Due to this, any waterproofing product you apply to exterior wood must be highly breathable. This means that it does not impact the ability for water vapour to pass through the surface, ensuring moisture does not get trapped in the timber. For a wood waterproofing product to be considered highly breathable, it must have an SD value of below 1. The lower the SD value, the more breathable the waterproofing treatment is and the better it can protect exterior wood long-term. Highly breathable wood waterproofing products generally do not form a film on the surface of wood. These wood waterproofers insteadb absorb deep into the wood, providing the wood with water repellent properties, rather than creating a water repellent film on the surface. This means that there is no film to peel, blister or become weathered, ensuring long-term durability in all weather conditions. Once any large dirt and debris is removed from the wood, you must apply a fungicidal cleaner to any wood that is not new timber. This is because organic fungal growth such as moss and lichens can discolour the wood. Once you apply the waterproofing treatment, organic growth is significantly reduced so you want to ensure that the wood is free from any organic growth to start with. A fungicidal cleaner such as Emperor Exterior Cleaner kills any fungal growth, ensuring that it does not continue to grow after the timber is treated. Simply apply the fungicidal cleaner to the wood by brush, roller or pump-sprayer and leave it to dry for two hours. After this period, not only will the discolouration be removed, but any deep ingrained dirt is dislodged and can be easily cleaned away. While many fungicidal cleaners refer to themselves as masonry cleaners, these can also be used on wood. With the best outdoor wood sealer, you can ensure all your wood is properly protected, and this can increase its life and appearance considerably. This one is very different from the other sealers on my list, as it is made from soybean oil. This natural formulation makes the product a lot less toxic and a lot less stinky. You probably won’t even have to worry about a dust mask when using this stuff. For such a specialized product, its price is actually quite low. Safe And Versatile

This product has two main selling points. For one, it’s a lot better for the environment than most other options. For another, it is said to last a lot longer. In fact, the advertising says that the finish will probably outlive you! I am skeptical of this claim, as only time will tell if it is true. Long Dry Time This product earns its asking price by providing a longer lifespan than most other sealers. While most sealers will need to be re-applied every 1-3 years, this one is supposed to last 6-10 years. That’s quite impressive, but we aren’t sure if this product has been around long enough to prove such a claim. The manufacturer promises ten years for vertical surfaces and six years for horizontal ones. The Downsides Rust-oleum marine spar varnish is a really good choice for your case, the coating is very resistant to water and is plastic to absorb the natural shrinkage and expansion of the wood.Hi Michelle, in your case, the work of renovating the bench was too much because the bench was not maintained for a long time. If you want to ensure you choose the best outdoor wood sealer for your outdoor areas, it is important to take a few key factors into consideration.

