The possibility of reacting furfuryl alcohol with the p‐position of phenolic rings, under acid conditions, was proved using different experimental techniques: size exclusion chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 13C NMR. This reaction was then used in the modification of phenolic novolacs with furfuryl alcohol. After reaction with epichlorohydrin, epoxidized phenolic novolacs (EPN) modified with furan rings were obtained. They could be cured with aromatic diamines in a similar way to conventional EPNs. The presence of furan rings should improve burning resistance and smoke emission characteristics of the resulting networks.