Fully clean the wood with biocidal cleaner and apply an undercoat wood preservative to protect against woodworm and rot. If you'd like to give your outdoor wood a new look, stain the wood to a vivid colour or subtle tint. Finishes seal the wood from moisture, rain and (with some finishes) UV radiation.
There are several types of finishes that work well for outdoor wood, including polyurethane, lacquer, varnish, and epoxy. Choose a finish that is appropriate for your specific project and follow the manufacturer's instructions for application.
To treat untreated wood for outdoor use, you need to apply the treatment. This treatment contains chemicals that can make the wood shrug off insects and harsh weather. The best option you have to treat wood for outdoor use is pine tar. It's a popular option as it can provide a stain-like finish.
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.
Add an outdoor sealant to wood.
“Pretty much every sealant brand makes outdoor sealants. Look for something clear, and be sure to note if the sealant is glossy or matte, which can really change the final look of your wooden furniture.” This way, you don't have to worry that a light drizzle will warp your wood.
Weatherproofing Furniture: Wood
Seal any exposed end grain—typically the bottoms of chair and dresser feet, which tend to soak up moisture—with a clear penetrating epoxy sealer before applying the stain. If you prefer to paint, prime the piece and use a paint made for outdoor surfaces, such as Rust-Oleum Restore.
Boric acid (borate) is one of the most effective fungicides for use in treating wood rot. It can be applied to wood during construction to prevent future rot, or as a treatment to stop an active decay fungus from growing.
Generally, you can use non-pressure-treated wood outside for about 2-5 years if it is not maintained or protected from high humidity, heavy rain, or prolonged exposure to sunlight. Also, untreated wood outdoors will not last as long as pressure-treated wood.
Wood can Start to Rot in 1-6 months If:
Wood is untreated. The wooded area is sitting in water. Water and/or air space is hot & humid.
Outdoor wood stains are water repellant, so they make the wood waterproof, that is protecting it against water and, as a result, against mold. The only problem is that it is a short-term protection. As the stain wears out, the water easily finds a tiny crack to penetrate the wood.
The three most widely available and suitable exterior lumber choices, not treated with chemical preservatives, include Western red cedar, redwood, and cypress. Your geographic location will determine the availability and cost of these materials.
The most common varieties of oil-borne preservatives include creosote and pentachlorophenol. Creosote have been historically used as a treatment for outdoor wood structures to prevent rot – such as railroad ties and bridgework.
Similar to the above—look for any stamps or markings on the wood that indicate it is pressure treated. You may find something that says “PT” or even “pressure-treated lumber”. Pressure treated wood also has a greenish tint to it. Look for that as it differs dramatically from standard yellow pine and other woods.
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.
Pressure-treated wood should be used for all outdoor projects, assuming you're using a type of wood that is not naturally repellant to insects and rot. That said, not all pressure treatments are created equal. The two main types of PT lumber are above-ground and ground-contact.
One popular remedy for wood rot is vinegar because vinegar's acidity has the ability to act as a fungicide that kills off fungal spores.
Some find painting rotten wood a quick and easy fix. However, it only hides the rot and makes the wood visually appealing. It ignores the underlying causes that can lead to severe issues down the line. Painting does not stop wood deterioration; it simply delays the process of the wood falling apart.
For optimum results, first treat the wood with a paintable water-repellent sealer/preservative. After the floor dries, a primer and two topcoats of porch and deck enamel should be applied. Porch enamel is especially formulated to resist abrasion and wear.
For the most part, high-quality wooden furniture is largely weather-resistant and can be left outside — but there are a few caveats. As we've seen, hardwood furniture will last longer than softwood furniture and can withstand bad weather better.
Products such as polyurethane, varnish and lacquer are most commonly used for the protection of outdoor wood furniture. Make sure to apply the finish over every surface — even underneath and in every crevice. If moisture works its way in, it will not be able to escape and your wood will become damaged.
Experts recommend that teak oil be applied routinely to outdoor garden furniture in arid or extremely dry climates. It's also a good idea to apply oil regularly to prevent staining from food or drink spills.
Remember these four simple steps for preparing indoor furniture for outdoor life: Sand it, seal it, paint it and protect it!
Varnishes create a hard barrier that acts as a first line of defense. This makes the clean up process much easier as there's already a surface layer to protect the natural wood. Depending on the type of finish of your dining table, you can also consider using wax to protect the wood and add an extra layer of shine.