WIRE-BRUSHED Wood
Before any stain or paint goes on, we brush the wood. A wire brush runs along the grain and takes away the soft part of each growth ring, while the hard grain stays in place. The result is a real texture you can see and feel with your hand – the look of old wood that has been through many winters, but on a brand-new, high-performance window. When the stain goes on, the color settles deeper in the grain and the wood comes alive. It is a technique used for generations in Alpine chalets, and today more and more in modern residences.
Specifications
- Pine, Spruce, Larch, Douglas Fir, White Oak (other timbers on request)
- Brushing on all visible wood faces, inside and outside
- On wood-aluminum clad: brushed wood on the interior face
- Any stain, oil or opaque paint color (RAL or custom match)
- Factory-applied finish
- Available on windows, doors and lift and slide
- Simulated or true divided lites
- Energy-efficient glazing systems
- Jambs to your specifications
- Glass to your specification
NATURAL BRUSHED
THE GRAIN IN RELIEF, CLEAR OIL OR NATURAL STAINOptions
– Pine, spruce, larch, Douglas fir or white oak
– Interior and exterior
– Custom color match
SILVER GRAY
THE LOOK OF DRIFTWOOD AND OLD BARN BOARDSOptions
– Pine, spruce, larch, Douglas fir or white oak
– Interior and exterior
– Custom color match
WHITEWASHED
LIGHT AND BRIGHT, FOR MODERN AND COASTAL HOMESOptions
– Pine, spruce, larch, Douglas fir or white oak
– Interior and exterior
– Custom color match
CHARRED BLACK
DEEP BLACK WITH THE GRAIN STILL VISIBLEOptions
– Pine, spruce, larch, Douglas fir or white oak
– Interior and exterior
– Custom color match
Custom Brushed Finish
Brushed wood is the opposite of a printed decor or a stamped texture. It is the real grain of the wood, opened by the brush.
Every board is different. The brushing follows the natural grain of the wood, so no two windows look exactly the same.
Why Brushed Wood Looks Better Under Stain
On a smooth wood surface, the stain sits flat and the color looks uniform. On a brushed surface, the pigment settles deeper into the open grain and stays lighter on the hard ridges. You get two tones in the same board – depth, shadow and a natural relief that catches the light. A white or gray stain gives the weathered barn wood look, a dark stain gives a rich, almost charred effect. Even with an opaque paint, the texture stays visible under the color, so a painted window still feels like real wood and not like plastic. To keep the relief sharp, the finish is applied in thin coats, so the grooves are never filled.
Brushed Finish Colors
Here are some of our brushed finishes: Whitewashed, Silver Gray, Weathered Gray, Old Barn, Chalet Brown, Cognac, Graphite and Charred Black. Each color is applied by hand on the brushed wood, so the result is unique. We also do custom colors and color matching to your sample. Opaque paint in any RAL color is also available on brushed wood.
Why Choose Wire-Brushed Wood Windows
Real Texture You Can Feel
This is not a printed decor or a stamped pattern. The brushing removes the soft wood and leaves the hard grain in relief – a true three-dimensional surface, different on every board.
Stain That Comes Alive
The color goes deeper in the grain and stays lighter on the ridges. The wood figure pops, and the finish gets a depth that a smooth window never has.
A Finish That Holds Better
Wood science agrees: a textured surface gives the stain a better grip and a thicker build than smooth planed wood. Penetrating stains perform at their best on a textured wood surface.
Hides Daily Wear
Small dents, scratches and marks from daily life blend into the texture. Your windows and doors keep a beautiful look longer, especially on busy entry doors and sliding doors.
From Alpine Chalet to Modern Residence
Brushed wood was born in the mountain chalets of the Alps, next to old barn wood and stone. Today architects use it on mountain modern homes, ranches, lake houses and even very contemporary designs with clean lines.
Artisan Craftsmanship
Each profile is brushed and finished in the workshop, by craftsmen who know the wood. It is a European tradition, applied to high-performance windows and doors made for the American market.
Brushed Wood Features
– Wire-brushed texture along the grain.
– Pine, spruce, larch, Douglas fir or white oak.
– Stain, oil or opaque paint in any color.
– Factory-applied finish in thin coats to keep the relief.
– Brushed interior wood on wood-aluminum clad windows.
– Matching brushed finish on windows, doors and trim.
– Triple-pane glazing available.
– Acoustic glazing options.
– Bespoke glass specifications.
Available On
– French casement and tilt and turn windows.
– Sliding and folding doors.
– Wood-aluminum clad windows and doors (interior face).
Where Brushed Wood Makes the Difference
Alpine and ski chalets
The original home of brushed wood, with stone, slate and reclaimed timber.
Mountain modern homes
Aspen, Vail, Park City, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Lake Tahoe. Brushed wood brings warmth to big glass walls and steel.
Ranch and rustic luxury
A natural match with exposed beams, barn wood and wide plank floors.
Lake and coastal houses
A weathered gray finish gives the look of driftwood and sea-worn timber.
Modern and minimalist interiors
With a light oak or a dark stain, the texture adds warmth to a clean, contemporary space.
Would you like more information on brushed wood windows and doors?
Why Chablais for Your Brushed Wood Windows
Brushing wood is easy to do badly. Too light, and you don’t see the difference. Too deep, and the surface is torn and the finish does not hold. At Chablais we have more than 25 years in European wood windows, and the craftsman behind each project knows how each species reacts to the brush – pine and spruce open fast and deep, larch and Douglas fir give a sharper line, oak needs a special brush so the tannin does not stain the wood. The finish is applied in the workshop, in controlled conditions, so you receive windows and doors ready to install, with the same color on every unit. We can send you real brushed samples in your chosen color before you decide, and we work directly with your architect and builder on every detail of the project.
Brushed Wood - Frequently Asked Questions
What is wire-brushed wood?
It is a surface treatment where a wire brush runs along the grain to remove the soft part of the wood (the earlywood) and leave the harder grain (the latewood) in relief. It gives a natural, textured, slightly aged look.
Is it the same as reclaimed wood?
No. The windows are made from new, kiln-dried window-grade timber, so they stay straight and stable. The brushing only gives the surface the character of old wood.
Can brushed wood be painted?
Yes. Stain, oil and opaque paint are all possible. With paint, the texture stays visible under the color.
Is it available on aluminum-clad windows?
Yes. On wood-aluminum clad windows, the aluminum protects the outside and the brushed wood is on the interior face.
Which wood is best for brushing?
Woods with a strong difference between soft and hard rings give the best result: pine, spruce, larch, Douglas fir and oak. Very fine woods like beech or maple are not suitable.
Does it need more maintenance?
No more than any stained wood window. When the exterior finish starts to look dry, a light maintenance coat brings it back. The frequency depends on sun and weather exposure.