BLUE links = glossary      GREEN links = main page.

ALKYD
A synthetic resin used in stains and paints, typically made by chemically altering a vegetable oil. The oil is chemically altered to improve or change qualities such as dry time and weather resistance. The term is often used interchangeably with OIL BASED.

BLEACH
Most commonly a sodium hypochlorite solution, which lightens materials it comes into contact with, and which can damage wood fibers. BLEACH should be used only when necessary to remove MOLD from wood surfaces. We don't recommend wood cleaners containing BLEACH for periodic use.

BRIGHTENER
A wood brightener lightens the color of exterior wood, and is often used to prepare wood for staining. It may also be used to maintain the wood periodically. Brighteners remove TANNIN and rust stains. Messmer's WD LIQUID and WD PART B are examples of this type of product.
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WD A+B on messmers.com  WD Liquid on messmers.com

CLEANER
A wood cleaner helps remove the built up dirt, dust, and debris that builds up on exterior wood, particularly on horizontal surfaces. It is often used to prepare wood for staining. When used with a BRIGHTENER, the CLEANER should be used first.
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WD A+B on messmers.com  WD Liquid on messmers.com

CLEAR
A true clear contains no pigmentation, and therefore offers little or no U.V. light protection and will allow the wood to turn gray. Messmer's doesn't recommend unpigmented clears for exterior use, unless a gray, weathered look is desired. Our Timberflex Clears do contain TRANS-OXIDE PIGMENTS for U.V. protection with excellent clarity and minimal color change to the wood.

COATING
A general term for a stain, paint, or other finish used to decorate or protect a surface. COATINGS can be applied by brush, roller, spray or dip methods.

FILM FORMER
A coating that forms a film on the surface to which it is applied. Examples include paints, varnishes, lacquers and multiple coat wood finishes that build up on the surface of the wood, such as our TIMBERFLEX line. In general, film formers provide better protection from U.V. light and weathering, but they can be more difficult to apply and more prone to peeling problems in some environments. They are not recommended for decks.
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Timberflex  Timberflex PRO  Timberflex Interior

FUNGICIDE
A chemical designed to inhibit the growth of MOLD on the surface of the coating. It is not designed to kill existing mold on a bare or previously finished wood surface. All Messmer's products designed for exterior use contain fungicide.

GLOSS
Gloss refers to how shiny a coating or surface is. A high SHEEN or high GLOSS coating is shiny, while a low SHEEN or low GLOSS coating is dull or matte. Messmer's TIMBERFLEX topcoats are available in GLOSS or SATIN, which are high SHEEN and low SHEEN respectively. A PENETRATING OIL FINISH like UV PLUS soaks into the wood and therefore will not have a SHEEN or GLOSS appearance, but will instead leave the wood with a natural look.

GREEN
"GREEN" lumber has a high MOISTURE CONTENT and must be allowed to dry before applying a finish.

HARDWOODS
Lumber from deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the fall. Generally characterized by dense, hard wood. Hardwood decking is best treated with U.V. PLUS FOR HARDWOODS, which is specially formulated for these dense materials.
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UV Plus for Hardwoods on messmers.com

IPE
A Brazillian HARDWOOD.
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UV Plus for Hardwoods on messmers.com

KILN DRIED
Lumber which has been dried to remove excess water, yielding a low MOISTURE CONTENT. KILN DRIED lumber is more dimensionally stable and more suitable for finishing than GREEN lumber.

LAP MARKS
Stains sometimes appear much darker where they overlap; this is an undesirable appearance. This problem is much more prevalent in WATER BORNE wood stains.

LINSEED OIL
Used in most oil based exterior wood stains, linseed oil is derived from the seeds of the flax plant. It is an excellent oil for wood stains, but must be combined with other materials to be effective.

MILDEW
Technically, a mold fungus that grows on exterior plants, but the term is often used interchangeably with MOLD.

MOISTURE CONTENT
The amount of water in wood, expressed as a percentage of weight. A moisture meter must be used to accurately determine the MOISTURE CONTENT. Most wood finishes should not be applied to wood with a moisture content greater than about 18%. Wood that is still GREEN has a high moisture content and oil based finishes will not adhere to it or penetrate effectively.

