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Wood Varnish

If you're looking to maintain the natural colour of your wooden surfaces but add a protective topcoat in a glossy or matt finish, a trade-quality wood varnish from top brands like Dulux TradeCoo-Var, SadolinJohnstones is the perfect solution. Shop online with us and enjoy free next day delivery on all UK mainland orders over £50.

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  1. Recommended

    Smith and Rodger Rocktop Multi-Surface Clearcoat Matt
    Smith and Rodger Rocktop Multi-surface Clearcoat Matt
    From £20.98 £17.48
  2. Recommended

    Smith and Rodger Rocktop Multi-Surface Clearcoat Satin
    Smith and Rodger Rocktop Multi-surface Clearcoat Satin
    From £20.80 £17.33
  3. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Durable Quick Dry Polyurethane Varnish Satin
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Durable Quick Dry Polyurethane Varnish Satin
    From £11.57 £9.64
  4. Recommended

    Smith and Rodger Rocktop Multi-Surface Clearcoat Gloss
    Smith and Rodger Rocktop Multi-surface Clearcoat Gloss
    From £20.98 £17.48
  5. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Quick Dry Polyurethane Floor Varnish Satin
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Quick Dry Polyurethane Floor Varnish Satin
    From £45.41 £37.84
  6. Coo-var Polyurethane Varnish Gloss
    Coo-Var Polyurethane Varnish Gloss
    From £13.76 £11.47
  7. Scrubbable

    Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze Varnish Clear Satin
    Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze Varnish Clear Satin
    From £37.82 £31.52
  8. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Polyurethane Varnish Satin
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Polyurethane Varnish Satin
    From £10.09 £8.41
  9. Sadolin Polyurethane Extra Durable Varnish Matt
    Sadolin Polyurethane Extra Durable Varnish Matt
    From £20.30 £16.92
  10. Sadolin Polyurethane Floor Varnish Satin
    Sadolin Polyurethane Floor Varnish Satin
    From £51.61 £43.01
  11. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Heavy Duty Yacht Varnish Gloss
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Heavy Duty Yacht Varnish Gloss
    From £14.88 £12.40
  12. Fiddes Premier Wood Varnish Satin
    Fiddes Premier Wood Varnish Satin
    From £22.40 £18.67
  13. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Floor Varnish Satin Clear
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Floor Varnish Satin Clear
    From £45.41 £37.84
  14. Coo-Var Quick Dry Acrylic Varnish Gloss
    Coo-Var Quick Dry Acrylic Varnish Gloss
    From £16.15 £13.46
  15. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Quick Dry Polyurethane Varnish Gloss
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Quick Dry Polyurethane Varnish Gloss
    From £11.57 £9.64
  16. Sadolin PV67 Heavy Duty Varnish Satin
    Sadolin Pv67 Heavy Duty Varnish Satin
    From £30.88 £25.73
  17. Coo-Var Yacht & Seaplane Varnish Gloss
    Coo-Var Yacht & Seaplane Varnish Gloss
    From £15.91 £13.26
  18. Coo-Var Polyurethane Varnish Matt
    Coo-Var Polyurethane Varnish Matt
    From £15.73 £13.11
  19. Sadolin Polyurethane Extra Durable Varnish Satin
    Sadolin Polyurethane Extra Durable Varnish Satin
    From £20.30 £16.92
  20. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Polyurethane Varnish Gloss
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Polyurethane Varnish Gloss
    From £10.09 £8.41
  21. Dulux Trade Polyurethane Varnish Clear Gloss
    Dulux Trade Polyurethane Varnish Clear Gloss
    From £24.34 £20.28
  22. Scrubbable

    Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze Varnish Clear Gloss
    Dulux Trade Diamond Glaze Varnish Clear Gloss
    From £37.82 £31.52
  23. Coo-Var Yacht & Sea Plane Varnish Eggshell
    Coo-Var Yacht & Sea Plane Varnish Eggshell
    From £23.18 £19.32
  24. Sadolin PV67 Heavy Duty Varnish Gloss
    Sadolin Pv67 Heavy Duty Varnish Gloss
    From £30.88 £25.73
  25. Sadolin Outdoor Varnish Matt
    Sadolin Outdoor Varnish Matt
    From £20.75 £17.29
  26. Fiddes Premier Wood Varnish Matt
    Fiddes Premier Wood Varnish Matt
    From £22.40 £18.67
  27. Johstones Quick Dry Polyurethane Floor Varnish Gloss
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Quick Dry Polyurethane Floor Varnish Gloss
    From £45.41 £37.84
  28. Dulux Trade Polyurethane Varnish Clear Satin
    Dulux Trade Polyurethane Varnish Clear Satin
    From £24.34 £20.28
  29. Scrubbable

