# Help & FAQ > Frequently asked questions about wood treatment: choosing products, preparation, application, maintenance. URL: https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/faq ## Support · Frequently asked questions 25 questions in 5 categories Popular searches Contents Can't find the answer? [Write to support](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/faq#assistenza-contatti) 01 ### Products and choosing 5 questions **1.1 What is the difference between a wood stain and a wood varnish?** A wood stain penetrates the wood fibres, nourishing it and protecting it from within, while leaving the surface natural and breathable. A varnish, on the other hand, forms a protective film on the surface, with greater mechanical resistance and a more pronounced aesthetic effect, satin or gloss. In most treatment systems the two products are not mutually exclusive: the stain prepares and protects, the finish seals and defends. **1.2 Is it better to choose the water-based line or the solvent-based line?** It depends on where the wood is and how it is used. The water-based line is suitable for interiors, furniture, window frames and for exteriors where low odour, fast drying and low environmental impact matter. The solvent-based line is the choice for the harshest exposures, such as marine or mountain climates, where maximum penetration and a finish with more body are needed. **1.3 How many products do I need to treat wood properly?** A complete system involves three stages: preparing the surface, wood stain and finish. Not every job requires all three stages, but skipping one always shortens the life of the result. Each product's page tells you which other products in the range it pairs with and in what order to apply them. **1.4 Can I use the same products indoors and outdoors?** Some products are suitable for both uses, while others are formulated specifically for just one. An exterior product contains UV filters and protection against mould and fungi that are not needed indoors, whereas a product designed for interiors is not intended to withstand rain and temperature swings. The field of use is always stated on the product page. **1.5 Can I treat a wooden floor with Linea Legno products?** No. Linea Legno products are not designed for floors or surfaces that are walked on. 02 ### Colour 3 questions **2.1 Can I choose the colour, or are the tints already set?** There are three different situations. Some products cannot be tinted and remain clear or neutral. Others are available in the ready-made shades of the Linea Legno colour fan, thirteen tints covering the main wood species, from Total White to Noce Scuro. Others still can be tinted with a tinting machine, drawing on a dedicated selection of around fifty colours. Whether a product can be tinted is stated on each product's page. **2.2 Will the colour of the sample be exactly what I get on my wood?** Not entirely, and not because of a defect in the product. A tinted clear product looks different depending on the wood species it is applied to and the number of coats: the same Noce Nazionale looks different on pine and on oak. That is why we always recommend a test on an offcut of the same wood, viewed in the light where the finished piece will be. **2.3 How do I request a tint mixed on a tinting machine?** Go to a retailer equipped with a tinting machine and give them the product and the name or code of the tint you have chosen. [See all tints](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/applicazioni/colorazioni) 03 ### Application 11 questions **3.1 Do I need to sand the wood before applying the product?** On new wood a light sanding is enough, followed by careful cleaning to remove dust and residue. On previously treated wood, however, the adhesion of the previous finish must be checked. If exterior wood is only greyed or stained, there are renewal systems that let you work on it without taking the surface back to bare wood: this is one of the most practical advantages of the range. **3.2 How many coats of product should I apply?** For wood stains the general rule is at least two coats: the first nourishes the wood deep down, the second builds up the final protective layer. The exact number of coats and the waiting times between them vary from product to product and are always given in the technical data sheet, which can be downloaded from the product page. **3.3 How much product do I need?** Multiply the square metres to be treated by the number of coats and divide the result by the coverage stated on the product page, in m² per litre. For example: 10 m² to be treated with 2 coats and a coverage of 10 m²/L require about 2 litres. On very absorbent or old wood, allow an extra margin. **3.4 What do I apply the product with: brush, roller or spray?** The suitable tools depend on the product and are stated in the technical data sheet. **3.5 How do I clean the tools after use?** For products in the water-based line, water is enough. For products in the solvent-based line, you need the thinner stated in the product's technical data sheet. **3.6 How soon can I use the furniture or item again?** The touch-dry time given in the data sheets does not mean the surface is ready for use: the product continues to harden afterwards. **3.7 How often should exterior wood be retreated?** It depends on the exposure. Wood facing south, in a coastal area or at high altitude wears more quickly than sheltered wood. For exposed window frames and furniture, good practice is one maintenance treatment a year, always at the same time of year, before the most critical season. Regular touch-ups always cost less than a complete restoration. **3.8 Can I apply a water-based product on wood previously treated with a solvent-based product?** In general, applying one technology over another requires a preliminary check of compatibility and of the condition of the old film. Before going ahead, we recommend an adhesion test on a hidden part of the surface, or contacting our technical support and telling us which product was applied previously. **3.9 What is the best time of year to treat wood?** The two ideal times are spring, before summer exposure, and late summer or early autumn, before the cold, damp season. Stable conditions matter more than the month: avoid applying in strong midday sun, because drying too quickly compromises the evenness of the finish. **3.10 What temperature and humidity conditions are needed for application?** You need stable weather conditions, with no rain forecast in the hours after application, and a dry surface. On new wood, check that it is well seasoned: excessive residual moisture reduces how effectively the product penetrates. The precise temperature and relative humidity limits are given in each product's technical data sheet. **3.11 How do I store leftover product?** Close the container tightly and store it away from frost and heat. 04 ### Problems and solutions 3 questions **4.1 My exterior wood has turned grey: what can I do?** Wood exposed to sun and weather tends to turn grey. The whitening treatment in the water-based line is designed precisely to whiten and lighten wood greyed by time, before protecting it again. [DA VERIFICARE con l'ufficio tecnico] **4.2 There are rust or coffee stains or glass rings on the wood** The whitening treatment is also suitable for cleaning wood and removing rust and coffee stains, glass rings, drink marks and traces left by plant pots. [DA VERIFICARE con l'ufficio tecnico] **4.3 My window frames look dull and have lost their colour** For the maintenance of wooden window frames there is the window frame reviver in the solvent-based line. 05 ### Purchase and support 3 questions **5.1 Where can I buy Linea Legno products?** Linea Legno products are available from the Covema network of retailers and paint shops. On the Retailers page you can find the most convenient store; some products can also be bought online, in which case you will find the direct link on the product page. **5.2 Where can I find the technical data sheet and the safety data sheet for a product?** On each product page, in the documentation section, the technical data sheet and the safety data sheet are available in PDF format, always updated to the latest revision. The technical data sheet gives coverage, dilution, drying times, recoating times and application method. **5.3 I can't find the answer to my problem. Who should I contact?** Write to us describing the type of wood, where it is, what was applied previously and what result you want to achieve: these are the four pieces of information we need to give you a useful answer on the first exchange. If you have a photo of the surface, attach it. You will get a reply from someone who knows the products, not an automated service. [Find a retailer](https://mycolor.it/) ### Support and contacts 01 — Direct support #### Didn't find the answer? Write to us: we'll help you find the treatment best suited to your job. [Write to us on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/393357105630)[Or go to contacts](https://legno.covemavernici.com/en/contatti) 02 — Already made a purchase? #### Having a problem with a product? Open a support request: we follow it through until it is resolved. [Open a request](https://covemavernici.freshdesk.com/support/tickets/new)