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
I have just built a large shiplap driveway gate out of pressure treated (brown colour) softwood. I would like to add a clear coat to further protect whilst maintaining the original colouring, and to seal ends and crosscuts made into the timber. The gate is fairly exposed and south facing. Are you able to help. Many thanks Paul
Reply to Hi Samantha:
Hello Paul,
Can you tell me exactly what is on the wood at the moment ? And then I can narrow down some suitable products for your project.
Kind Regards Samantha.
Hi there
Just had a new tanalised garden shed fitted. Wondered which clear product I should put on it come spring time?
Cheers for the steer, Regards, Mark
Reply to Mark Belcher:
Good Morning Mark,
You could have a look at the Barrettine Log Cabin Treatment (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-log-cabin-treatment). This is a clear oil that absorbs into the surface of the wood and helps to make it moisture repellent as well as offering some UV protection. A clear oil will darken the wood a little to give the ‘wet look’ and I would recommend a test area first. Have a read up of the product and feel free to get back to me if you have any other questions.
All the Best Samantha.
I have new fences and a new shed to protect. Do you recommend creocote as a long term solution? Or should I be using a more ordinary preservative such as Cuprinol or Ronseal?
Reply to Robert:
Good afternoon Robert,
Barrettine Creocote, now known as Barrettine Creosolve (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-creosolve), will help to make the wood moisture repellent. It does not offer protection against mould mildew and rot. For this a preservative is required.
For the best protection of exterior woods, we nearly always recommend a two coat system. A Preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) first to help prevent mould, mildew and rot. Followed by a top coat product to give moisture repellency. This can be the Creocote or an Oil such as Barrettine Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-decking-oil) which is very versatile and can e used for a number of exterior projects.
If you have a look at the recommendations and feel free to let me know if you have any further questions.
kind regards Samantha.
I have just built an extension which is clad externally in marine ply. The wood does not come into contact with the ground. It is a uniform mid brown colour and I would like to stain it with a colour eg blue or grey. Also, I am unsure whether I should also be using a wood preservative treatment. I would greatly appreciate your advice. Peter Vaughan
Reply to Peter Vaughan:
Hello Peter,
Thank you for getting in touch. Can you tell me if there is any treatment currently on the cladding? This can have an impact on what I can advise.
If you are treating bare wood then I would recommend a preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-wood-preservative) to help to prevent mould, mildew and rot. And then a top coat product that will make the wood moisture repellent and offer UV protection. Osmo Natural Oil Woodstain (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-wood-stain-protector) has a good range of colours to choose from.
Feel free to email me with an further information or questions at wood@finishes.direct
All the Best Samantha.
I have apple tree slices from the trunk of my old tree .. I’m turning one into an outside stool what would be the best way to preserve this please
Reply to Anjila:
Hello Anjila,
If the wood has dried out then the first recommendation would be a preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) to help to prevent mould, mildew and rot.
Then a top coat product to seal and help keep the wood moisture repellent, for a clear oil that will help to slow down the silvering effect there is Osmo UV Protection Oil Extra (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-uv-protection-oil). It will darken the wood slightly to give what we call the ‘wet look’.
If you are looking to add some colour or something different just let me know and I can make some alternate recommendations. If the wood is freshly cut and has not dried out yet you may need to allow it to weather for a while as treatments are not recommended for woods that have a high moisture content.
I hope that helps and always try a test area first.
Kind regards Samantha.