What to consider when Sealing Timber Finishes in your Home
Organise + design your reno Resources
◾ #1 template for organising and managing your home renovation or building project
◾ Your Finishes Schedule is the QUICK + EASY way to store + keep track of all building products, fixtures + fittings, finishes + colours
◾Store the following home product details in your Schedule of Finishes to reference at any time during the planning stage and throughout your project —
✔️ Product names
✔️ Building product + product codes
✔️ Brand names
✔️ Colours, including material and paint colours
✔️ Product sizes, length and width dimensions
✔️ Supplier and manufacturer details, including websites and contact details
✔️ Any comments, installation notes or details for trades
✔️ Upload images of the product to visualise for trades and your building team
◾ Share your Digital Finishes Schedule with your builder, trades, architect… and other half or print it for handy reference onsite
◾ Store + edit your Finishes Schedule on your computer, phone or tablet to keep project details at hand, and quickly and easily reference or check product specifications during site visits and hardware shop runs
◾ Share your Finishing Schedule with your building team instantly at any time, and refer back to your schedule template for paint touch-ups or home improvements years from now
◾ Everyone always has access to the crucial details of your project, so nothing is missed.
◾ Use your finish schedule template for renovating one room or building your new home. Enter finishes + selections while you design and plan your project.
◾ It’s the tool that professionals like interior designers, builders + architects use, and now it’s yours!
◾ Includes a Prompt Sheet so you know exactly what products to include
◾ Template is used in the free version of Canva and can be used for this project and the next
MUST-HAVE project management tool for any home or DIY project — kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation, laundry renovation and everything in between — to save time, money and costly mistakes!
Ditch budget blow-outs and know exactly what your reno or build will cost.
Most renovators fall in the trap of guesstimating. You can completely avoid this and accurately know what your renovation will cost
Budget blow-outs happen because people missed key trades, materials, or small extras that really add up fast. Or because they choose products at the start of their project, without having a clear picture of all the costs that are to come.
That’s exactly why we created the Budget Tracker.
It comes pre-loaded with every trade, product + supplier — so you know what to include in your budget and don’t miss a thing. There’s no second-guessing. Plan renovation costs with confidence from day one.
Plan one room at a time or your whole home at once — your budget tracker has the flexibility to work how want to.
Why it works:
✔️ No guesswork — know exactly what costs to allow for, room by room
✔️ Pre-loaded categories — every trade, product + supplier your project will need
✔️ Track spend in real time — compare what you planned vs what you’re actually spending
✔️ Quick-start estimates — calculate total renovation costs in minutes
✔️ Customisable — works whether you're planning one bathroom or an entire home
✔️ Built-in contingency + quote tracking — so nothing slips through the cracks
✔️ Use it again and again — perfect for this project and future renos
It’s for you if:
➡️ You don’t know what your project will actually cost
➡️ You’ve started planning but feel like costs are getting out of control
➡️ You want to avoid budget blowouts and know exactly what you’re in for
➡️ You’re juggling quotes and need one place to track everything
➡️ You want total clarity — not chaos and cost surprises
Use your budget tool your way and get a full cost breakdown of your project in minutes, with every dollar tracked from start to finish.
Ready to take control of your reno costs without budget blowouts? Download your Renovation Budget Tracker to find out your real reno cost now.
Raw finishes in homes have made a huge comeback in recent times, and timber is no exception. So if you’re planning to install timber features in your new build or renovation, or have some existing woodwork that desperately needs TLC, here’s the no-fuss way to ensure it looks top-shelf.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Project featuring Timber Balustrade Stairs
• Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Project featuring Timber Balustrade Stairs
First Things First, Do I Need To Seal it?
The answer is, absolutely! Sealing your timber creates a protective layer which reduces the chance of staining from dirt or spills, and provides a surface that is easy to wipe clean. It also increases your timber’s longevity as it helps prevent cracking and drying out. Timber treatment through regular sealing is an investment policy that ensures the longevity of your timber finishes.
Prep It
As with any and all finishes in your home, preparation is key. Skipping preparation results in messy applications or having to do the job twice. So do yourself a favour and don’t skip this step. When it comes to timber, it’s actually relatively quick and easy.
If you’re working with new timber, it will generally only need a light sand and wipe down before applying your product. Existing timber features may need a bit more elbow grease. It’s vital to invest the time for prep to ensure a lasting, seamless finish.
• Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Project featuring Timber balustrade stairs
• Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Project
Which Product Is Right?
There’s a plethora of timber sealer and stain options on the market, and knowing which one is right for the job can almost require a degree in chemistry. So when it came to choosing a product for our latest project for the timber balustrades and handrails, we opted for one that ticked all the boxes - Johnstone’s Professional Interior/Exterior Clear.
Water-based
First and foremost, we needed a product that was quick and easy to apply with a seamless, smooth finish. Opting for a water-based sealer was a no-brainer as it would ensure easy touch-ups and clean up. One of the other many benefits of Johnstone’s Professional Interior/Exterior Clear is that you can generally re-coat the product in an hour. That’s a lot of ticks in the quick and easy box.
• Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Project
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Project
Mind The Drips…
The other requirement was that it was easy to apply. Many sealers and stains we’d tried in the past were prone to drips and build-up. The consistency of Johnstone’s Professional product made it very easy to apply with no product build-up, resulting in a smooth, clean finish.
Satin, Gloss, Clear or Colour…
Here we’ve opted for a satin finish, however, Johnstone’s Professional Interior/Exterior Clear is also available in gloss and tintable in your choice of 15 colours. So there are numerous finish options available to refresh and protect a range of interior and exterior timber surfaces, including windows, doors, bi-folds, gates and pergolas.
Protection From All The Elements…
In its lifetime, your timber will no doubt contend with a wide range of everyday challenges, so a product that protects from all conceivable elements is essential. Johnstone’s Professional provides advanced fungal, dirt and mould protection, UV protection and is water repellent. So that certainly eliminates the majority of foreseeable timber pandemics…
The stand-out element of Johnstone’s Professional was how the timber felt with the product applied! The satin finish creates a smooth, seamless surface so our timber balustrade and handrails, look and feel like silk.
Z+S Tip • Natural timber isn’t cheap - so make sure you protect your investment by regularly sealing and caring for all timber surfaces, to keep them looking brand new for years to come.
