How Durable Is a Lacquer Finish

Oil-based Lacquer is a great finish for solid wood furniture. It's hard, durable, and scratch-resistant. We apply it by spraying 3-4 coats and sanding between each coat to create a near-flawless finish.

Let's be honest - dining room tables take a beating, especially with younger kids. We eat, play, and do homework all around the table and you need something that stands up to the test - our lacquer is what you need.

Here a few of our favorite things about oil-based lacquer:

1. You don't have to use coasters. In the summer, you can leave a glass of ice water on the table, and the condensation will not leave a water ring.

2. Spills wipe right up. Some finishes used on less durable tables would need to be stripped if you spilled something like Kool-Aid on them. 

3. The oil-based lacquer doesn't need to be reapplied and won't dry out over time like some oil finishes.

If something is too hot to hold, you'll want to put down a hot pad or trivet, like with practically any surface. You can also damage your top if you spill something chemically abrasive on it, like fingernail polish remover. You also don't want to use hard chemicals to clean your table, as that may wear down the finish over the years. We recommend a wet rag or a wet, soapy rag for cleaning - but you can use any cleaning product intended for wood surfaces. 

We use a low sheen finish by default. We find this low sheen looks the best on real, solid wood furniture and is easier to keep clean and smudge-free than higher gloss finishes.