Choosing the right product for anything (not just wood preservers) is an important and often daunting process that takes a lot of head-scratching and flicking between pages as you look to compare every product possible. There are so many things to consider, from price point to overall quality. Sometimes we want to find that happy medium and sometimes we don’t!
It regularly results in just walking away thinking ‘I’ll get back to that later’ or doing what I do and googling ‘top 5 wood preservers’ followed by ‘best wood preservers’. Well, if you’re anything like me, you’ve stumbled onto the right page, as our experts in wood finishing rate some of our most popular wood preservers.
Untreated decking
The Favoured Five
These preservers have been carefully rated by our experts, looking at every detail to help guide you to the most suitable timber preserver for your needs.
Here are our top five consumer favourites:
- Ronseal Multi-Purpose Wood Treatment
- Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear
- Ronseal Total Wood Preservative
- Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver
- Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver
So What Actually Are Wood Preservers?
Wood preservers offer protective layering on your timber to prevent the usual suspects – rot, mildew and parasites – from crawling into the fine apertures of your wood. This often results in timber degradation, making the wood look rather nasty over time.
Garden furniture and decking
Each wood preserver has its own features to help it stand out from the others. For example, some preservers are water-repellent, whereas others contain formulas that prevent blue stain from occurring. They all have their own positives. It’s just a case of what best suits your needs, what top coat you’d like and, most importantly, what type of timber it’s being used on.
Wood preservers usually come into play halfway through the timber revival and protection process. Start by cleaning your wood (if required), follow with your wood preserver and finish with that all-important top coat, which can be influenced by the preserver you choose.
Your preserving coat is indispensable for untreated timber, as it acts as the sentinel between your wood and the unpleasantries that would usually skulk their way into the timber and eventually your back pocket. Taking early steps to protect your timber can go a long way towards keeping the wood’s fresh appeal and heartbeat. It can save you from desperately trying to find a pulse in your soon-to-be-dead wood with our wood revivers.
A Bit More Expert Information
Preserver and top coat applied
Wood preservers soak deep into the fine grain of the timber to help maintain the condition of the wood for longer than usual. The type of wood you have will determine how effective the preserver is and how deeply it can soak into the timber once applied. For example, the wood preserver product pages state whether the products are for softwood or hardwood, or sometimes both.
This essentially comes down to how tight the wood grain is. The tighter the grain, the harder it is for the preserver to plunge its way deep into your timber. Hence the specially formulated preservers for softwood and the usually rather dense hardwood. Just to make it even more confusing, there are sometimes softer hardwoods and harder softwoods, but that’s not too common, thankfully!
Timber preservers are also designed to enhance the grain of the wood, maintaining its appeal rather than covering it like a paint. If you’re looking to maintain that gorgeous timber-like appeal but aren’t sure what top coat would suit your wood best, take a look at wood oils, known for restoring the appearance and natural beauty of wood.
Key Differences Between Wood Preservers
Trying to find the right product is a minefield. You click on each product and they all offer different things, so what do they actually mean? Here are a few of the common features to keep an eye out for.
Opened tin of decking preserver
Types of formula
Every preserver will have either a water-based or a solvent-based formula. Both have their pros and cons, and choosing one can help narrow your options by half, giving you a more tailored selection of products.
Solvent-based Wood Preservers
First up out of the two formulas is the grizzled solvent-based preserver. This not-so-eco-friendly version has clocked up plenty of mileage over several decades and is a favourite among seasoned veteran consumers. A couple of things solvent-based formulas take pride in are that they usually have better resistance to the elements and offer greater cohesion than their water-based counterparts.
It’s also more common for solvent-based products to give better finishes, with application also being slightly easier. However, they have a much higher VOC content, making them much more common for exterior use, and they take longer to dry. You also have to take more safety precautions when using solvent-based products, especially if you have any health conditions that affect your breathing.
Water-based Wood Preservers
There’s a very good chance you’ll see more and more water-based options now, as the market begins to lean towards a more contemporary, eco-friendly approach and solvent-based options decrease in popularity. So let’s dive into the water-based deep end to see what they’re really all about and whether they can hold up against a formula with over a century of authority in the industry.
Water-based preservers typically have a low VOC content and are almost entirely made up of water, meaning they don’t contain many nasty chemicals and can be applied with minimal protective measures in place, while not affecting the air quality much either. For some people with health conditions such as asthma, sticking with a water-based formula will be more suitable, but unfortunately it halves the choices.
