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 Daniel Bond:
Good Morning Daniel,
Thank you for getting in touch with your question. If using a wood preservative prior to painting the garage door with Cuprinol Garden Shades (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/cuprinol-garden-shades), it’s important to choose a wax-free preservative such as Barrettine Premier Universal Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative). this is a clear, wax-free preservative that will help to prevent mould and decay. And can be used with the Garden Shades. Wood preservers that contain wax will repel the water-based garden shades paint.
Both are suitable for application to bare wood and if you currently have any product on the garage door then this may need removing first.
For further advice please feel free to get in touch with one of our friendly advisers via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi – I have some old pine floor joists I want to use on top of some concrete posts as a deck. I doubt the joists are pressure treated so my question is how best to treat them. I was thinking of wood preservative which I could paint on and dip the cut ends into. Would you suggest any additional or different treatment?
Reply to Justine Latham:
Good Afternoon Justine,
You have it exactly right, a good quality preserver is the best place to start Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-wood-preservative) , this can be use all over the wood including the cut ends if you want. You can stand the ends in a bucket of preserver for an hour or two to allow the wood to really soak up the preserver. Or for the cut end you could consider and End Grain product such as the Barrettine End Grain Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-timber-cut-end-preserver-clear) which is high in wax content to repel moisture.
The more you can do before construction of the decking the better it will be for the wood and can certainly extend the life of the wood. You can then follow this with a top coat of Decking Oil that will repel moisture and for an oil that will also slow down UV damage you could have a look at the Barrettine Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-decking-oil) which comes in a clear or coloured finish and it is fair to say that when you apply a coloured finish this will improve the level of UV protection that the wood gets.
I am here to help should need any further advice.
Kind Regards Samantha.
Hi, i have an untreated log cabin, so i believe i need a base wood preserver then a stain then a protective top coat.
So im thinking Sadolin clear wood preserver, then one coat of Sadolin classic and 2 coats of Sadolin extra.This should last around 5 years before recoating. Sikkens sounds like a similar price/ quality.
Alternatively, much cheaper 2 coats of Barrettine wood preserver, and 2 coats of Barrettine log cabin treatment.
So how long would the cheaper option last before needing re coating? Would this provide similar protection levels, but just need re coating more often? Any other options you would suggest?
Many thanks.
Reply to Richard:
Good Afternoon Richard,
You have all the right product combinations and options there. The Sikkens and Sadolin are as you say very similar products and are fairly equal in longevity and protection, so you can base this on colour required if you choose to use either of these products and they will last longer than the Preserver and Log Cabin Treatment.
However the Barrettine Preserver and Oil have benefits of there own, as products that penetrate the wood surface they will not peel and flake over time and they are very easy to maintain. When you feel the wood needs a refresher coat you are able to simply reapply the oil to a clean dry surface, no need for sanding. And in terms of how long it will last this will very much depend on exposure to the elements, south facing may need maintenance sooner than other sides for example.
To apply a coloured finish will also increase the UV protection of the wood and slow down the silvering process. With all product I would recommend a test area first to ensure you like the colour and finish that will be achieved.
And for further advice please do not hesitate to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Best regards Samantha.
Hi Samantha
I’m replacing the shingles on my porch roof with new red cedar shingles. Can you advise which product you would recommend I could treat these new shingles with to give them the best protection please?
Thanks
Steve
Reply to Steve:
Good Afternoon Steve,
Thank you for getting in touch with your enquiry. Cedar shingle tend to not require a finish, certainly not immediately any how. Cedar is a naturally oil wood that is resistant to decay, which is why it is such a popular choice for cladding and shingles. If the tiles are new and fresh then application of any products could be problematic.
So allow them to weather and if over time you feel that some protection is still needed then have a look at a good quality preservative followed by a top coat of oils to help aid moisture repellency and UV damage.
If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hello Samantha.
I am erecting an oak pergola to go above seats and shelving for which I have purchased iroko. This all fixes to white rendered walls and bases.
I have two questions:
In terms of protection, I would like to protect the colour of both woods and from reading your advice to others, the Osmo UV protection oil 250 seems a good option. Would you agree? Will this help protect the iroko from bumps and scratches (it is a slightly more delicate wood than I was expecting and will be subject to children, beer and bbqs (not necessarily all at the same time)).
In planning my layout I left the wood on their bases, and came back from a heavy rain shower to find both woods had bled tannins over the render. Is there anything I can do to prevent this once the wood is fixed in position? And would you recommend anything to remove tannin stains if this is an unavoidable issue?
Thank you!
Chris
Reply to Chris Brockhurst:
Good Morning Chris,
Thank you for getting in touch with your enquiry. Iroko being a tropical hardwood will require a period of weathering before you are able to apply a protective products on it, this is because it is naturally high in oil content already and this will prevent or cause problems with the uptake of any protective treatment you are looking to apply. During this period you are able to wipe away and tannins that are leeching out with Methylated Spirits to help avoid staining and doing this regularly will help reduce future staining.
When the wood has weathered and you are ready to apply a finish you could have a look at the Osmo UV Protection Oil Extra (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-uv-protection-oil) this is a penetrating oil for exterior woods that will slow down the silvering effect of the sun. However for hardwoods such as the Iroko we more often recommend the Osmo Decking Oil (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/osmo-decking-oil) because this is a thinner option more suited to hard woods. This one does not have UV protection however and will allow the wood to silver naturally.
These oils will offer a moisture repellent finish to the wood, however, no finish will prevent scratches or dents, if the wood is impacted with some force it will still dent no matter what product you apply. For further product advice please feel free to get in touch via our contact us (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact) page.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi I am hoping you will be able to help. We have just bought a pressure treated wooden shed (not sure if the type of wood). The instructions say to give it a waterproof treatment. I’ve been looking at your website and I’m not sure she whether to go for a clear water seal treatment or a wood oil. To maintain the water seal would we need to sand/prep the wood once the original coat deteriorated? Or could we just add another coat (like I’ve read you can do with the oil wood stains).
Thanks Sam