Thesis deals with differences of selected properties of coatings after their sterilisation by ethylene oxide. Coatings based on organic and synthetic substances were applied to beech wood which was sterilised by programme P4 (35,2 °C, 160 kPa, 420 min) and P5 (25,4 °C, 320 kPa, 720 min) in steriliser. These coatings were studied for differences in colour, gloss, toughness and their resistance to moulds in influenced by sterilisation. In selected coatings we found out important effects of sterilisation for these differences. We have confirmed liability of sterilised coatings to attacks by moulds in comparison to unsterilised coatings. The differences were found out to be most noticeable in nitrocelullose lacquers.