Abhinav Bhandari, product manager for PPG brand SIKKENS PROLUXE wood finishes recently spoke with Coatings World and discussed the best wood care products for common projects, such as refinishing or applying wood finishes to new wood exterior and interior surfaces, such as log siding, door and window frames and furniture.

Sikkens Proluxe offers a number of products to deal with common wood care issues such as UV-fading, mold and mildew or staining in harsh climates. This line of products offers solutions to achieve a perfect, lasting, on-trend appearance for exterior wooden surfaces.

When it comes to choosing a wood care product, color is an important factor. According to Bhandari, the latest color trends for wood care are centered around natural colors such as gray. “Naturally graying wood is the new trend we have been hearing about,” he said. “We have a great color palette in our line that capture some of the grays.”

Next to color, durability is the most important factor when selecting wood care products. The trick is to provide both durability and a pleasing look.

When dealing with wood coatings there are three technologies: alkyd (oil) which is a traditional type of coatings used to a achieve a natural look, acrylic technology achieves high durability but doesn’t look natural and finally, there is hybric acrylic/alkyd, which provides the best of both worlds.

“PPG is the leader in hybrid acrylic/alkyd technology,” said Bhandari. “Several of our products use that technology. The Flood Pro-Series was just launched for both DIY and pros.”

The Flood Pro Series line of professional stains, finishes and preparation products is available exclusively at PPG PAINTS stores and independent retailers nationwide. Developed to deliver on the staining needs of the professional, the new Flood Pro Series line combines popular existing formulas with several new and improved formulas to provide highly durable products with easy application. The new Flood Pro Series line was created through extensive research and collaboration with PPG’s global wood care technology resources, Bhandari added. “The program includes a core line of stains, finishes, preparation products and a new resurfacer product. It also includes a broader color platform of 40 semi-transparent and more than 120 solid hues that enhance the natural beauty of wood, in addition to new product labels.”

According to Bhandari, one of the main reasons wood care products do not perform properly is that the user has left out one or more important steps. He offers the following advice when applying exterior wood stains:
•  Make sure that the wood surface is in good condition
•  Choose the right product for your project (exterior or interior)
•  Prepare your surface properly
• Follow application guidelines.