Summit Door, Inc. does not specifically recommend one particular kind of stain or varnish over another. Please see our finishing instructions sections for more information.

Northgate Garage Doors, Inc., does not specifically recommend one particular kind of paint, stain, or varnish over another. But, it seems Watco™ oil and Behr™ spar varnish have become popular brands that many people use with excellent results. Watco and Behr™ products can be found at most home improvements stores.

We usually recommend, and only stock, high-quality water-based varnish products, as they are non-toxic, non-yellowing and quick drying. Please note that this new, water-based technology has only really matured in the last few years, and some well-known and widely-sold products are not very durable. They can need re-doing in under a year in some cases, whereas our varnishes are designed to last at least 5 years, some up to 20, subject to conditions and regular maintenance, etc.

Only alcohol based non-toxic stains are used. Even after the pipe becomes warmed up there is no "off gassing" such as petroleum based stains nor are there any spotting or leaking from analine or water based dyes.

Creative Wood Products has their own private label stain called Deck Gold. Deck Gold is an oil based semi-transparent sealer and stain in one. It is a unique blend of resin, pigment oil, mildewcide and UV protectors that penetrate deeply into the wood to protect and preserve it. Deck Gold can be used on all types of wood except Redwood. We also carry Superdeck Products, Superdeck is a natural oil, transparent stain designed to maintain the beauty of your wood.

You can use a variety of varnishes. Damar picture varnish is good and so is Liquin varnish. Make sure you use a varnish that is applicable to your medium - acrylic varnish for acrylic paintings and oil varnish for oil paintings. You can purchase a spray or a liquid varnish depending on your preference. For oil varnish, you can thin a thick liquid varnish with turpentine to breakdown the thickness.

I do not use any of the varnishes sold in D.I.Y shops and stores. I use a professional matt silk varnish made by Bonakemi called Sprectra. It's water based, has very little odour and gives a beautifull hard wearing finish.

A wood stain is used to change the appearance of the wood, such as to bring out the definition in the wood grain or match the look of another species of wood. Varnish, which may be water- or oil-based, provides a clear, transparent coating that is durable and hard. Varnishes also come in a variety of shines from flat to high gloss, and they may be water or oil based. Semi-transparent stains provide a color to the wood, but still allow the texture and natural grain to show through.

We use an acrylic lacquer which has a satin finish. It is user-friendly, hard-wearing and quick drying. Gloss and matt lacquer can be ordered on request.

Some artists use Galkyds to saturate their colors and unify the surface of their paintings. They think they are using Galkyd as a varnish but technically they are using Galkyd as a colorless glaze layer. This is a fine technique. But a glaze layer is not reversible and varnish is. The glaze layer becomes a permanent part of the painting. Varnishes need to be removable.

No, Galkyds are painting mediums so when you apply Galkyds to oil paintings, they will form a paint layer.

We use our own unique MP765 two-component water-base polyurethane system which is thick and flexible, much more durable and very easy to re-finish. It also has great transparency, giving Duro-design Bamboo flooring floors a deep, natural and vibrant look.

When you're looking for a painted-kind-of-look to match you home exterior, or when the deck has been totally neglected, solid stains hide and conceal any cosmetic imperfections that the lumber may have.

We stain any existing concrete flooring, interior or exterior, new or old. Our process is a great dressing for interior concrete floors, garages, patios, driveways, pool decks, or walkways.