The sun is out and temperatures are on the rise. This is the time when we venture out to the garden to survey the surroundings and draw up the list of maintenance tasks.
When talking about exterior wood finishes, there’s always an assumption that it’s about treating your decking, garden shed or fence. Although these are indeed the most common garden features that need maintenance after a winter of wind, rain and freezing temperatures, wooden window frames, doors and porches should also be checked and given attention if required.
Dulux Trade Opaque Coating Systems
It’s all about the knowledge
A question we get asked a lot here at Wood Finishes Direct is “What is the best exterior wood treatment?” Unfortunately, there’s no single product that is better than another for every project and type of wood. In fact, deciding what product should be used can be a complex matter. That’s why we invest heavily in the training of our sales and service team, or as we call them, the SAS team. All of our support staff are rigorously trained so that they’re familiar with the products we stock, their properties and their suitability for any number of given scenarios. This means that we’re always able to give expert advice and guidance on which products and brands are best suited to your project.
Just some of the top brands available at Wood Finishes Direct
Exterior wood finishing types
Essentially, there are two types of exterior wood treatments: those that are absorbed into the surface of the wood, such as oil-based products, and those that form a protective coating on the surface of the wood. Both have their own unique characteristics and benefits.
Penetrative wood treatments
Penetrative wood treatments are products that soak into the wood and protect from within, such as decking oils, shed & fence treatments. These products are predominantly oil- and wax-based. They work by penetrating and then drying in the surface grain of the timber to provide a tough, durable, weather-resistant surface.
Oil-based products are popular for garden decking, sheds and fences.
The key benefit of this type of product is that it’s very easy to apply and maintain. When the finished surface starts to look tired and worn, it’s simply a case of reapplying a fresh coat. No need to sand, strip back or remove the old finish. Wood oils are very forgiving for patch repairs, meaning that localised areas of wear are very easy to repair and blend in with the surrounding areas. Leading brands that specialise in these types of exterior wood finishing products include Osmo, Ronseal, Barrettine and Cuprinol.
Exterior coating systems
What was once the realm of paints and exterior wood varnishes is now dominated by an array of ultra-modern wood coating systems. Whereas old paints and varnishes had a reputation for cracking, flaking and peeling, modern coating systems have been scientifically developed to withstand the effects of weathering and the constant movement of the timber as a result of moisture and temperature changes.
Sikkens exterior wood treatments seal and protect.
Modern exterior wood coatings are flexible and durable, meaning that they rarely need to be stripped back to bare wood if maintained correctly. This makes them a firm favourite for exterior joinery such as wooden window frames and doors. Coatings from brands such as Sadolin and Sikkens are designed in such a way that as the top coat wears over time, it starts to lose some of its colour and sheen. This is an indicator that the finish needs maintenance. Surfaces that require maintenance can be restored by following a few simple steps.
- Wipe down with methylated spirit to degrease the old finish.
- Lightly sand the surface to remove any ingrained surface dirt and debris. This also provides a key for the new top coat.
- Wipe down a second time after sanding with methylated spirit to remove all traces of sanding dust and any residual grease from hands and fingertips.
- Once dry, a fresh top coat can be applied to restore the appearance and maximise protection of the timber.
Other brands that specialise in translucent and opaque exterior coatings include Dulux Trade and Crown Paints. Also, see Sadolin’s Superdec Opaque Wood Protection finish.
Have a question about exterior wood care projects?
If you have an exterior wood care project to tackle and are not sure which product to choose, give our resident wood experts a call. They’re able to provide free, expert wood finishing advice, so that you can make a well-informed choice on which products are suitable for your project.
We love to see before, during and after photos of any wood finishing project. If you would like to share your decking project pictures with us, you can either send us some photos or share them on our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram pages.
260 comments
Reply to Bernie:
Good Afternoon Bernie,
I would really need to know what the current finish is ? Do you have a brand name ? As this will impact on what you can use moving forward, unless you are planning to sand back to bare wood first?
And are you looking to treat the interior, exterior or both areas of the joinery. You can get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page and I can advice you further.
Kind Regards Samantha.
