Finishing Tips

Extreme variances in temperature and humidity will cause kiln dried and laminated wood products to shrink and/or swell. Caution should be taken to avoid these variances.

In order to further clarify the treatment that wood stair parts should receive, L.J. Smith suggests that the following standards be observed:

1. Stairparts should be stored in an area free of excessive dust and dirt. Moisture is the enemy of any wood product and should be avoided. Wood and the cardboard boxes it is stored in may wick moisture from direct contact with concrete or any moist surface. L.J. Smith manufactures at 6-8% moisture content. Any condition which varies this will cause shrinkage or swelling thus causing excess stress on glue joints and the surface of the wood.
2. Stairparts should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Storage in heated areas may cause additional drying of the wood which may cause cracks and splitting. Wood should be stored at a consistent temperature and relative humidity (recommended is 70° F and 35% relative humidity).

3. It is important that all parts be lightly sanded before finishing. Any excess glue or oil from a human hand can mar the evenness of your stair finish. Make sure all dust is removed to insure a smooth finish.
4. Apply stain to a scrap piece of wood as a test piece. This will help you determine how much stain to apply and how long to leave it on the wood before wiping off any excess. The color may vary somewhat depending on various properties of the wood, such as end grain. Stain should be wiped on in small areas, then wiped off to desired darkness after no more than 2 minutes. Follow the recommendations of the stain manufacturer.
5. After staining is complete and allowed to dry, apply finish. Polyurethane finishes provide the best protection and a fine finish as well as rapid drying time. After each finish coat is completely dry, buff lightly with steel wool (0000 grade) or 220 grit sand paper. Try this first on a test piece or any inconspicuous area to determine how much pressure to use and avoid damage. Next, remove debris left from buffing by wiping with a tack cloth. Generally, three or four coats of finish are required. Follow the recommendations of the finish manufacturer.

   It is essential that a minimum of three coats of finish be evenly applied to all surfaces: top, bottom, and ends. This will help insure that any excess gain or loss of moisture will be uniform thus reducing tendencies toward warpage and splitting.

   No coating entirely prevents wood from gaining or losing moisture, but a proper finish which is evenly applied will help reduce the transmission of moisture to levels which the laminated wooden parts might tolerate.

6. A fine furniture wax coat is recommended after finishing.

Extreme variances in temperature and humidity will cause kiln dried and laminated wood products to shrink and/or swell. Caution should be taken to avoid these variances.

In order to further clarify the treatment that wood stairparts should receive, L.J. Smith suggests that the following standards be observed:

1. Stair parts should be stored in an area free of excessive dust and dirt. Moisture is the enemy of any wood product and should be avoided. Wood and the cardboard boxes it is stored in may wick moisture from direct contact with concrete or any moist surface. L. J. Smith manufactures at 6-8% moisture content. Any condition which varies this will cause shrinkage or swelling thus causing excess stress on glue joints and the surface of the wood.
2. Stair parts should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Storage in heated areas may cause additional drying of the wood, which may cause cracks and splitting. Wood should be stored at a consistent temperature and relative humidity (recommended is 70 degrees F and 35% relative humidity).

L.J. Smith pre-primed wood products are finished with a base primer. It is considered to be a primer over which a top coat can be applied.

If you feel, however, that the finish is sufficient as a final finish, don’t apply any coating over the factory primer.

Warning: DO NOT USE CATALYZED PRODUCTS ON L.J. SMITH PRE-PRIMED PRODUCTS.

If you choose to apply a top coat, we recommend that each item is properly prepared before the application of any additional coating. To produce the most attractive and longest lasting finish, we suggest that you employ the following procedures when preparing and coating each item. We highly recommend pretesting the finish of your choice in a sample area.

STEP 1: For best results, each part should be sanded with fine sandpaper -220 grit sandpaper or contoured sanding sponge. Adequate ventilation is required when sanding or abrading the dried film. If adequate ventilation cannot be provided, wear an approved particulate respirator (NIOSH/MSHA TC21C or equivalent). Follow respirator manufacturer’s directions for respirator use.

STEP 2: Sanding powder must be removed. This is best done by vacuuming. It can, however, be blown off with air, or cleaned off with a tack rag or rag dampened with denatured alcohol. Do not use any product to remove the dust that may leave a residue or film on the part, such as mineral spirits..

STEP 3: Apply Sherwin-Williams® PrepRite® Anchor Bond primer, if desired.

STEP 4: Apply 1 or 2 coats of an interior Sherwin-Williams® ProClassic® Waterborne Series or ProClassic® Alkyd Series topcoat finish, being sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and scuff sanding between coats. The topcoat can be applied in temperatures between 50° and 90°, however, the optimum temperature for application is 77°. It is recommended that only a high quality interior finish be used. Do not use catalyzed products on L.J. Smith pre-primed products. The finish should be allowed to dry for 7 days at room temperature before handling and evaluating the integrity of the finish.

For questions or more information on any of the products that have been suggested for use, please feel free to call 800-4SHERWIN or visit www.sherwinwilliams.com.