It’s around this time of year that gardens across the land burst into life. With blossoming fruit trees, flowers, lush green grass, and with a little luck and favourable weather conditions, a splash of colour from strawberries and other garden fruits. Unless you’re a big fan of flowers, and have a carefully planned growing cycle… Read More
Which is the best exterior wood treatment?
May 6th, 2016
The sun is out and temperatures are on the rise. This is the time when we venture out to the garden to survey the surroundings, and draw up the list of maintenance tasks. When talking about exterior wood finishes, there’s always an assumption that it’s about the decking, garden shed or fence. Although these are… Read More
How To Guides, Product Spotlight
The Big Brush Issue – Synthetic Vs Natural Paint Brushes – What Brush To Use.
April 29th, 2016
Deciding what brush to use can make all the difference in the quality of finish on your projects. Luckily this helpful video will point you in the right direction. If you already know what Applicator You Require Click Here. Brushes Video Transcript Hi I’m Ben O’Reilly from Wood-Finishes-Direct and welcome to the product test and… Read More
How To Guides, Product Spotlight
Secrets Of The Experts – Denibbing Explained – How to Finish Like a Pro.
April 15th, 2016
Denibbing is a really important step in applying any finish, it helps either the adhesion or absorption of further coats and can make a real difference to your projects. Denibbing Video Transcript Hi, I’m Ben O’Reilly From Wood Finishes Direct and Welcome to the Product Test and How to Video Guide, in this video I… Read More
How To Guides, Product Spotlight
What the Pro’s Use – Fiddes Hard Wax Oil. How to Apply Hard Wax Oils.
April 1st, 2016
This video will show you the best way apply A Hard Wax Oil Specifically – Fiddes HardWax Oil. However, this advice is also suitable for other Hard Wax Oils, such as Osmo Polyx Oil And Osmo Polyx Oil Tints. Hard Wax Oils F.A.Q. Q.Is the hard wax oil durable enough for a table top? A…. Read More
Manns UV Decking Oil, The Mann For the Job. The Secret Of Beautiful Decking Exposed.
March 18th, 2016
Are you looking for an exterior decking oil that will not just protect your deck from Water, Mould and General Wear and Tear but also from harmful U.V. Rays? Then This helpful video is perfect for you! Manns UV Decking Oil Video Transcript. Hi, I’m Ben O’Reilly From Wood-Finishes-Direct and welcome to the product test… Read More
Top 3 Causes of Damage to Decking and How to Combat Them.
March 14th, 2016
Have you Ever Wondered How to Renovate Grey Decking? What Causes Damage to Decking? What to use to protect and preserve Decking? What products to use to colour, protect and restore decking? This handy video shows the 3 main causes of damage to decking, and how best to combat them, pointing you in the right… Read More
Should You Use an Oil or Varnish to Finish Your Floor?
March 8th, 2016
What should you treat your hardwood floor with? How do you apply a Varnish or a Hard Wax Oil? Which is better – a Varnish or Oil Floor Finish? Need answers? Then this video is for you! Know what you want? View our range of wood finishing products for flooring. Floor Finishes Video Transcript Hi… Read More
The Wonderful World Of Bamboo
February 26th, 2016
In terms of all things wooden, Bamboo isn’t usually the first wood type that comes to mind. Ask a thousand people to name 5 woods and you can almost guarantee that Bamboo will rarely feature, being pushed out of the running by the likes of Oak, Pine, Mahogony, Beech and Cedar. So why is this?… Read More
How To Guides, Oils, Product Spotlight
Which is the Best Oil For Wooden Worktops?
February 19th, 2016
Kitchen worktops come in a huge variety of materials and styles, from man made laminate and composite materials to natural materials such as stone, granite, quartz and wood. All of which give a very specific look and feel and while some worktops can be relatively cheap, others can run into the many thousands. One of… Read More
Hand Made Valentines Gifts – Part 2
February 12th, 2016
Judging by the response we received from last week’s blog post about hand crafted Valentines gifts, a fair number of you were inspired to give it a go and for those that haven’t started yet, and in case you needed a gentle reminder, Valentines Day is this Sunday. Time is running short so if you… Read More
Valentines Gifts With a Personal Touch – Part 1
February 5th, 2016
Valentine day is celebrated all around the world on February the 14th, but the true origins of this day and how it came in to being is largely unknown by most. Some historians believe that Valentine day originated from the very ancient, possibly pre-Roman festival of Lupercalia, observed on February 13th through 15th, to avert… Read More
Which Wood Finish Is Best?
