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 Darryl Woods:
Hello Darryl,
How frustrating for you. I can confirm that any leaking or condensation problems that you have with the summerhouse are not to do with the product you have applied, even if it is not quite the right product for the job.
When a wood treatment is applied to any project it is to protect the wood and not the structure. So application of paint to cladding on the side of a shed, for example will not seal and waterproof the joins or any gaps, this is the responsibility of the structure/design or the requirement for a specific gap sealer/filler provided by or recommended by the manufacturer of the project.
The Cuprinol 5 Year Ducksback (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/cuprinol-five-year-ducksback) is designed for use on rough sawn wood, and needs to deeply penetrate to protect the wood. For smooth woods, it is not able to penetrate the wood so easily and so the protection is reduced, however there will have been some protection to the wood over the last year and using it on smooth wood is not the end of the world.
My advice now, would be to wash down the summer house with a pressure washer, to remove any remaining Ducksback. Holding the nozzle too close will damage your wood, so maintaining a distance with the pressure washer is advised. the Ducksback needs to be removed as it has a high wax content and will repel anything you try to apply over it. Once the wood is clean and dry a preserver followed by and oil to protect is recommended. These will protect the wood, but not the structure or prevent areas of leaks and these of course will need to be fixed.
Depending on the extent of the gaps that are allowing water in I can recommend the Cuprinol All Purpose Wood Filler .
This is ideal for long thin gaps, and has some flexibility for natural shifting of exterior woods. Although ideally the manufacturer/supplier of the Summer house should be resolving or advising on this for you.
If you do have any questions or need any further help please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/cuprinol-all-purpose-wood-filler) page.
All the Best Samantha.
I have just had delivered a spruce wood summer house.
The wood is untreated.
Please could you advise the best action to take and treatment to use on this please?
Reply to Debbie Ford:
Hello Debbie,
What a great project for your summer, the first thing will be to ensure the wood is dry before application. If it has been stored outside or is currently outside in the elements, you may need to wait for a dry spell, allowing enough time for the wood to dry out well. Application of most products to wet wood will be problematic and fail quicker.
Once there is a period of warmer drier weather the first recommendation will be for a preserver such as Barrettine Premier Universal (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) . This will help to prevent mould and decay on the wood, a deep penetrating product for protection.
Followed by a top coat product to repel moisture and reduce the silvering caused by UV. What to use for this will depend on the look you are hoping to achieve. I would recommend considering an oil as these work well for exterior projects and are easy to apply and maintain over time. A coloured product will always be better to reduce fading of the wood, The pigment act like filters and even the lightest colour will give a good level of protection.
If you would like to get in touch for more recommendation please feel free to message us via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page with some details of the look you want to achieve and we can help further.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi
I’m building a mud kitchen for my grandson, I’m using soft wood and have applied a coat of wood preserver, I want the worktop look like oak, can you recommend what would be best
Reply to Neil:
Hello Neil,
I would probably recommend a coloured oil such as the Barrettine Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-decking-oil) this penetrates the wood surface and protects from moisture ingress and UV damage. And will be easy to maintain over time. Or perhaps the Osmo Natural Oil Woodstain (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-wood-stain-protector) which also penetrates the wood and comes in a wide range of colour options and sizes.
If you take a look at these and see if they might suit your needs and if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.
I have a project made out of old barn wood that I want to hang outside. What is the best product to protect this wood that is very weathered and old from the harsh winter and Summers
Reply to Scott R Dethlefs:
Hello Scott,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question. A good place to start for exterior projects is with a preserver, this help to keep at bay, mould and algae. You will find that because of the condition of the wood, it will be like a sponge and when you apply any product it will absorb more than the expected amount. It could also darken the wood considerably and so I would recommend a test area first, allowing the test to dry, to ensure you like the result that will be achieved.
If you are looking to add some colour with a top coat product, please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page with details of the look you are hoping to achieve.
kind regards Samantha.
We’re hoping to build a raised deck (about 1m from ground level) with balustrade rails and steps down to garden, all in pressure treated softwood. The underside of the raised area to be clad and have access doors to under the deck storage space. The project also requires a new external entrance door (which comes as untreated oak) to access the deck from the back of the cottage. I personally prefer a natural-looking finish, but not sure if the natural colour of pressure treated softwood might need a little enhancing. Having got totally confused with the variety of products available, what product/s would you recommend?
Reply to Amanda Leavy:
Hello Amanda,
It can be overwhelming with the number of products available for such projects. The first thing I would always recommend is a preserver, this will help to protect against mould, decay and rot. And a good all rounder is the Barrettine Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) it is a clear product, although will darken the wood slightly.
Then two coats of a Decking Oil, this penetrates the wood and gives a moisture repellent finish, it is easy to apply, clean and maintain over time and will not peel and flake. You can simply top up with a fresh coat when the wood needs it, this could be annually or bi annually, depending on use and exposure to the elements. But no stripping back needed, just clean and re apply.
You could have a look at the Manns Premier UV Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/manns-premier-uv-decking-oil) or the Barrettine Decking Oil both come in a clear or coloured finish and it would be fair to say that the addition of colour adds further protection to the wood, as it dramatically slows down the silvering caused by the sun.
If you take a look at those and see if they may suit your needs, always try a test area first if you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-decking-oil) page, I will be happy to help.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi there,
I am planning to finish a garden room/office with (untreated) red wood tongue and groove cladding, which I will then treat with a wood preserver and finish with oil/paint.
I see from other posts that you advise treating the cladding prior to installation, which makes sense. My concern is that, if I apply the wood preserver treatment to the ‘tongues’ and ‘grooves’ of the cladding boards, they might not slot together? Is there a way of avoiding this, or is it generally not an issue?
Many thanks in advance.
Keith