- I click on the links on your web pages but I receive an error message, or the page is unreadable. What should I do?
Many of our pages are in PDF format. You will need Acrobat Reader to view the pages. The latest version can be downloaded for free from Adobe. The program requires registration and to avoid spam be certain to indicate that you DO NOT want to be contacted with special offers. Don't worry Acrobat Reader is used throughout the world and Adobe will respect your privacy.

- How do I stain and top-coat a fiberglass door to look like wood?
Follow the instructions given in our Staining and Top-coating a Fiberglass Door Instruction Sheet.

- We finished a fiberglass door a few years ago and now the exterior finish is peeling off. Is there any way to "repair" the finish?
No, the old finish must be completely removed using a chemical stripper and a new finish applied following the instructions given in the Staining and Top-coating a Fiberglass Door Instruction Sheet. Please be aware that you can avoid stripping and refinishing if you apply a maintenance coat of Flagship UV polyurethane at least annually.

- Can I use Jel'd Stain on a wood floor?
We do not recommend Jel'd Stain on floors because of potential adhesion problems with solvent-based polyurethane. Wood Kote Liqwid Stain is available in the same colors as Jel'd Stain and is recommended for floors.

- We have installed new pine paneling. Can we stain the new pine to match the existing pine woodwork that is much darker?
You can, but we don't recommend it because pine, like all wood, is photosensitive. This means that it will change color with exposure to light. Therefore, if you stain the new pine now, in a few years it will darken and be a different color than the original. The best method to match old wood to new is to determine what finish is on the old wood, (shellac, lacquer or polyurethane.) Finish the new wood the same way and be patient. In a few years any difference will be imperceptible.

- What is a "Finish System"?s
A "Finish System" consists of different steps required to create a durable wood finish in order to enhance, preserve, protect and maintain a wood surface. Visit our Overview of Interior Wood Finishing to get a basic understanding of those steps.

- Can I obtain new colors by combining different colors of Jel'd Stain or Liqwid Stain?
Yes, but we recommend limiting the mixture to 3 or less colors. If too many pigments are combined the result will be "muddy." A much better way to create custom colors is to use Korrect-O colorants accurately measured with a MiniTint. Some starting formulations are available from the Wood Kote Pigment Stains Custom Color Formulas.

- Can I combine Jel'd Stain and WoodPerfect to fill grain and stain at the same time?
No! The two products mixed together will not dry properly.

- Can I use Korrect-O or Perfect-O colorants to tint lacquers or solvent-based polyurethane to apply semi-transparent "stain" color to wood?
You can, but we don't recommend the process because a tinted topcoat finish is difficult if not impossible to repair. It is much better to apply a stain and then topcoat with a transparent finish. If the topcoat becomes scratched it can easily be repaired with clear lacquer or polyurethane.

- Can I add Korrect-O or Perfect-O colorants to lacquer to create opaque finishes?
Yes, you can add Korrect-O or Perfect-O to Wood Kote SprayLaq 680 Color Kote or Wood Kote SprayLaq 680 White to create almost any imaginable color. Some starting formulas for opaque lacquers are available from the Wood Kote Lacquer Custom Color Formulas.

- I have wood that is stained dark. Can I lighten the finish with wood bleach?
No! Wood Kote Lite-N-Up wood bleach is intended only for use on bare wood. Any previous finish must be completely removed before the bleach is applied.

- Is it possible to change the gloss level of Wood Kote lacquers and polyurethanes?
Lacquers and polyurethanes are inherently gloss. Satin and matte finishes are created by added flatting agents. Therefore you can make a product less glossy, but you cannot make it glossier. You can follow the table of LaqFlat-A Flatting Formulas prepared by Wood Kote as a guide. You can follow the table of PolyFlat Flatting Formulas prepared by Wood Kote as a guide in order to reduce gloss in solvent-based polyurethanes. Please note, we do not have a flatting agent for water-based polyurethanes (Clear and Clean and Clear and Clean II). Please, be aware that solvent-based polyurethanes are susceptible to gloss variation due to temperature and humidity changes. Polyurethane applied from the same container may attain a different gloss if applied under different conditions.

- What is the difference among "original" Jel'd Stain, Jel'd Stain 550 and Liqwid Stain 550?
All are pigment stains and provide the same colors. Jel'd Stain 550 meets federal VOC requirements for architectural and industrial maintenance applications. The original Jel'd Stain does not. Liqwid Stain is recommended for floors. For more information, please follow the table Differences Among Stains.