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 Sarah Bowden:
Good Afternoon Sarah,
Thank you for getting in touch with your enquiry. I would not recommend applying any product at this stage. The wood is ‘green’ this means recently felled and will have a high moisture content. Typically wood can a take a year per inch of depth to dry out, this will vary dependant on type of wood and location, but as a guide it give an indication of the long time that it takes for wood to dry out.
Applying anything at this stage could result in sealing in the moisture which will damage the wood long term or the product not adhering to the surface in the way that it should. Allowing the wood to weather for while is the best option at this stage.
Once you do feel that the wood is dry then you can apply a good quality preservative such a the Barrettine Premier Wood Preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-wood-preservative), two coats. And for the best protection an exterior oil to go over the top will help to give moisture repellency Barrettine Garden Furniture Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-garden-furniture-oil) is a great option for most wood types.
I hope that helps and if you have any further questions please do no thesitate to get in touch.
All the Best Samantha.
Hi. Moved into a 1980s house with what looks like a walnut stain on all the facias barge boads ect . It looks in good condition but faded. I just want to freshen it up with a couple of coats of something similar that will weather well. What product would you recommend. In the old days it was oil based products that were best . Not sure anymore. Thanks in advance. Keith
Reply to keith britton:
Good Afternoon Keith,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question. You could have a look at the Sadolin Extra Durable Woodstain (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/sadolin-extra-durable-woodstain).
It will always be best to apply to well prepared bare wood, however this product can be applied to previously stains timber, lightly abrade, in the direction of the grain, ensuring not to break through the surface coating, and removing any remaining sanding dust afterwards.
If you take a look at this product and I am here to help if you have any further questions.
Here at Wood Finishes Direct we always recommend a test area first.
All the Best Samantha.
Hi again Samantha,
Thanks for the advice on the shed – I’ll take it up and will get my order in to you.
Here’s another one for you: We also have a lot of new slatted screen fencing, made of horizontal Western Red Cedar battens 38mm x 19mm nailed to posts. The battens are sawn, not planed or sanded, and are untreated.
We would like to keep the lovely natural cedar colour over time, and not let them weather to silver grey. The timber supplier recommends sanding them all down to open up the grain then applying a Sansin SDF treatment. Our installer says it’s better to use an oil (no specifics).
What do you think our best option is?
Thanks in anticipation,
Jeremy
Reply to Jeremy:
Hello Again Jeremy,
The best way to stop the natural silvering process is to apply colour to the wood. Pigments act like sun cream the darker the colour the higher the factor, even a very light colour will improve the protection versus a clear product. So if you want to do that you could look at a Ronseal Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/ronseal-decking-oil) it has a range of natural colours including Cedar that may suit your needs and the ‘Natural’ in this range is a clear oil that will very slightly darken the wood.
It would be fair to say that a rough sawn timber will absorb far more of any product applied to it and this is why I have recommended a decking oil, it is a very effective and durable protection that will be cost effective with the amount that you are likely to need.
Sanding the wood some, will help to reduce the amount of product absorbed but can be a difficult job with fencing and not something that I would necessarily recommend. If you take a look at the decking oil, we do also have others on the website and if you have any questions at all please do let me know.
And of course always try a test area first.
All the Best Samantha.
Hi Samantha,
I have a month-old tantalised T&G shed, 10′×6′, that is currently untreated apart from the original tantalising. Two sides have restricted, difficult access, with only about 12-18" clearance from the garden fence. I can probably reach with a roller on a pole, but brushing is probably not possible. Any treatment I apply to these sides will not be repeated for a long time!
What treatment(s) and application methods would you advise? We would like a traditional wood shed colour, not too dark or too orange.
Thanks in advance!
Jeremy
Reply to Jeremy:
Hello Jeremy,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question. If you can bring yourself to apply two products and are looking for the best protection, my advice would be to apply two coats of the Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) followed by two coats of the Barrettine Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-decking-oil).
The preservative will give you protection against mould, mildew and rot and the Decking Oil will give a moisture repellent finish. If this is a bit to much of a task for the areas that are hard to reach then you can look at two coats of the Barrettine Premier Wood Preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-wood-preservative) this will protect in the same way as the Universal above but also has a small amount of wax to help repel moisture, it is not as effective as an oil however.
Application of with a roller is going to be a little messy as these products are quite thin but the more preservative you are able to get int o the wood the better. I hope that helps and if you do have any questions please do let me know.
Kind Regards Samantha.
Hi,
We have a Mahogany front door with side panels both with intricate detailing.
They are currently covered in ronseal satin stain and looking a bit tatty.
Can you recommend a product that will cover this up and bring back to a good finish please.
Would prefer not to have to sand back to bare wood if at all possible…..
Best regards
Adam
Reply to Adam:
Good Afternoon Adam,
Are you able to send some photos in to me at helpme@wood-finishes-direct.com and I will be happy to take a look and see if I am able to make any suggestions.
Kind regards Samantha.
I have a wooden front porch and the timber along part of the base has rotted, I don’t want to renew the wood but would like to fill and paint over. What type of filler would you recommend ?