MOLD
A non specific term for a type of fungus, which spreads through airborne spores and typically grows on surfaces that provide a food (such as wood, paper or cloth) in moderate to warm, humid environments. One must kill MOLD with a BLEACH solution.

NATURAL WOOD FINISH
Messmer's uses this term for a finish that allows the grain and character of the wood to show through, while minimally altering the color and providing protection from U.V. light and weather.

OIL BASED
A stain or coating which has an oil or ALKYD as its base. Usually they are thinned with a SOLVENT other than water, although WATER BORNE products may contain oils.

OPACITY
The tendency of a coating to block light or "hide" a surface. Highly PIGMENTED finishes have more OPACITY and allow less of the natural look of wood to show through.

OPAQUE STAIN
A finish that blocks light and completely changes the color of the wood, covering the grain but allowing the texture of the wood to still be seen. Also called SOLID COLOR STAIN.

PENETRATING OIL FINISH
These products soak into porous surfaces and do not form a surface film, unless they are overapplied. They will alter the color of the surface but leave the wood looking natural and will not yield a shiny or lacquered appearance. When properly applied, they are not prone to peeling or flaking. Our UV PLUS is an excellent example of a PENETRATING OIL FINISH. This is the recommended product to protect a deck.
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UV Plus   UV Plus for Hardwoods

PIGMENT
Pigments are finely ground insoluble materials that contribute to the color and opacity of a coating. Since most wood coatings are earth tones, the most commonly used PIGMENTS include TRANS-OXIDE. yellows, reds and browns, along with IRON OXIDE yellows, reds, browns, and blacks. In general, larger quantities of PIGMENT increase the OPACITY of a wood finish, and can increase its longevity and ability to protect the wood. Messmer's uses a high percentage of the much more expensive TRANS-OXIDE pigments, which offer the best combination of clarity and UV protection.

SATIN
Satin describes a finish with a relatively low SHEEN or GLOSS. Messmer's TIMBERFLEX topcoats are available in GLOSS or SATIN.
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Timberflex on messmers.com

SEMI-TRANSPARENT
A pigmented stain that allows some character of the wood to be seen, but contains more pigmentation than a NATURAL WOOD FINISH or a TONER.

SHEEN
Sheen refers to how shiny a coating or surface is. A high SHEEN or high GLOSS coating is shiny, while a low SHEEN or low GLOSS coating is dull or matte. Messmer's TIMBERFLEX topcoats are available in GLOSS or SATIN, which are high SHEEN and low SHEEN respectively. A PENETRATING OIL FINISH like UV PLUS soaks into the wood and therefore will not have a SHEEN or GLOSS appearance, but will instead leave the wood with a natural look.

SOLID COLOR STAIN
An opaque stain that completely changes the color of wood and covers the grain but allows the texture of the wood to be seen. Also called OPAQUE STAIN.
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Solid Color Stain on messmers.com

SOLIDS
The solids content refers to the percentage of a stain or coating that doesn't evaporate into the air after application. The oils, resins, pigments, and additives in a finish are solids. The SOLVENTS (examples include mineral spirits and water) evaporate and are not solids. In general, higher solids products are more expensive to make and will protect the wood more effectively, but as solids increase, penetration suffers and application problems become more common. Raw LINSEED OIL has 100% solids, but by itself is not an effective material for protecting exterior wood. The solid content is only one criteria for evaluating the quality of a wood finish.

SOLVENT
A liquid which dissolves another material. Mineral spirits (paint thinner) is a solvent in many oil-based finishes, and water is a "solvent" in water-borne finishes. Most solvents other than water are considered VOC's and the amount used in a formula is restricted by environmental regulations.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
Oils used in many stains and paints can generate heat as they react with air. A fire can occur when materials soaked with these oils are improperly handled or disposed of. Follow all label instructions to avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion.

