Our response to this often asked question is twofold. First, how does one actually evaluate the cost of different finishing products based only on cost? And secondly, why are other finishes so cheap? Have you ever wondered that yourself? We know the answers and after reading this you will too.

If you are going to analyze different wood finishes based on cost only, the best way to do that is to look at the cost per square foot of coverage. Sutherland Welles Ltd.® wood finishes have a minimum of twice the square footage of other wood finishes and often more than double! So what appears expensive, ends up being very close in price to other finishing products when you compare the cost per square foot of coverage. If you are buying enough finish to qualify for discounts the pricing issue becomes non-existent after doing comparisons.

Most coating manufacturers appeal to a mass distribution network that serves a market with very limited experience when it comes to finishing wood. This distribution chain is very price sensitive and there is always an end price that has to be maintained to serve that market. All manufacturers deal with very similar indirect costs such as rent, utilities, labor etc. There remains one area in which to extract the profit from your endeavor - direct cost. The direct costs in coatings are the ingredients. There is a vast difference in quality of ingredients used in our coatings versus mass distributed wood finishes.

The amount and quality of the “solid contents” in wood finishes are what make the finish. Solids are in the form of penetrating oils, resins and pigments. Most oil based coatings are formulated with linseed oil and soy oils, and perhaps a small amount of raw Tung Oil. With the exception of the Tung Oil, all these oils are inferior oils and in the case of soy oil, not even classified as a finishing oil. But they are much less expensive than raw Tung Oil, which is even less expensive than Polymerized (cooked) Tung Oil. The film they produce doesn’t stand up over time. They don’t remain color neutral - they darken over time. They are usually mixed with some type of resin (phenol or urethane) to promote durability and sheen. It is often difficult to find a clear oil coating (especially in gallons) as many manufacturers are meeting stricter VOC requirements by adding coloring in the form of pigments that add to the solid content to be VOC compliant. Pigments are cheaper but they muddy the coating and obscure the grain rather than highlight or define the grain like our Polymerized Tung Oil and aniline dyes.

The other major component in wood finishes is the solvent that is the vehicle for depositing the solid (oil, resin, pigment) into the wood. Here again there is a huge variation in price for solvents. The price is a reflection of the degree of processing the solvent receives. The more the solvents are processed, the cleaner and less toxic they are. The cleaner the solvents the more expensive they are. You can see that yourself if you compare the cost of mineral spirits or paint thinner with an odorless mineral spirits - the difference is always a factor of at least double for the odorless mineral spirits. Most mass distributed wood finishes have a distinct noxious odor. Solvents are still cheaper than solids,so you will find a very high percentage of solvents in mass distributed wood finishes, but solids are what protect the wood and provide sheen.

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Last modified: September 26, 2007