AbstractThis study was performed to determine the effects of impregnation chemical on surface glossiness of some varnishes. For this purpose, the test samples prepared from Oriental beech, European oak, Scotch pine, Oriental spruce, and Uludag fir woods according to ASTM D 358 were impregnated with Imersol‐Aqua according to ASTM D 1413 and producer's definition by short‐term (S), medium‐term (M), and long‐term (L) of dipping methods and coated by synthetic (Sv), acrylic (Ac), water‐based (Wb), and polyurethane (Pu) varnishes according to ASTM D 3023. After the varnishing process, the surface glossiness parallel to fibers was determined according to TS 4318. Consequently, among the nonimpregnated wood samples, surface glossiness parallel to fibers was found to be the highest in Oriental spruce and the lowest in European oak. As for the period of dipping, the highest surface glossiness was obtained in medium‐term dipping and the lowest in long‐term dipping. As for the varnish types, the surface glossiness was found to be the highest in polyurathane varnish and the lowest in water‐based varnish. Considering the interaction of wood type, period of impregnation, and type of varnish, surface glossiness was the highest in Uludag fir, long‐term dipping, and polyurathane varnish (103.9 gloss) and the lowest in Oriental beech, long‐term dipping, and water‐based varnish (67.78 gloss). In consequence, in the massive constructions and furniture elements the surface glossiness parallel to fibers after the impregnation with Imersol‐Aqua is of great concern, long‐term impregnation of Uludag fir materials could be recommended. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008