This type of formula is also more versatile, with most water-based preservers usable on exterior surfaces (fences, sheds, decking and more) and interior surfaces (conservatories). One example is Cuprinol’s Wood Preserver Clear. Although it may have a shed slapped on the front of the packaging, it’s perfectly sound to use on interior surfaces as well as exterior surfaces like decking. Because the product is water-based, it has a low VOC content, so it doesn’t have many pungent properties.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
BCF’s VOC labels
So after throwing the term VOC around a few times, what actually are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)? They are materials that evaporate from sources such as car exhausts, cleaning agents, fabric softeners and, of course, solvent-based wood finishing products.
Each wood finishing product is therefore rated from Trace to Very High. This is classified and regulated by the British Coatings Federation (BCF). The first product to be labelled ‘Trace’ was Crown’s Walls and Ceiling Paint in June 2022. It’s so environmentally friendly you could probably eat it (please don’t).
The BCF states that VOCs in direct sunlight can react with nitrogen oxides to create ground-level ozone and photochemical smog, contributing to atmospheric pollution. This would explain the recent shift towards water-based products with their almost guaranteed low VOC content, as humanity’s environmental impact comes under closer scrutiny and the priority shifts towards protecting the planet.
Products with a higher VOC content are generally smellier and also harm animals, insects and plants while drying.
Can Wood Preservers Be Used on Their Own?
The primary purpose of wood preservers is to preserve and protect the timber, and they are more often than not finished with a lovely top coat. Despite this, it is actually possible to finish the wood protection process with just a preserver, provided you use the right one.
The perfect product for this would need to contain wax, which is water-repellent. Without this, your wood won’t be protected from the rain and risks being destroyed. Another factor to consider is UV resistance. If your surface is going to be exposed to the sun for long periods, you’ll need that feature.
Wood preserver being applied
An example of a product that would not be suitable is Ronseal Multi-Purpose Wood Treatment, because the formula contains neither wax nor UV protection. However, the Premier Wood Preserver by Barrettine would be suitable as it contains both features.
So if you’re looking to save as much as possible but don’t want to leave your timber to be consumed by Jack Frost and the elements that come into play, you could shortlist this idea. Just make sure you don’t select it in clear, otherwise it won’t have UV-resistant properties.
It is possible to use just a preserver on your wooden surface, but we’d always recommend using a top coat on exterior surfaces such as decking due to foot traffic. Although it’s slightly pricier at the time of purchase to use an additional top coat, that extra product could go a long way towards saving your timber and preventing those drastic wood revival measures in years to come.
The Preservation Process
First of all, it’s important to note that every wood preserver application will be slightly different. Reading the back of the tin or looking at the product page description will help guide you. It also depends on the timber you have. Is it new, previously coated or old? What type of wood is it?
Preserved and painted shed
There are a lot of variables that can affect this process and the preparation. For example, if you’re coating a new, untreated shed, you should be fine just giving it a clean with a stiff broom before applying your preserver. However, if your shed is old and has been taken over by nature, you might need the likes of Osmo Wood Reviver Power Gel to give it a kick back to life. If the outbuilding has been previously coated, you’ll need to sand back until the coating has been fully removed or use a paint stripper, for example.
That’s all before you can apply your preserver, which will hopefully be as straightforward as dipping your brush into the formula and applying it to your wood. Check the manufacturer’s suggestions first, as these may differ from product to product. After applying the preserver, you can apply your stain, oil or paint top coat for a fantastic finish, knowing your timber will have its thick protective coat on for the brutal seasons to come.
5. Ronseal Multi-Purpose Wood Treatment
Ronseal Multi-Purpose Wood Treatment
The ‘does what it says on the tin’ approach from Ronseal certainly remains in fine form with its Multi-Purpose Wood Treatment. It may look basic, but that certainly doesn’t compromise the water-based preserver’s effectiveness. The best way to summarise this product is with a customer review from John Ashley, who simply gave the product five stars and said, “It’s Ronseal”. The legendary name speaks for itself, with trusted reliability at a very modest price point. That’s value for money.
The product is unsurprisingly not overly exciting and is possibly rather basic, as it’s only available in clear and doesn’t contain many fancy, eye-catching features. Despite that, it does exactly what you want it to do and does it extremely well, while also being usable on a range of surfaces indoors and outdoors.
So, what exactly do you want it to do extremely well? The aim of any preserver is to soak deep into the grain of your timber to prevent rot and fungi, and this protective treatment “soaks deep into the wood to stop future attacks”. If you’re looking for a product that does the basics and does them well, look no further.
