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 Madra:
Hi Madra,
Is your potting bench bare wood or has it been previously treated? Bare wood can be treated with a wood preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/collections/wood-preserver) and then an exterior wood oil such as a garden furniture oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/collections/exterior-furniture-treatment) or decking oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/collections/decking-oil). To maintain the finish, simply apply a maintenance coat of oil once or twice a year, usually in Spring and/or Autumn.
I hope the above helps but if you have any further questions about your project or which products to use, please feel free to contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) at any time.
Reply to Nick:
Hi, it’s rough sawn bare wood. I don’t have an orbital sander, so was wondering if I could apply the wood preserver and oil onto the rough wood without sanding, or does it need to be sanded for the oil to penetrate
Reply to Madra:
Hi Madra,
It is fine to apply a wood preservative and then a wood oil, once the wood preservative has fully dried, to rough sawn timber. Normal recommendation is for 2 coats of each. Pay special attention to any cut ends such as the bottom of the legs that are in contact with the ground.
Kind regards,
Hi
Hope you can help, I have recently built a oak framed garage with softwood weatherboard,
I was going to use something like Ronseal decking oil to protect it,
Will this be ok on the rough sawn weatherboard ? As well as on the oak frame ?
Thanks
Ian
Reply to Ian:
Hi Ian,
Decking oils can be used for a variety of exterior woodcare projects as they are durable, offer good weather protection and are available in clear and a range of shades and colours. Prior to oiling, we would recommend treating the wood with a wood preservative such as Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) first. A wood preservative protectes the wood from biological threats such as mould, algae, wood rot and insect attack whereas the oil protects protects and nourishes the wood, protecting it against moisture, cracking, splitting and warping.
Where possible, treat all sides of the timber including edges and especially any cut ends with 2 coats of the preservative and then 2 coats of the decking oil.
I hope this helps but if you have any further questions about your project, please feel free to contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) at any time.
Hello,
What would you recommand for the exterior summerhouse build? I prefer varnish, type long lasting weatherproof product.?? No harsh dark colours.
Reply to TC:
Hi,
Thank you for your message.
Is your summerhouse smooth planed timber or rough sawn timber? Exterior varnishes or coatings are better suited to smooth timber rather than rough sawn timber.
Assuming that your summerhouse is currently bare wood and has not been treated previously, there are a couple of clear options, namely exterior wood oils and varnish or coating type products. Oils generally require slightly more maintenance but will never crack, flake or peel off. Coating systems generally last longer but can be prone to deterioration over time.
Clear wood finishes offer little in the way of UV protection so the wood will naturally loose its colour over time, turning grey or silver. This said, many exterior wood oils and coatings do contain UV filters which will slow this process down. Products that contain colour pigments offer better UV resistance than clear wood treatments.
In terms of clear wood oils, 2 of the most popular are Osmo UV Protection Oil Extra (420) (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-uv-protection-oil) and Fiddes Exterior High Build Wood Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/fiddes-exterior-wood-oil)
For a coating or varnish type finish consider Sadolin Extra Tough Clear Coat (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/sadolin-extra-durable-clearcoat) or Dulux Trade Clear Gloss Yacht Varnish (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/dulux-trade-clear-gloss-yacht-varnish). Although designed for exterior joinery such as windows and doors, these products have been used on exterior, smooth planned timber constructions with success.
I hope the above helps but if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) at any time.
Kind regards,
Hi
We are painting our log cabin in Cuprinol shades but need to put a good wood preservative on first. Every company I have spoke to say I have to use a Cuprinol brand to match the Finnish coat but it says on your website that Cuprinol 5 star wood preservative is for interior use only? What do you advise is the best product to use? I want to give all the pieces a coat, let dry then construct it the Finnish off the coats.
Reply to Chris jones:
Hi Chris,
Any wood preservative used need to be wax-free. Many wood preservers contain a small amount of wax to provide a small amount of weather protection. Although this is generally fine if applying wood oils, it will cause adhesion issues with water-based paints such as Cuprinol Garden Shades.
If you’re looking for a Cuprinol wood preservative that will work with the Cuprinol Garden Shades us Cuprinol Wood Preserver Clear (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/cuprinol-wood-preserver-clear-wb) which is suitable for both interior and exterior wood. Alternatively, Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) is a good alternative as it also does not contain any wax.
Kind regards,
Hello, I jus replaced 6 of my fence panels with custom made horizontal pinwood which is 1inch thick. It was bought from B&Q,so they been treated before. Being a softwood how do you think to care them to give them a coat a water or oil based ? The wood is quite yellow ish colour, I would like to keep it bright and outstand the grain. Could you give me some brand names as well. Thank you very much.
Zoltan