Finish and Care

Conversion Varnish
The most commonly used finish in the high-end furniture market. When properly applied and cared for, the beauty of your furniture's finish will be enjoyed for many generations. Conversion Varnish has excellent resistance to foods, beverages and common household chemicals. However, to maintain the beautiful appearance of your furniture a few care guidelines must be followed.

Allow 30 days for your product to cure.
Avoid using materials that can scratch the surface of your furniture until the varnish has fully cured, forming a hard, protective finish that's resistant to water and alcohol.

Use a damp cloth for normal cleaning.
If additional polishing is required, avoid products with silicone, wax, solvents or abrasives. For best results, we highly recommend Guardsman Polish With Sunscreen, available through your local home improvement center.

Wipe up any spills promptly.
While your varnish is spill-resistant, prolonged exposure to moisture may cause damage.

Avoid exposure to heat sources.
Prolonged exposure to a direct heart source, such as a register, can cause cracking or warping. Objects left on top of your furniture in direct sunlight may also cause uneven aging of the wood's surface.

Do not place hot items like pots and pans on the surface without protection.
Enough said.

Maintain the level of relative humidity in your home around 35%.
Low humidity may cause your furniture to dry or crack, while high levels can result in swelling or warping. Either way, restoring optimum humidity levels will often correct the problem. Humidity gauges are available at most hardware stores and provide an easy way to improve the comfort of your home and extend the life of your Downtown Fine Furniture.

Different Types of Wood Finishes

Oils and Waxes
This type of finish provides a very natural appearance but allows limited protection or durability. It requires periodic re-application of oil and/or wax to maintain the natural look. A similar look can be achieved with a very low sheen conversion varnish.

Lacquers
Most commonly used in mass-produced lower end furniture. This coating is known for its ease of use and speed of dry times. Lacquers offer limited protection against marring, scratching, chemicals and yellowing due to UV exposure.

Conversion Varnish
This coating is used by the higher end kitchen cabinet and furniture manufacturers. It is used because of its excellent durability and resistance to household chemicals. Conversion Varnish is very color stable and less likely to yellow as it ages.

On a scale of 1 to 10 regarding durability, oils and waxes rate a 1, lacquers rate a 3, and conversion varnishes commonly rate the highest rating of a 10.