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.
1. Apply a coat of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer to protect the wood from penetrating humidity and moisture that can seep into your deck and other outdoor wood furnishings. 2. Finish and waterproof wood with a professional-grade wood stain and sealer combo and repaint when necessary.
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.
One of the most important steps you can take to protect outdoor wood furniture is to use a sealer. A sealer is a transparent finish that is applied to wood to protect it from moisture. Sealers work by penetrating the wood's pores and preventing water from entering.
Varnish is great option to treat untreated wood for outdoor use because it's relatively cheap and provides superior protection for your wood. It can also last longer than some other sealants, which is something we all want.
For exterior wood such as decking it's a good idea to apply a coat of wood preservative prior to painting. This is particularly important where treated wood has been cut or will be exposed to harsh weather conditions. A quick drying preservative can be used to speed up the process.
You can go with either oil-based paint or latex (water) exterior paint. In terms of the best paint for wood siding, you can go either way as well. If you want to go the easy route though that can be maintained nicely, opt for latex paint for your wood siding.
Use an outdoor-rated finish like polyurethane, epoxy, lacquer, or varnish. Make a natural oil finish with one part tung or linseed oil, one part mineral spirits, and one part polyurethane. Use a stain sealant combo that gives your wood some color and a durable finish all in one.
Tips for Preventing Wood Rot
Always use decay-resistant or pressure-treated lumber for decks. Wood that touches the ground should be pressure-treated lumber that's rated for ground contact. When building an exterior project with wood, stain or paint all sides of each lumber piece before assembly.
Polyurethane Wood Finish
Polyurethane wood finishes are synthetic coatings that are highly durable and water resistant, making them the best clear coat for wood protection.
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.
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.
Teak oil is generally considered the best oil to treat wooden garden furniture. It provides year-round weather protection whilst emphasising the wood's natural colour. It does this by replacing the natural oils that are lost through weathering, and preventing the wood from splitting and warping.
While polyurethane is water- or oil-based plastic resin, varnish is older and made from resins, oils, and solvents. Because of the higher ratio of solids, varnish is less susceptible to ultraviolet light damage. This protection makes varnish an excellent choice for projects such as outside decks and exterior furniture.
Apply multiple coats of polyurethane to achieve your desired finish. Apply several coats of polyurethane to the surface of the wood, waiting for each coat to dry completely in between applications. Sand between coats to smooth out any uneven areas.
If you leave furniture raw without applying a new coat of wax or poly you are taking a risk of your furniture drying out, cracking, swelling or staining. To limit wood damage, preserve furniture AND keep it looking natural you'll want to seal raw wood with Liming or Cerusing wax.
Wood is dried-out and dull if you do not apply some sort of sealer. Staining and finishing are two very different things. By applying pigments, a stain is meant to darken or dye wood, but the wood is not preserved by staining.
Sealing or sizing a piece of wood greatly reduces the chance of stains, warping and rotting wood from your paint. Yes, this can happen!
Paint Or Seal Unfinished Furniture
Bare wood, when left unfinished, keeps your furniture with a natural wood look but the risk is exposing it to harsh elements, even if it's indoors, such as light, dust, moisture and water damage, making it more susceptible to stains, warping and cracking.
Not only is Pure Tung Oil natural, food-safe, water-proof, and easy to apply, but it helps bring out the natural beauty of the wood. We plan to try more “green” sealing products in the future, but for now, Tung Oil is our favorite natural wood sealer.