What varnish is heat resistant?

Elle44

Hello all. Ive stripped back the wood finishes on doors and and fire surrounds and now wonder if there’s any requirements re finishing. I’d like to varnish and there’s a general feeling that heat resistant paint is necessary but there’s no discussion (that I can find) about heat resistant varnish. Are there any preferred finishes for varnishing both door frames and fireplaces?

Cheers, Elle

MitchellMc

Hi @Elle44 ,

Would you be able to post some photos showing where the timber is located in relation to the fireplace?

Typically, combustible materials such as timber are not permitted to be positioned close enough to a fireplace to be significantly affected by heat, as there are strict clearance and setback requirements. Seeing a few photos would help us understand the setup and the amount of heat the timber is likely to receive, which will allow us to provide more specific recommendations.

In general, I'm not aware of any clear varnishes that are specifically designed to withstand temperatures significantly above normal ambient conditions. If the timber is receiving enough heat that a specialised heat-resistant coating is required, it may indicate that the timber is closer to the fireplace than would normally be recommended.

For door frames and timber trim that are not exposed to elevated temperatures, a standard polyurethane or timber varnish would typically be suitable. However, before recommending a finish for the fireplace surround, it would be great to see some photos of the area.

Looking forward to seeing your images and learning a bit more about the project.

Mitchell