I’m trying to restore the balustrade on our balcony. So far I’ve sanded, removed the worst of the rot and applied Ronseal wood hardener. Later today I will use wood filler to repair where I’ve had to remove rotten wood. I guess that I’ll need to use a varnish type of finish rather than an oil because of the use of filler. Any recommendations – the wood is quite exposed being high up and facing the worst of teh weather and the best of the sun. Cheers Andy
Reply to Andrew:
Good Afternoon Andrew,
Thank you for getting in touch. You could stick with Ronseal as you have used there hardener and filler and look at the Ronseal Yacht Varnish (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/ronseal-yacht-varnish) this is a solvent based, long lasting protective varnish.
Or as an alternate option the Polyvine Decorators Varnish (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/polyvine-decorators-varnish) Regular checks and maintenance will help the upkeep of the wood and prevent future water ingress that causes rot. Any areas that begin to wear or peel and flake should be repaired sooner rather than later.
I hope that helps, if you have a look at the products and feel free to get back to me if you have any questions.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi Sam I ve been reading with interest. We have a really old oak bench possibly 1920s which I’ve sanded down through layers of v old paint to mostly bare wood. I chose culprinol wood preserver to go under osmo UV protector for a clear finish. However, the culprinol packaging says it should only be used with varnish paint or woodstain. Will it not work with Osmo? Should I return the culprinol and just use Osmo’s UV? Appreciate your help.
Reply to Sam:
Hello Sam,
I would recommend the Osmo WR Basecoat (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-wr-base-coat) this is a protective treatment to use instead of the Cuprinol. And will work well with the Osmo UV Protection Oil Extra (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-uv-protection-oil) and protect against mould, algae and fungal attack.
You will need to ensure that you have removed all of the previous treatment in order apply the Osmo effectively and test area are always recommended. If you purchased the Cuprinol from us just call our service team about returning on 01303 213 838 option 2.
And if there is anything further that I can help with please do let me know.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi. I have a t&g fence treated with Barrettine premier wood preserver in rich mahogany. It needs retreating but the colour has been discontinued. I want to keep the mahogany colour, is there another product which I can use to recoat the fence and keep the mahogany shade? Thank you, Nicola
Reply to Nicola:
Good Afternoon Nicola,
Thank you for getting in touch with your enquiry. It is unfortunate that the Mahogany has been discontinued, it is not a popular colour at the moment as many brands have stopped the colour. Which is a shame as it is such a warm tone.
The only products that you could consider is the Sadolin Extra Durable Woodstain (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/sadolin-extra-durable-woodstain) which has a Mahogany in its range, although how close it can is to the colour that you currently have I can not guarantee. This product is more suited to joinery but could be used on smooth wood fence panels, or the Sikkens Cetol HLS Plus (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/sikkens-cetol-hls-plus) which also has a Mahogany in its range.
I hope that helps and of course if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to let me know or get int ouch with one of our team on 01303 213838.
Warmest Regards Samantha.
I have two external wooden posted that have been treated with Morrells pre catalyst Lacquer. Is this suitable for external use? Or will I have to sand down and treat with something else
Reply to Barbra May:
Good Afternoon Barbra,
Thank you for getting in touch with your enquiry. The Morrells 250 Pre Catalyst Lacquer (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/collections/morrells) is not suitable for use on exterior wood.
If you are looking for a clear protective finish for your posts then I would recommend sanding back to bare wood and looking at the Sadolin Extra Durable Clearcoat (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/sadolin-extra-durable-clearcoat) as a good option. This is a extremely durable and flexible varnish that is ideal for exterior use.
If you take a look at this and feel free to get back to me if you have any questions at all.
Always try a test area first.
Kindest Regards Samantha.
Two weeks ago we had an enormous branch fall off our beech tree after a storm and now it has been milled and made into a beautiful plank to put on two round lumps of the same beech to make a bench. The plank is about 4" thick. What’s the best way to protect it? It will be living outdoors for as long as it’s safe to sit on! I’m thinking Barretine Wood Preserver (how many coats?) followed by a couple of coats of Osmo UV oil. We have a green oak framed extension and use the Osmo UV on that – it looks great and is doing a good job. Hope you can steer us in the right direction! Thanks, Sarah