discolouring from the elements.
Awesome! It depends what you want to build. Assuming you want to start with some simple joinery, such as building tabletops, we’d recommend getting your basic tools and treatments: sash clamps, glues, sanders and oils. It’s useful to have some power tools on hand, namely a handheld planer and a drill.
If you’re not sure where to start, try out our Woodworker Starter Pack, which has everything you need to try your hand at some simple joinery.
We deliver worldwide.
We are based in London, UK, and dispatch most orders via a third party courier (UPS). All UK deliveries are free for orders over £50 or £5 for orders under.
All timber orders are produced within a week. Joinery orders, such as tabletops and workshops, take an additional week (2 weeks total).
We send most orders via UPS, which is a Next Day Service for UK addresses, 2-3 days for Europe and 3-7 days for the rest of the world.
If your order has arrived damaged or defected, we will cover the cost for you to return the item to us for a replacement or refund.
Unfortunately, as every order is cut-to-size and made custom to requirements, we cannot accept returns.
We don’t currently have trade accounts, as Planks is designed with the DIYer in mind. However, if you’d like to order frequently at higher volumes, get in touch at hello@getplanks.co.uk with your requirements and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
You can contract us using the live chat on the website in the bottom right of your screen. We’ll get back to you within 24 working hours. Alternatively, drop us an email at hello@getplanks.co.uk.