i found a better way to resolve my problem. i had this in my content-product.php woocommerce template.
<?php
$terms = get_the_terms( $product->id, 'pa_filter');
foreach($terms as $term){
if($term->name == 'Wood Grains'){
echo '<img src="icon_woodgrains.gif">';
}
}
?>
do take note that the term name is case sensitive.