Use sealants to protect a wooden table on your porch. Use sealants to protect a wooden table on your porch. Hardwoods and softwoods alike can make the transition to being outdoor furnishings with the right protective sealants.
There are a few main ways to treat wood for outdoor use. You can use a wood sealer, varnish, or an oil finish. While there are a couple other methods, these aren't an option for the everyday person like me or you. I recommend using a varnish for most projects.
Four of the most popular are polyurethane, lacquer, varnish, and epoxy. Application techniques vary depending on the product, but we'll give you a general idea of how to apply your finish. Clean the wood completely before applying the finish. If the wood is already finished, sand it off before applying a new one.
There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come. Use linseed or Tung oil to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish. Seal the wood with a coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer. Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain-sealant combo.
It is most important to use rot-resistant wood when it comes in direct contact with the ground; in a garden bed or trellis, for example. Ground contact allows moisture to penetrate the wood, expanding and splitting it's pores and opening it up to mould and fungus.
Since it's widely available, fir can be useful for those running a slightly tighter budget. It's one of the cheapest woods for outdoor use. If you're a woodworker or DIY garden furniture maker, this species also works and machines well, in addition to holding finishes easily — whether a clear varnish, stain or paint.
Which Wood Lasts the Longest? Teak wood easily lasts the longest when used for outdoor furniture or decking. When properly maintained, it can last for the entirety of your life and years after.
To make wood waterproof naturally, use either polymerized linseed oil or tung oil, which are the two best natural wood waterproofing products. Refined hemp oil and walnut oil can also be used, but you will have to apply a repeat coat more quickly.
If you try to apply stain or sealer over damp or dirty wood, then there won't be proper adhesion. Make sure there is no mildew as well. To achieve this, use a wood cleaner and thoroughly wash your deck. If there is still residual signs of old sealer, then you may need to wash your deck with a wood stain/sealer remover.
Untreated wood is the most susceptible to rot, fungi, and general weathering. It's extremely important that you use a wood preservative first. You can either use a wax enriched preservative for an all-round coating or alternatively use a wax-free preserver if you want to then use a stain or a paint on top.
What's the Different Between a Sealer and a Waterproofer? Sealers and waterproofers perform similar functions, but they differ slightly in how they work. A wood or concrete sealer will protect the surface. Waterproofers are more durable than sealants because they penetrate the surface, filling in leaks or gaps.
Some say that untreated 2×4's can last up to two years before showing signs of rot and others say it can last even longer. When deciding if you should you use an untreated 2×4 it depends greatly on the application, how much weather and sun it's exposed to and if it's making ground contact.
The wood on a new deck needs to dry thoroughly before sealing or staining. If the wood came still wet with preservative, allow it to dry about 30 days before applying stain or sealer.
Can You Use Polyurethane Inside or Outside? Most exterior polys can be used indoors, but interior polys should never be used outdoors; they lack the additives that protect exterior finishes from UV rays.
If you've just built a new deck, you're probably itching to finish the job by sealing it. But preservatives in the wood often require about 30 days' dwell time before the deck can soak up the sealant. After a 30-day period, pour some water on your deck. If it beads up, the wood is still too wet to seal.
Thompson's WaterSeal includes a complete line of deck sealers and stains for protecting deck wood from moisture and sunlight. Applying a sealer and/or stain typically is recommended every one to three years, depending on the finishing product, deck use, weather conditions, and sun exposure.
So although a deck would benefit from a deck sealer by repelling moisture, it will still turn gray and become sun-damaged. A deck stain has the same water-resistant qualities that a deck sealer does. A deck stain, however, has added pigment or tone, which gives the stain some color.
However, a common question that pops up among homeowners who wish to do it themselves is: how long for the stain to dry before it can be safely exposed to rain? Generally, it takes anywhere between four hours to 24 hours.
Douglas Fir. A highly resinous softwood, Douglas Fir naturally defends against the wet, with its resistance to expanding and contracting bolstered by a water-repellent finish. With a versatile yellowish-brown colour, it also looks mighty fine whilst doing so — and often comes in a cheaper price than other woods.
Oak is another hardwood species well-known for its water and rot-resistant properties. It is a popular choice for outdoor projects such as decking, fencing, and furniture due to its durability and resistance to decay. Oak wood has a high tannin content, making it naturally resistant to moisture damage.
Oil and Vinegar
And, believe it or not, a bit of canola oil (3 parts) and vinegar (1 part) makes a dandy wood sealant, protecting wood from borrowing insects, wear, and water. Plus, this can be reapplied to revitalize the wood, something that doesn't work without sanding off the varnish.
While redwood or teak certainly qualify, five more common lumber species that also stand up well to sunlight, moisture and wood-boring insects are Western red cedar, Spanish cedar, cypress, white oak and mahogany. Red cedar tends to be knotty, but it's affordable and widely available.
Naturally resistant woods that are commercially available include black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), teak (Tectona grandis), ipe (Tabebuia spp.), California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). These have the highest resistance to rot over time.
Pine does not naturally resist decay, and it is pressure treated to make it more durable outdoors. So cedar gains a bit here with its natural character contributing to its durability. Pine is still a good choice for outdoor furniture, it just doesn't naturally resist the elements as strongly as cedar does.