You're a born do-it-yourselfer, and now that you are starting a family or buying a new home, you may be buying new furniture. Because you know that unfinished furniture has a higher quality, is a better value over time, and gives you more flexibility of style and size choices, you purchase a beautiful unfinished crib, armoire, and baby changer from your local unfinished furniture store. Or maybe you love your new house, but the kitchen cabinets need updating. Maybe you're pulling up the old carpet in your home and re-finishing the wood floors. Here's where the fun of self-expression comes in. Now which stain or paint to choose? Read on to learn why using water based finishes offers many advantages and why they are the best choice for you and your family.

A Green Product
Basically, there are two types of stains and topcoats, solvent based and water based. Solvent, or oil based finishes, contain roughly 50% petroleum distillants, which release polluting hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. Water based finishes are 50% water, which is a non-pollutant, leading to increased safety and comfort.

Safety
Where solvent based lacquers are highly flammable, water based finishes are non-flammable, and therefore safer to use in your home. Materials that have been soaked in solvent based finishing products can cause a fire hazard if not disposed of in accordance to your local fire department regulations. So go Green and use environmentally friendly water based finishes!

Vibrant Color
Choosing water based finishes opens up a wider range of color choices: shades of red, green, blue, and yellow that are not available in oil based finishes are available as water based. Water based finishes also offer a full range of wood tones. Plus the colors maintain their beauty over time. You can even create unique, custom colors by mixing two shades. Whether you want comfortable classic colors, pretty pastels, or brilliant hues, furniture color is the perfect way to enhance a neutral room, add a touch of whimsy, or create coordinated spaces. Although water based top coats are milky white in the can, they dry to a crystal clear finish, and will remain clear throughout the life of your project. In contrast, oil based top coats have a slight amber color in the can, and will darken slightly over time.

Saves You Time
Water based finishes dry very quickly. So, instead of your project taking weeks, you can start and finish your project over a weekend. In ideal conditions (70 degrees and 70% humidity), dry time is usually only two to four hours. Higher humidity or cooler temperatures do require longer dry times, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's specific guidelines. Another way that using this type of finish saves you time - clean up is a breeze! Just use water - no harsh chemicals - which takes us back the environmentally friendly thing again!

So, go green, be safe, choose long-lasting color, and save yourself some time by using water based wood finishing products. They are available as milk paints, glazes, wood stains, and topcoats. The glazes available help you create the special decorative effects, such as antiquing and distressing. For free information about how to use water borne finishes, visit General Finishes' Water Based Finishing Tips.

Christine Adams is a writer, consultant and webmaster to the Unfinished Furniture Industry. She writes for General Finishes who is a recognized leader in the development of stains and paints, including professional waterbase wood finishes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Adams

To learn all about how to apply these greener, safer waterborne finishes, visit How To Stain and Paint Furniture on Squidoo!

or check out my new video showcase - Furniture Finishing How To Videos.

General Finishes recently announced the development of a new waterborne product - Exterior 450. Designed for exterior wood applications, Exterior 450 waterborne clear varnish provides wood with a tough, protective finish that will withstand the rigors of the sun, rain, and wind. This new prodict is fortified with UV absorbers and a built-in mildewcide.

East Troy, WI (PRWEB) September 10, 2007 -- General Finishes, the Wisconsin based manufacturer of award winning waterborne wood finishes for the fine furniture and woodworking markets, recently announced the development of a new waterborne product -- Exterior 450.

Designed for exterior wood applications, Exterior 450 water based clear varnish provides wood with a tough, protective finish that will withstand the rigors of the sun, rain, and wind. Ideal for wooden outdoor furniture, doors, carvings and signs, Exterior 450 is fortified with UV absorbers to help minimize fading and maximize performance. Plus, the built-in mildewcide retards mold and mildew growth.

Water based Exterior 450 not only is tough and flexible but also will resist the expansion and contraction of the wood through the hot summers and cold winters that typically cause cracking and peeling. Available in Satin and Semi-Gloss, it flows well and dries rapidly to a clear finish.

Bill Turner of Fontana, WI, who field tested this new product reported, "One year after applying 450 to my outdoor patio picnic table, it still looks freshly finished."

Waterbased finishes, like the new Exterior 450, are superior to their oil solvent finish sisters and do not involve the hazards of combustible oil finishes. Waterborne finishes offer several benefits, such as shorter drying times, less odor, easier clean up, and less exposure to volatile organic compounds, making them healthier for the user and the environment.

For additional information about this new waterborne product -- Exterior 450 - visit www.generalfinishes.com.