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Each project has its own unique design parameters. We work closely with customers and build teams to determine the combination of product and coating that best suits the specific project requirements. To begin the process of making an informed decision, we encourage you to review our Buyer’s Guide, product spec sheets, request product samples, and explore both our blog posts, and project portfolio for inspiration.

We offer a range of gray coating options—none of them include any blue pigments. However, due to how the human eye perceives gray tones under different lighting conditions, they may sometimes appear to have a slight blue hue. Natural oil finishes can also impart an iridescent blue sheen due to oil residue, which tends to fade after exposure to exterior weather.

A perceived blue tone will typically fade for several reasons. Exterior wood siding tends to mellow after installation, developing reddish undertones. Natural oil finishes will also undergo slight oxidation, often resulting in a subtle yellow hue that warms up the siding. Interior paneling applications often see similar warming effects after installation as the wood darkens and the coating oxidizes. 

In addition, linseed oil coatings tend to exhibit warmer tones than alkyd coatings. The lighter the color the more noticeable these nuances will be in the final appearance.

Like traditional oil-based products, alkyds provide a finish coating with high elasticity. The alkyd oil finishes we use are made from vegetable oil that is chemically polymerized and then dissolved into a water base. Cross-linking molecules bond as the finish dries, creating a durable coating on the wood surface. Thanks to their higher pigment content, alkyd oil finishes are typically more opaque and offer better UV protection than traditional oil coatings.

We offer a range of factory coatings for our products. For interior applications, customers can specify polyurethanes, alkyd oils, and acrylic coatings. For exteriors, we have tung, linseed, and alkyd oils as well as acrylics and weathering stains. 

Tung and linseed are semi-transparent traditional oil finishes crafted to highlight the color and depth of the wood underneath; these are available exclusively as one-coat options. Alkyd oils are semi-solid/opaque stain finishes; we provide a standard two coats of prefinish on these products. Acrylic coatings are solid finishes that completely encase the wood in multiple protective layers, resulting in the best coating longevity. 

Please refer to our Finish Options page for more detailed descriptions and request samples to assist with your selection process.

Our highest patina options start with unoiled wood or using our weathering stain. Linseed oil finishes also fall within the patina side of the range. 

One-coat alkyd options land in the middle of the range but leaning more toward durability. Two coats of alkyd will be even more durable. Two or three coats of an acrylic finish would be the most durable exterior coating options we offer. 

Please refer to the Patina Scale reference chart on our Finish Options page, as well as the individual Patina Scale graphics listed on each product page.

Historically, back-oiling practice was not used for yakisugi siding in Japan. Back-oiling involves applying a coating to the back (typically uncharred) face of the wood siding. This practice is beneficial for managing moisture and minimizing dimensional movement, particularly cupping. 

Nakamoto Forestry provides back-oiling on all of our prefinished products. We recommend reviewing individual product specification sheets, pricing details, and obtaining samples to determine the best choice for your project.

The tung oil coating on our Suyaki products enhances its durability for exterior exposure. This robust finish transforms the product’s delicate soot layer into a leathery surface that’s both resilient and user-friendly. While many high-grade traditional oil finishes include tung oil, we exclusively offer a tung oil coating on Suyaki for compatibility reasons. This option cannot be specified for any other offerings.

Our weathering stain is exclusively formulated for exterior use; it is not suitable for interior applications. This product features a silver pigment that is applied to the surface without a binder—resulting in a soft residue on the surface. Also, the stain’s intended aesthetic effect requires that the wood have full exposure to the elements.

For an interior application, we would instead recommend choosing either our Gendai product with the Light Gray alkyd oil coating option or staining our unoiled Sugi product on-site to match the silver color of our exterior-grade weathering stain.