    Dulux Trade Quick Dry Varnish Clear Satin
    Dulux Trade Quick Dry Varnish Clear Satin
    From £24.34 £20.28
  30. Dulux Trade Yacht Varnish Clear Gloss
    Dulux Trade Yacht Varnish Clear Gloss
    From £29.71 £24.76
  31. Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Floor Varnish Gloss Clear
    Johnstone's Trade Woodworks Floor Varnish Gloss Clear
    From £45.41 £37.84
  32. Sadolin Yacht Varnish Clear Gloss
    Sadolin Yacht Varnish Clear Gloss
    From £20.75 £17.29
  33. Scrubbable

    Dulux Trade Quick Dry Varnish Clear Gloss
    Dulux Trade Quick Dry Varnish Clear Gloss
    From £24.34 £20.28

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FAQs

Wood varnish provides the ideal finished appearance on any surface. It is transparent and has no added colour to enhance the natural pigment of the wood. You are looking to use wood varnish when you want to highlight the natural texture and grain. If you wanted to add colour to the wood, you’re best to use a woodstain first before varnishing.

Wood varnish offers various benefits to wood, mainly:

  • Protection - the varnish provides a layer over wood, therefore maximising the protection of the wooden surface, reducing liklihood of scratches, scuffs and more.
  • Durability - related to the point above, as varnish can create a hard surface, it helps to increase the longevity of the wood.
  • Enhances the look of wood - varnishes help to bring out the natural beauty of wood, enriching colours, grain characteristics and texture. 

Wood varnish forms a clear or translucent film over the wood, preserving its natural appearance while adding a glossy or matte finish. Wood stain, on the other hand, is used to change the colour of the wood therefore adjusting the woods natural appearance. 

Wood varnishes are typically used on doors, window frames and pretty much anywhere you want to protect the wood. That’s why it is just as common to apply some varnish to a table as it is to your kitchen cabinet.

The drying time for wood varnish varies depending on various factors - brand, humidity levels, temperature, and thickness of the application. As a general guideline, most wood varnishes take around 24 to 48 hours to dry completely.

You’ll typically find that oil or water-based varnishes are your main options, and there is much debate over which you should be using. The water-based varnish is faster drying, doesn’t have a strong smell, and will not see any yellowing over time.

Oil-based varnishes are more durable (due to a higher VOC), tend to last longer, and typically take a few knocks and hits a bit better than water-based varnishes. Some oil varnishes can discolour over time, but that’s a case of years (even decades) rather than a couple of months.
Yes. Even if you’re looking for a completely clear varnish for a surface, you can still choose from products which will provide a matt, satin, or gloss finish after drying in. Always remember that varnish is made to sit “on” your wood, whereas woodstain is made to penetrate. You should take the time to consider what sheen you want from your varnish, e.g. a glossy varnish might look good on an interior table, but not on a garden bench.

It depends on where the varnish is going, how much you’re using, and the type of varnish. These days, most varnishes are formulated to a high enough standard that two or three coats will see you through. If you were using a water-based varnish over large areas (for example, a flight of stairs), you might need another coat or two on top of that to get it looking perfect. Many of the quicker drying products, like Johnstones Quick Dry Polyurethane Floor Varnish Satin, can easily see you getting three coats down in one day.

At The Paint Shed, we aim to make woodcare accessible for all, which is why we stock everything required for your project in one place - in our woodcare tab. Browse through our selection of stains, oil and waxfillers and treatments

Remember to get sorted with the necessary tools & cleaning solutions, and you will have everything you need to start varnishing. Don’t forget our team of woodcare experts are here to help you every step of the way. Just reach out to us by phone on 033 3320 2369, or ask the experts at your local Paint Shed location.