How To Waterproof Wood & Outdoor Furniture

Learn how to waterproof wood for outdoor furniture to withstand what Mother Nature throws at it. This comprehensive guide includes the best ways to protect wood outdoor furniture, the best waterproof wood sealers, and even a step-by-step guide for how to refinish outdoor furniture.

The great outdoors can be rather unpredictable. Fluctuating temperatures, harsh UV rays, heavy rain, and creepy crawlers can all take a heavy toll on outdoor furnishings and stained decks.

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Untreated lumber is susceptible to warping, cracking, and rotting when left exposed to the elements. Much like our own skin, sunlight ages wood before its time whereas water attacks wood with fungal growth. Basically, this material can’t catch a break.

So, what’s a budget-conscious homeowner to do to protect your investment? Outdoor furniture doesn’t come cheap!

In order to get the biggest return on your investment, it’s essential to protect and learn how to seal wood against Mother Nature’s mood swings. With proper maintenance and our tips below, your investment can be a perennial favorite instead of an annual eyesore! You can hang some Outdoor String Lights and spend more time with friend and family playing summer Outdoor Games.

If you are interested in repainting your outdoor furniture, hop over to this post to learn my best tips >>> How to Spray Paint Outdoor Furniture

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Wood exposed to weather elements will ALWAYS CHANGE COLOR. A sealer that has no UV protection isn’t going to keep wood looking bright and fresh. Period. It’s the sun’s ultraviolet rays that cause wood to turn grey by breaking down the lignin and cellulose structure.

Penetrating vs Topcoat. This is my personal opinion, but I’ve come to the conclusion that penetrating is a marketing term that varies broadly between brands. First, how deeply it penetrates varies vastly and it’s usually only a few cells deep. Also, penetrating products may or may not provide any abrasion resistance. So on a surface like a deck, the top layer wears off fairly quickly.

Ambering or Yellowing. The majority of oil-based or oil modified sealers will yellow over time. This may or may not be what you want. For example, with a darker natural wood stain, this yellowing will remain unnoticed and may even keep the wood looking a bit brighter. However, with a grey stain, you may want to find something that won’t amber over time.

How To Choose the Best Outdoor Wood Sealers

That being said, I highly recommend the following products. Several of these companies also offer other high-quality products that may enhance your outdoor furniture and fit your needs better.

Reader’s Note: Solid stain does not need a separate sealer coat. While semi-transparent stain does provide some protection, it’s not a sealer like a urethane. There are products with stain and sealers in them. I have not personally used them so I cannot attest to their durability. I tend to have a philosophy that products with separate purposes should remain separate. Example: a primer coat, then a paint coat is better than a paint + primer product.

For best protection, it’s important to note the moisture levels in the wood surface before using a sealer. Wood should be at least as low as 15% when read with a moisture meter. Stain and penetrating sealers won’t absorb as well with higher moisture. Worse, high moisture can cause early failure of a sealing product. As the wood surfaces dries out, it can leave cracks or invisible gaps that changes the structure of the surface that are essentially unprotected.

Applying a Finish

For this project, I wanted to downplay the orangey-wood while still keeping the focus on the graining and pattern of the wood.

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I chose Varathane Sunbleached to give it a slightly gray look that will age beautifully with time. As pictured below, it looks very opaque when you first brush it on. Then, per the directions, I wiped off any excess after 2-3 minutes with a lint-free rag (old t-shirt).

The grain pattern took up the stain more, so it played beautifully on the graining pattern. If I had used a less grainy wood such as pine, the stain would be more evenly colored. This is a one coat stain, and it dries in an hour, so I did small sections working quickly as I went.

How To Add Sealer with a Brush

• I actually like a synthetic brush for most sealers, but a natural bristle for applying stains.
• Completely stir the poly before use and occasionally during application to keep the ingredients in suspension. Be careful not to incorporate bubbles while stirring.
• Brush or wipe quickly in the same direction one end to the other. Do Not back-brush if the product is drying.
• It is generally not necessary to sand between coats, unless you have imperfections which can be sanded out.
• As with any project, do not use sealers in high (>80%) or very low humidity.
• Avoid direct sunlight when applying.
• Allow the piece to fully cure before setting items on it such as heavy lamps or other painted materials.

We love using paint sprayers for many projects! Learn our best recommendations in this post >>> Best Paint Sprayers for DIY Projects

More DIY Projects to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Spaces

• DIY Concrete Plant Pots
• How To Waterproof Fabric
• DIY Outdoor Farmhouse Table
• 25 Colorful Painted Furniture Ideas

What does this have to do with protecting outdoor furniture? It’s about managing expectations about the choices you make that affect the lifespan of your outdoor surfaces.

For example, full sun is a killer. Secondly, easy sometimes comes at a cost of longevity. We all desire solutions with easy application and cleanup, but these solutions aren’t time tested. A personal example is that I love my giant dogs, but their big nails take a toll on my deck boards. I understand that I cannot keep my own full-sun, dog-lounging deck looking picturesque for more than a few years.

Take stock of what you can do to combat these variables and use more than one method to protect your investment. It will pay off in the long run.

PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag #cravingcreative on Instagram! You can also stay in touch with me through following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and subscribing to the newsletter!

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor