Enviro Clear or AQUA 2k | What Interior Finish Is Right for You?

Getting To Know Your Timber Finishes  

When working with interior timber, the finish you choose can make a big difference to both how it looks and how it ages. Whether you’re an interior designer, contractor, or someone planning a new fit-out or renovation, it’s important to understand what different clear finishes can offer to enhance your next project.

image: Charles Darwin University 

Two popular options often used on interior timber projects are Enviro Clear (NM1320) and AQUA 2K (Ilva TW34 Series)

While each finishing product delivers a clean, natural look across any size of Mortlock Timber, they differ in key ways that can significantly influence the choice of finish for a project.

And if you’re looking for answers, here’s the TLDR;

If you need the most durable, long-lasting finish – Choose AQUA2k

It is ideal for high-traffic areas, commercial spaces and cabinetry that’s frequently touched or cleaned. Perfect for maintaining a crystal-clear, non-yellowing look for years.

If you’re working on a tighter budget or something for general interior projects – Choose Enviro Clear

Great for walls, ceilings, wardrobes and furniture in low-touch areas. It’s fast to apply, cost-effective and delivers a smooth, natural look.

If you need excellent resistance to heat, chemicals and abrasion. – Choose AQUA2k

Perfect for kitchens, hospitality fit-outs or any surface that will experience daily wear.

If quick turnaround and efficiency are priorities – Choose Enviro Clear

Boasting short drying and re-coat times makes it well-suited to production lines and tight schedules.

If environmental performance is important – Choose AQUA2k

Low-VOC, water based formula is safer indoors and better for sustainability.

Here’s what we will be covering:

• Why Finishing Matters To Your Project
• What is Enviro Clear & AQUA2k?
• Drying Time
• Aesthetic & Environmental Impact
• Cost
• Colour Matching
• Benefits and Considerations
• What Finish Should You Choose?

As we explore the key differences and benefits of each finish, our goal is to give you the information you need to make a confident choice. Whether you’re working on a large commercial fit-out or a detailed residential space, understanding what each product offers will help you select the finish that best suits your project’s style, performance needs, and budget.

Why Finishing Matters

image: Un-Finished Timber 

Finishing timber isn’t just about improving the appearance of your timber, it’s about protecting the surface, increasing its durability and preserving the natural beauty of your timber over time. A quality finish helps prevent and protect the timber of damages from wear, moisture, water, stains and UV exposure. Each finish enhances the unique tone and grain of each piece of timber in a different way but one thing is consistent.

A well applied finish takes a good project, to a great project.

Matching The Finish To The Project 

In the timber industry, two products stand out from the crowd for interior applications, Enviro Clear and AQUA 2K. Both achieve a clear, natural look that enhances the timber, while each finish caters to different needs and project requirements.

Enviro Clear offers solid performance for general interior use, providing a smooth, natural-looking finish with moderate resistance to scratching, heat and cleaning chemicals. It excels in dry, low-touch areas like panelling, ceilings and wardrobes. It is ideal for general interior projects where moderate durability is desired and ease of application and bulk production and efficiency are key.

Delivering a premium, high-performance finish, AQUA 2K is highly resistant to abrasion, heat and cleaning chemicals. This finish is designed to maintain its crystal-clear appearance without yellowing, while offering long-term durability and a refined aesthetic for more demanding applications. Best suited for high-traffic areas, commercial spaces or cabinetry.

What Is Enviro Clear & AQUA 2k?

Enviro Clear

Enviro Clear is a pre-catalysed lacquer that’s ready to spray straight from the tin. It’s easy to use, fast-drying, and ideal for production environments. As a one-component finish, it’s commonly used for interior joinery, furniture, wall linings, and cabinetry. Enviro Clear offers good clarity, smooth coverage, and quick drying times at a cost-effective price point. It’s well suited to general interior projects where moderate durability is required and where ease of application, production efficiency, and volume are priorities. One factor to consider is that the finish may yellow or amber slightly over time, particularly when exposed to direct or strong indirect sunlight for extended periods.

AQUA 2k

AQUA 2k is a two-part, water-based polyurethane finish that requires mixing a hardener into a base before application. Once mixed, it must be used within a few hours. It offers excellent durability and is safer to use indoors. Designed for high-performance interiors. Offering superior durability, non-yellowing clarity and a strong resistance to abrasion, chemical and heat, AQUA 2k is the leading premium-grade finish where long term appearance is guaranteed and environmental performance is priority.

image: Timber Being Sprayed With Enviro Clear

Drying Time

Aesthetic & Environmental Impact: How It Looks, How It Lasts 

Delivering a smooth, silky finish, Enviro Clear subtly enhances the timber’s natural grain and texture through its application process. Often used with a low-gloss level (e.g. 10%) Enviro clear achieves a matte, contemporary aesthetic that suites minimalist or Scandinavian-style interiors. Being a solvent-based product that requires chemical thinners for application and cleanup, Enviro Clear produces stronger fumes and contains higher levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

AQUA 2k offers a crystal-clear, non-yellowing finish that aims to maintain the true colour of the timber, even in bright or sunlit spaces. With the ability to select a wide range of gloss levels, from ultra-matte to a high gloss, AQUA 2k provides greater flexibility for design outcomes and achieves a more refined and premium appearance. Being a more environmentally responsible choice and producing less harmful emissions, AQUA 2k is a water-based polyurethane and is safe for indoor air quality.

Balancing Budget & Performance

When it comes to cost, Enviro Clear is the more budget-friendly option, especially when considering costs for larger projects. Its price per linear meter (LM) decreases with volume, making it ideal for high-coverage applications such as wall linings, ceilings. and interior joinery. Adding to its cost effectiveness, Enviro Clear quick drying and easy application helps reduce labour time on site, reducing labour costs.

AQUA 2k, while being more expensive, delivers superior performance. Offering excellent resistance to damage and maintaining a crystal-clear and non-yellowing finish . Its low-VOC and water based formula makes it a better choice for environmentally conscious projects.

Cost Breakdown (per linear metre, excluding GST)

What To Know Before You Spray: Colour Matching   

Timber colour matching is all about making sure your chosen finish works beautifully with the natural tones and grain of the timber you’re using. Because no two pieces of timber are exactly the same, matching the colour helps create a more consistent and intentional look across your project. Both Enviro Clear and AQUA 2K offer colour matching services for $250 per sample. It’s a great way to preview exactly how the finish will look on your specific timber before making a final decision.

image: Colour Matched Timber

Benefits & Considerations

Enviro Clear Benefits

• Cost-effective for interior projects

Enviro Clear is a great choice for budget-conscious projects where a natural timber finish is desired but premium-level resistance isn’t required. It’s significantly more affordable per linear metre compared to AQUA 2K, especially in higher volumes.

• Fast drying and efficient for production

Boasting an impressive recoat time of just 1–2 hours at room temperature, and even faster drying under heat, Enviro Clear is well suited to factory spraying and production-line workflows. Its quick turnaround means projects can be completed faster, with fewer delays.

• Smooth, natural finish 

Known for its silky, even surface and subtle sheen, Enviro Clear goes on clear and brings out the timber’s natural characteristics. The low-gloss level creates a raw, contemporary look that appeals to designers who are chasing a minimalist or Scandinavian-style finish.

• Good for general interior use 

Classified as a pre-catalysed lacquer, Enviro Clear offers good durability for day-to-day use. It is recommended for feature walls, ceilings, furniture and dry cabinetry. The finish resists minor knocks and scratches, making it suitable for residential and light commercial interiors where light protection and impact resistance are require

Enviro Clear Considerations

• Can amber over time under UV

As with many alkyd and cellulose resins, a solvent-based product such as Enviro Clear is prone to ambering when exposed to UV. On light-coloured timbers like American Oak or Tasmanian Oak, this ambering is especially noticeable when the timber is exposed to direct or strong indirect sunlight over time.

• Not suitable for wet areas 

Enviro Clear is not designed to withstand high humidity or water exposure. It is not recommended for use in bathrooms, kitchens or exterior applications, where steam, splashes or UV exposure is expected. Prolonged moisture contact can compromise the coating and damage the timber beneath.

• Requires solvent cleanup 

There is a greater environmental impact when opting to use Enviro Clear. The application and cleanup process involves solvent-based thinners, which produce stronger fumes and require proper ventilation and PPE. These processes are considered more hazardous and have a higher environmental impact compared to water-based alternatives such as AQUA 2K.

AQUA 2k Benefits 

• Non-yellowing and superior clarity 

Delivering outstanding visual clarity over time, AQUA 2K features a non-yellowing formula that makes it ideal for preserving the original tone of pale and blonde timbers. Its consistent crystal-clear finish is a major advantage for projects where the long-term appearance of the timber is a priority. AQUA 2K excels in clarity, durability and consistency, even in sunlit rooms or light-filled interiors.

• High durability & chemical resistance 

AQUA 2K cures into a hard resin. As a two-part polyurethane, the resilient coating offers exceptional resistance to abrasions, scratches and household chemicals. It delivers peak performance in high-traffic zones such as commercial interiors, kitchen cabinetry and surfaces that are regularly cleaned or frequently touched. AQUA 2K is one of the most robust clear finishes available for interior timber applications.

• Low-VOC 

Being water-based, AQUA 2K contains significantly fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to solvent-based coatings. It is safer for installers and clients, particularly in enclosed indoor environments, and supports environmental sustainability thanks to its water-based cleanup process. AQUA 2K helps reduce both environmental impact and health risks.

• Premium quality 

It’s no secret that AQUA 2K provides a luxurious, high-end finish that enhances the timber grain while retaining a clean, modern aesthetic. Using AQUA 2K enables designers to tailor the look of their project, with the flexibility to choose from a range of sheen levels. From ultra-matte to gloss, the cured film is even and refined.

AQUA 2k Considerations

• Higher cost per metre 

Compared to Enviro Clear, AQUA 2K comes at a higher price point in terms of both product cost and application labour. AQUA 2K is best suited to projects where long-term performance, visual precision or sustainability credentials guide the designer’s selection of finish.

• Increased wastage on smaller projects 

As touched upon earlier, AQUA 2K is a two-part system that requires the base to be mixed with a hardener before application. Once combined, the product must be used within a few hours before it begins to cure and harden, becoming unusable and requiring a new batch to be mixed. This limitation in the application process can lead to significant product wastage, particularly on smaller projects or when planning is not precise.

• Longer drying time 

While touch-dry within 1–2 hours, AQUA 2K takes around 96 hours to fully cure. This means the surface only reaches peak hardness and optimal chemical resistance after several days. This curing time must be factored into project scheduling, as the coating can be severely compromised if exposed to water, cleaning or dust before the resin has fully set.

Enviro Clear or AQUA 2k – What’s Right For You?

image: Timber Coated With Enviro Clear On Drying Rack

When choosing a finish for interior timber, it’s worth thinking beyond just how it looks. Consider where the timber will be used, how much wear and tear it will experience, and what level of maintenance is realistic for the space. Processes like drying time, application method, colour matching, and environmental impact can all play a role in how well the finish performs and how it fits into your overall project. Whether you’re working on a large commercial space or a detailed residential fit-out, taking the time to choose the right product will help ensure your timber not only looks great but stands the test of time.

If you’d like to explore your timber finish options, contact us or request a free quote and our expert team will assist and guide you through the journey!