Replies

1. 
   peter28 | Nov 06, 2007 04:44pm | #1

   Stackis,

   Clear finishes are a maintenance issue no matter what. You mentioned Epiphanes as your finish. It is one of the high quality varnishes out there.

   How many coats of finish are you doing?  On a raw door I always suggest to a client that at least five or six are applied initially. Many balk at this as being expensive. My reply is to tell them so is removing the finish and subsequent gray water spots.

   I also put in bold letters on all exterior finishing invoices that proper maintenance is required along with a suggested schedule. If the end user is negligent..........

   I can't say accurately what the European doors are finished with. I just suspect they are maintained far better than the average one here.

   I know of one manufacturer of doors that applies a two component finish to their exterior doors. It creates an envelope that will not allow water behind the moldings and panels. That is until you get some movement in the door and that shell cracks.

   Now you have a coating that is so brittle that it doesn't lend itself to repair.

   Personally, I'll opt for one that lends itself to maintenance.

   Peter

    

1. 
   saschafer | Nov 06, 2007 06:01pm | #2

   "I can't say accurately what the European doors are finished with. I just suspect they are maintained far better than the average one here."

   One of my memories of Princeton University is seeing the maintenance guys every summer, sanding and refinishing the big oak exterior doors on all of the campus buildings.

   View Image

   -Steve

    

1. 
   peter28 | Nov 06, 2007 06:30pm | #3

   Steve,

   Nice picture. That's definately what it takes.

   Now if I could only convince the powers that be at Yale to take care of their woodwork, both interior and exterior...........

   Peter

2. 
   xmike | Nov 07, 2007 05:32am | #4

   Clear finish, wood, sunlight.

   Something to remember is that, in many cases, when it appears that the finish is deteriorating, it is actually the surface of the wood under the finish that is breaking down due to UV from the sun.  That breakdown destroys the bond between the wood and the finish, and it appears that it's the finish that's failing.  (Not my opinion - published many times.)

   So what can you put on the wood before you put on the clear finish that effectively blocks UV, yet still leaves the wood looking like wood, and allows a follow-on finish to adhere?

   I don't have an answer, but there's the place to start.

   Once you solve that problem, only THEN do you have to figure out what follow-on finish would last for many years while being attacked by UV, O2, and "the elements".

   I'm not sure that there's a solution here.

3. 
   JohnWW | Nov 08, 2007 10:10pm | #5

   Allow me to throw in a bit of information about European doors.  Often times, even though they are built out of solid wood, the finish is actually a faux woodgrain done in paint which has a much longer life span than any clear finish.

   John White

1. 
   peter28 | Nov 09, 2007 01:41am | #6

   Hi John,

   How's this for a laugh;

   I have the dubious honor of having written the second least popular finish line of all time. You know what it was on? Graining.

   It seems those surveyed didn't at all care for the thought of the wood not being "real"

   It's a very handy skill to to acquire especially when veneers get sanded through to the substrate

   I've also grained door casings , on site, to match some mahogany cabinets I finished for an adjacent room.

   Fun Stuff!

   Peter

1. 
   JohnWW | Nov 09, 2007 06:04pm | #7

   "Real Woodworkers" don't do wood graining obviously.  Personally I love the technique.

   John W.

2. 
   user-83153 | Nov 16, 2007 03:40am | #8

   Peter, I have seen some of your "faux" wood. I bet the ones who were complaining about the article couldn't tell the difference between your stuff and real wood.

        Rob

1. 
   peter28 | Nov 16, 2007 04:14pm | #9

   Rob,

   Thanks

   I've seen some grainings done by people I would consider masters and no matter how hard I looked there was no way you could discern it from the real thing. 

    I have a wall of color and texture samples for clients to look at. Mixed in with them are about a half dozen grained pieces. It's fun to throw them out there and have the person realize that all is not as it seems.

   It also opens their eyes to options. The one I mentioned to John White, where I had to grain a painted door casing to match some cabinets I did; the cabinets also featured some gilt components along with ebonized wood. I also did a Venetian plaster on the walls. The project won me an award. ( I know that and a dime will get me a cup of coffee) By the way, it was a bathroom. You'll see it when I get off my butt and finish my website.

   Take care,

   Peter