The Finer Details
This wood preserver takes the environmentally friendly approach with its water-based formula and therefore has ‘Minimal VOC’ content, which is one of the primary reasons it’s usable indoors too. This feature gives the product a leg-up in terms of versatility, as you can use it indoors. It also gives some reassurance that the product being applied to your timber isn’t a vulgar-smelling chemical disaster being brushed onto potentially brand-new wood.
Provided you don’t live on the north coast of Greenland or reside in Qatar, you should be fine storing this product between 5°C and 40°C. Just don’t put it in your freezer or oven. This multi-purpose wood preserver will prevent wet and dry rot, fungi, larvae and wood-boring insects like woodworm. You can also top coat this product with paint, stain or oil. Just make sure it’s coloured.
For those who aren’t too sure how to spot woodworm, an attack can be recognised by small, round holes on the surface of the wood. You can spot a new woodworm attack if a fresh hole has a fine, gritty powder next to it.
A drawback to the watery formula is that it takes some time to dry, with 24 hours between coats. It also has a rather modest coverage of up to 6 m² per litre. But for a little over £31 for 5 litres and the opportunity to use this in multiple interior and exterior spaces, you’re certainly getting value for money.
4. Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear
Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear
Our most expensive product on this list, and by some way, is Cuprinol’s Wood Preserver Clear. It’s over £8 more expensive than the Multi-Purpose Wood Treatment. So does price translate into quality, and what makes this product miss out on a podium spot?
Well, although this wood preserver says it can be used on interior and exterior surfaces, the asterisk next to ‘interior’ says that it can be used on interior wood that is occasionally wet or at risk of condensation. That makes it more suitable for exterior surfaces, limiting its supposed versatility straight away. It’s not a great start, but there’s still time for redemption.
Unsurprisingly, the preserver that can occasionally be used on interior surfaces is water-based, with its ‘Low VOC’ sticker on the side of the tin. It has a fairly standard coverage of up to 5 m² per litre and a fairly standard drying time of 16 hours. Nothing too exciting yet.
But this product succeeds at protecting your wood against decay, mould and blue-stain fungi, with the latter being a feature only selected products offer. This timber preserver also only requires two coats, whereas most recommend three. It also gives you the option to apply a coloured top coat, as the product is only available in clear.
The Finer Details
Well, there’s not a great deal, in all honesty. If there’s a ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ product in this guide, it’s actually this Cuprinol preserver, not Ronseal. That’s only a positive for Ronseal, though, as its products offer more unique features than Cuprinol’s counterpart. That being said, it’s still a quality preserver with a good drying time and good protection. It’s just not the most exciting, but do you need that in a wood preserver that’s going to be top coated?
3. Ronseal Total Clear Wood Preserver
Ronseal Total Clear Wood Preserver
Although there may be five colours to choose from, Ronseal strongly advises that you can only apply a top coat to the clear version of this preservative, as the coloured alternatives contain wax and cannot be top coated. Wood Finishes Direct usually says that a wax preservative can still be top coated with an oil. However, Ronseal does not recommend this, so to be on the safe side, stick with the clear option and top coat with a colour of your choice for the best protection.
So, how does Ronseal Total Clear Wood Preserver compare with other preserving giants, and what helps this product stand out? Well, the ‘Very High VOC’ solvent-based preservative offers an impressive coverage of up to 8 m² per litre, which is a big reason why this wood preserver earns a bronze medal.
However, if you pick yourself up a 5-litre tin, it will say the coverage is up to 16 m² per litre, whereas the 2.5-litre tin says the correct figure is approximately 8 m² per litre. It looks as if someone who doesn’t understand how coverage per litre works has doubled the figure because the tin is twice the size. Unfortunately, that isn’t how coverage per litre works. Otherwise, this would be the best preserver in the business, with a gargantuan coverage of 16 m² per litre. In this case, it doesn’t do what it says on the tin.
The features this exterior wood preserver offers are reasonably standard but effective. It prevents rot, decay, wood-discolouring fungi and woodworm infestation and offers the usual array of application options. It’s also perfect for sheds, fences, joists and window frames, and lasts two years before requiring a top-up. With over 230 five-star reviews, it’s one of the most popular preservers on our website. The reviews speak for themselves.
The Finer Details
The fact that it’s solvent-based with a ‘Very High VOC’ rating shouldn’t be a massive issue (unless you have any breathing issues), as you’ll be using this outside. It may be smelly while drying, and the odour may cling to some nearby objects, but just give it time and the smell will go away. As always, make sure you take the appropriate safety precautions, keep any animals away from the freshly applied timber preserver and give it the appropriate time to dry.