STAIN
Stains are applied to bare wood to change the color or appearance of the wood. They penetrate into the surface and are not FILM FORMING coatings. Messmer's UV PLUS is a stain, but it also protects the wood from UV light and moisture, and it contains a FUNGICIDE to inhibit the growth of MOLD on the coating. Messmer's often uses the term, "Natural Wood Finish" to indicate that the product does much more than just color the wood.
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UV Plus   UV Plus for Hardwoods

TANNIN
Tannin stains appear as a dark discoloration on some woods, particularly redwood and red cedar. They are natural components of the wood which are carried to the surface when the wood is exposed to moisture. They can be removed by using a wood BRIGHTENER such as our WD LIQUID or WOOD AND DECK PART B.
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Wood and Deck Part B   Wood and Deck Liquid

TIMBERFLEX
Messmer's FILM FORMING finishes for exterior wood: TIMBERFLEX and TIMBERFLEX PRO, both oil based. For interior wood walls and ceilings we offer TIMBERFLEX INTERIOR.
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Timberflex on messmers.com

TIMBERFLEX INTERIOR
A FILM FORMING clear SATIN finish for interior surfaces. This is a two coat, quick drying product.
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Timberflex Interior on messmers.com

TIMBERFLEX PRO
A FILM FORMING two coat finish for exterior vertical wood surfaces.
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Timberflex PRO on messmers.com

TONER
A lightly pigmented finish that allows the grain of the wood to be seen, yet offers UV light protection and a modification of color.

TRANS-OXIDE PIGMENTS
Short for "Transparent Iron Oxide Pigments", these are extremely effective UV light absorbers that, because of their small size, provide excellent clarity in wood finishes. They allow the natural beauty of the wood to be seen, while absorbing and blocking much of the damaging ultraviolet spectrum of light. Because they do not fade or weaken with exposure to light, they can be more effective and have greater longevity when compared to chemical ultraviolet absorbers.

TRANSPARENT
Often used to describe a wood finish that alters the color of the wood, but doesn't hide the grain or completely block visible light.

U.V.
Ultraviolet light is an invisible portion of the sun's spectrum that causes sunburn, skin cancer, and damage to exterior wood. It is more intense at higher altitudes and in areas that receive greater sunlight.

U.V. PLUS
Messmer's PENETRATING OIL FINISH, available in 12 colors, for exterior wood decks, fences, siding, shingles, furniture, and other wood surfaces. Also available: U.V. PLUS FOR HARDWOODS.
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UV Plus on messmers.com

U.V. PLUS FOR HARDWOODS
Messmer's recommended product for HARDWOOD decking, including Ipe, ironwood, meranti, mahogany, and other hardwoods. It is formulated specifically for these dense woods.
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UV Plus for Hardwoods on messmers.com

VOC
VOC means "Volatile Organic Content" and refers to the SOLVENTS, other than water, that are used to thin many stains and paints. VOC's are regulated as emissions and stains and coatings must meet federal and local standards for VOC compliance.

WATER BORNE
A term usually refering to a paint or stain product which uses water as the principal SOLVENT. Typically these clean up with soap and water. One disadvantage to many WATER BORNE products is their tendency to swell wood fibers and inhibit penetration into the wood. These are also more prone to LAP MARKS and are generally more difficult to apply successfully, as they are more sensitive to wood and weather conditions. They are more effective FILM FORMERS than PENETRATING FINISHES.

WD (WOOD AND DECK) LIQUID
Messmer's WD LIQUID is a concentrated wood cleaner and brightener, which can be used for periodic maintenance and for preparing weathered wood before applying our finishing products.
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WD Liquid on messmers.com

WD (WOOD AND DECK) PART A CLEANER
Messmer's WD PART A is a concentrated wood CLEANER in powder form. It is mixed with warm water and applied to dirty wood for periodic maintenance cleaning, or to prepare dirty wood before applying our finishing products.
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Wood and Deck Part A on messmers.com

WD (WOOD AND DECK) PART B BRIGHTENER
Messmer's WD PART B is a concentrated wood BRIGHTENER in powder form. It is mixed with warm water and applied to weathered wood to remove TANNIN and rust stains.
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Wood and Deck Part B on messmers.com