January 27th, 2016
A question we’re asked frequently here at Wood Finishes Direct is simply ‘which wood finish is best?’ Like most things involving wood, there’s no simple answer to this but fear not, help is at hand. Wood finishing can be complex. Trees are naturally growing organisms, with their own unique DNA and as with most living… Read More
Wooden Raised Vegetable Beds – To Preserve or Not To Preserve
January 18th, 2016
For gardeners, the New Year means the start of the new growing cycle. From Cauliflower to Leeks, Onions to Peas, January and February are the months for sowing seeds. At this time of year, this is done undercover, usually indoors to protect from frost in preparation for planting out in Spring. The popularity of raised… Read More
Good Bye 2015 – Hello 2016
January 8th, 2016
With memories of Christmas and the New Year fading fast, it’s time to start looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that 2016 has in store for us all. 2015 was a great year for Wood Finishes Direct, the company grew significantly in terms of profile, the number of staff we have, the products and… Read More
Life After Christmas for Christmas Trees
December 23rd, 2015
Not long now until the fat man with a red suit and a big sack comes down the chimney, but only if you’ve been good, and where does he leave the presents? Under the Christmas tree of course. And what would the festive Season be without a beautiful decorated tree in your house? It’s an… Read More
Wood Finishing Photos From Our Customers
December 7th, 2015
Here at Wood Finishes Direct we love nothing more than to see what our customers are doing with the 1000’s of wood finishing products that are bought from us every week. And this summer, you wonderful people have inundated us with your amazing photos of your decks, sheds, log cabins and a plethora of other… Read More
How To Guides, News, Oils, Product Spotlight
Celebrating 25 Years of Osmo UK
November 20th, 2015
In 2015, Osmo celebrated 25 years in the UK by releasing a special anniversary edition, 3 litre tin of Osmo Polyx Oil 3032, Clear Satin, for the same price as the standard 2.5 litre size. As you can imagine, these flew off our shelves like Christmas Cake at an Elf convention. Because of the amazing… Read More
How To Work Out Area of Sheds & Fences
November 17th, 2015
Here at Wood Finishes Direct, one of the most common questions we get asked is ‘How much paint, varnish, oil or stain do I need?’ Although there are logical calculations that can be used, knowing how to work out area for wood finishing products isn’t always as straight forward as simply measuring the physical dimensions… Read More
Little Known Facts About UK’s Ancient Woodlands and Forests
November 6th, 2015
When we hear about ancient woodlands and forests disappearing here in the UK, thoughts immediately conjure up images of urban sprawl and swathes of forests being cut down for new Motorway and rail routes. No one likes to see beautiful forests and woodlands that have stood for centuries or even thousands of years, slowly vanish… Read More
The Wood Finishes Direct Story (Part 2)
October 23rd, 2015
Following on from part 1 of the Wood Finishes Direct story and how we got to where we are today, here is the hopefully highly anticipated part 2 of our story that brings us up to present day. After more than 8 years of growth in our farm barn, the time came where we had… Read More
The Wood Finishes Direct Story (Part 1)
October 16th, 2015
One of the questions we sometimes get asked, especially from enthusiastic people who are passionate about wood and react like they’ve just found a sweet shop that sells their favourite childhood sweets is, ‘Where did we come from?’ and ‘How long have we been around for?’ The second question is easy as we are currently… Read More
Exterior Black Finishes – Rustic, Smart, On-Trend
October 9th, 2015
Black is beautiful! This week we’re diving into all things black and making two excellent recommendations to help you achieve absolutely glorious black exterior wood. The beauty of black Black is a magical colour. It’s always in fashion. Nothing clashes with it and every colour gleams against it, the contrast giving every shade extra depth… Read More
What is Pyrography Art?
October 5th, 2015
So what is pyrography art? The word comes from the Greek “pur” (fire) and “graphos” (writing), meaning writing with fire. In modern practise, this is more drawing than writing, with some artists creating truly fantastic pieces of art. The exact origins of pyrography are unknown, as wood (being organic) doesn’t survive well over thousands of… Read More
Move Over Chalk Paints – Claypaint is Here!
September 25th, 2015
We like to keep an eye on trends, and that includes eco-friendly paints. It’s been really interesting watching the trend for traditional and unusual paint finishes like chalk paints gain traction over the past few years, with their dead flat matt finishes and subtle traditional, heritage and ‘French’ colours. In response we decided to research… Read More
Everything You Need to Know About Pine Flooring
September 11th, 2015
Of all the types of flooring available, wood is still the most popular. And oak floorboards are gorgeous as well as fashionable. But pine wood flooring is another strong contender in the beauty stakes, a softwood that’s been used to make floorboards for centuries and a feature of many old homes across Britain. We’ve taken… Read More
3 Trillion Trees on Earth, 15 Billion Cut Down Per Year
September 9th, 2015
According to a report in The Independent, and another in Science Daily, our planet has around 46% fewer trees than it did before the human race started its destructive shenanigans. At the same time we currently have around 3 trillion trees on earth, more than seven times the number scientists had previously estimated. And we’re… Read More
Product Focus: Barrettine Wood Preservatives
September 7th, 2015
It’s the truth: the better you look after your wood, whether it’s decorative or structural, the better it looks and the longer it lasts. Today we’re going to focus on Barretine’s Premier Wood Preservative and Universal Wood Preservative, both top class spirit-based finishes designed to keep wood looking really good. We love Barrettine Wood Preservatives… Read More
Beautiful British Woodlands and Forests
August 21st, 2015
We live in a green and pleasant land, and its many forests and woodlands play a large part in making our quirky little nation so beautiful. This week we’re taking a look at the UK’s trees, how they compare to the past, the dangers today’s woodlands face, projects to restore them and organisations that protect… Read More
Using Wooden Railway Sleepers in Your Garden
August 17th, 2015
Railway sleepers are an enormously popular garden building material. They look absolutely beautiful, they’re rugged, they last more or less forever when properly maintained and they play a part in all sorts of creations from garden steps to raised beds to basic garden furniture. Simply pile a load of them up and you’ve got some… Read More