Unfortunately, the wood preserver has quite a lengthy drying time of 24 hours, so if time isn’t your friend, this may not be the right product for you. However, Ronseal’s dark blue and silver tin does offer some friendly advice on the back, explaining how to identify wet and dry rot and what attacks by insects such as woodworm look like. All in all, it’s a handy tin (except for the coverage) and a good product from one of the biggest names in the industry.
2. Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver
Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver
The well-deserved silver medal goes to Barrettine’s Premier Universal Preserver. Although this product is only available in clear, the company’s 140 years of trust, its reputation and its ability to perfect its products give this wood preserver the edge over many of its competitors.
This product is limited to exterior wood because it’s another solvent-based preserver with a ‘Very High VOC’ rating. It does, however, deliver fantastic quality. This product doesn’t contain any wax, so it isn’t water-repellent. This does, however, expand your choice of top coats, as you can choose any coloured oil, stain or paint. Just don’t pick clear, otherwise the two clear products combine to form a horrible milky colour.
Barrettine, of course, favours the age-old solvent formula and shrugs off any idea of having the product as a water-based option. In fact, the company’s disapproval of our eco-friendly option is even shown on the side of the tin, with a comparison demonstrating how ineffective water-based preservers are. It’s a bold move from Barrettine in a market gradually ditching the environmentally harmful options for a greener look.
This product is labelled as part of the Nourish & Protect range, essentially meaning that it contains active ingredients effective against wood-destroying and discolouring fungi as well as wood-boring insects. However, the features don’t quite stop there, as this wood preserver also prevents blue stain and contains a special low-odour formulation that attempts to counteract the usually strong odour of ‘Very High VOC’ products.
The Finer Details
This effective preserver can be easily maintained by applying a fresh coat every two years. However, if your timber will experience a high volume of foot traffic, as with decking, we suggest applying a maintenance coat every 12 months.
Although this wood preserver has a fairly decent drying time of 6–12 hours, the label states that it can take up to 24 hours in higher humidity or at low temperatures, or depending on the ‘ingredients of some wood species’. So it could dry in 12 hours, unless it’s cold, or warm, or you have woodworm, in which case you have to wait 24 hours.
The expected coverage on Barrettine’s website is 6.25 m² per litre for this product. However, the back of the tin states that it offers a conservative 5 m² per litre, possibly just due to an update. At the end of the day, it will vary depending on the type of wood you have and the condition it’s in. You may get more or you may get less. Aside from these minor discrepancies, this product offers the most flexibility on this list and comfortably deserves second place.
1. Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver
Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver
Our triumphant all-round wood preserver is none other than Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver, provided you choose a coloured version and not the ‘Clear’ option. Its archaic packaging might possibly be this product’s only downfall. Barrettine has specialised in its field for over a century, and the company certainly knows how to make a preserver that’s perfect for wood. This brand really is holding the key to the secret formula.
Now, the reason why you should choose a coloured option rather than the clear is because it contains UV fade-resistant pigments. The clear version doesn’t, surprisingly, so the coloured option gives your timber that extra layer of protection. All Barrettine Premier Wood Preservers contain wax, though, making the product water-repellent once applied to timber.
This solvent-based formula with a ‘Very High VOC’ rating also contains a low-odour additive to help reduce the bad smell when applying the timber preserver. To make this product even more of a clear winner, it has over 2,300 five-star reviews on the product page. Impressive.
“Easy to use – low odour and good protection.”
From Mike, a Wood Finishes Direct customer who purchased Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver.
The Finer Details
This preserver also offers a fairly conventional coverage of up to 6 m² and, unlike Ronseal’s Total Clear Wood Preserver, it doesn’t depend on the tin you buy! It also comes with protection against fungi, wood-boring insects and blue stain. For those who aren’t aware, blue stain is a vague term for various fungi that cause dark staining in some timber.
If you’re seeking ultimate protection, Barrettine suggests three coats of this preserver. With a 12-hour drying time, you should be able to get this process done within two days, which isn’t common for an exterior solvent-based preserver that takes three coats.
Specialist Tip – Osmo End Grain Sealing Wax
Now, it’s no secret that this isn’t a wood preserver. However, this is a great little product we’d recommend applying to the end grain of your wood instead of a preservative. It seals the exposed ends of your timber while repelling dirt and water.
Osmo’s End Grain Sealing Wax dries to a clear, natural finish, with the added benefit of preventing the wood from swelling and shrinking.
Osmo End Grain Sealing Wax
We hope you found this article informative and helpful. If there are any specific products or projects you’d like more information on, please don’t hesitate to contact our experts at orders@wood-finishes-direct.com or on 01303 213838.
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