Now, just this short time later, the Arborcoat has failed and we need to re-prepare and re-coat once again. I am very disappointed in the Arborcoat, as I was of the impression that it would require only minor touch-up for at least several years. Since that did not turn out to be true, we are now searching for a different product that will stand up to the weather conditions better than the Arborcoat. That is what has led us to you. Super hydrophobic technology refers to a highly advanced form of waterproofing treatment that utilises the latest nano-technology. A super hydrophobic surface is ultra water-repellent, often known as the 'lotus effect', named after the lotus leaf that this feature. This super hydrophobic surface completely repels water as the water is more attracted to itself than the treated surface. In short, the water forms 'beads' on the surface and eventually falls off before it can absorb into the material. When applied to waterproofing products, super hydrophobic nano-technology lines the pours of building materials but does not seal these pores. This means that while water is too large to pass through the pores, water vapour (as a gas) can pass through these pores, meaning the breathability of the material is not impacted. The result is a completely water repellent, highly breathable surface that keeps exterior surfaces dry & free from weathering. Not only does this stuff keep the rain out, but it also contains ingredients that resist mold and mildew. Those are two of the worst enemies of outdoor wood, so that’s always a handy thing. Even though this article is focused on wood, I am glad to see that this product works on other surfaces as well. Whether you are looking to protect your fencing, shed, cladding, garden furniture or any other bare exterior wood, applying Emperor Exterior Wood Waterproofer is the best way to keep timber looking clean, dry & pristine. The difference between wood that has been treated and wood that has been left untreated is immense. The image below is what happened when once fence panel was treated with Emperor Masonry Paint and the other fence panels were left untreated. The level of moisture that exterior wood can absorb can not only cause damage but will cause the wood to change colour during wet conditions. This discolouration can be prevented by applying a super hydrophobic treatment to the wood. Having said this, not all waterproofing products are designed in the same way. With any waterproof surface, it is crucial that it is highly breathable. While water must be prevented from entering the surface, if the treatment is not breathable, any moisture inside the surface will become trapped. Eventually, the moisture will build-up inside the material until it causes the waterproofing treatment to fail. A wood 'sealer' like many sealing products generally has low breathability, as it creates a film on the surface of the wood. This film can completely prevent moisture from travelling through the surface, keeping moisture out but also trapping moisture in. Due to the film that is created, this moisture eventually causes the film to burst, leaving the wood unprotected once again. The film that is created by sealers also provides the added risk of the film peeling, flaking or bursting when exposed to weathering.I have been working on a problem/project for over 15 years at my home church, Calvary Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado. I was recruited for this project because I was the only architect in the congregation. We have an outdoor courtyard where we have placed our columbarium, a repository for cremains (ashes) for people from the church who have passed.

Once your surface is clean and bare, you should lay down some plastic to protect the surrounding area from the overspray. No matter how careful you are, there will be some overspray, so make sure you cover any nearby plants that you like.Oil-based sealer products are the option for people who are a little more concerned with appearances. Oil-based finishes bring out the grain of the wood by darkening it and providing a high level of shine. When you see wood that is so shiny that it reflects the sunlight, you are probably looking at an oil-based finish. Buying A Sealer For Outdoor Use Wood stain - this is designed to maintain the grain of the wood while providing it with added colour In independent testing conducted by UKAS accredited laboratory Lucideon, Emperor Exterior Wood Waterproofer when subjected to 25 year accelerated weathering was found to have no change in performance or appearance after the 25 year period. This means it will keep exterior wood waterproof for a minimum of 25 years without failing. This far exceeds the lifespan of many wood treatments which range from anywhere from 1 year to 10 years. For this reason we offer a 10 year manufacturers guarantee, ensuring its performance in any weather conditions for a minimum of 10 years. This is the only marine sealer on the list, which means that it will probably offer superior protection against water. If you don’t know what we mean, marine paints are suitable for watercraft. Thus, they are held to a much higher standard in the area of waterproofing. Some marine paints are meant to be used above the waterline only, but this one seems to be fine for general marine use. Made From Tung Oil

This product offers a few distinct advantages that are worth examining. First of all, the whole thing is water-based. That means you don’t have to worry about toxic fumes, toxic runoff, or any other environmental concerns. Water-based compositions like this one are also much easier to clean up when you are finished. The Zinc FactorIf you do not protect your exterior wood with a sealer, it is vulnerable to all sorts of issues and open to damage from the elements. Smartseal wood sealer has a number of benefits that can dramatically increase the lifespan of wooden surfaces: The sealers listed above should give you a much better idea of what is available. Now it is time to cover some general information about wood sealers so that you can get a better idea of what you need. Photo: 123RF.com How Does Wood Sealer Work? Atmospheric conditions are a severe test for any coating, over time the coating thins and disappears. No matter what coating you use, it is good to apply a new coating at the first signs that the coating is damaged. This way your work on the upgrade will be 10 times easier, just a little sandpaper, and apply with a brush. When it comes to treating and protecting wood, it can be difficult to know exactly what product to use with a seemingly endless number of wood paints, stains, oils, sealers and waterproofers on the market. That is why our team of experts have put together this handy guide that contains everything you need to know regarding exterior wood sealers and treatments so you can protect your wood from the elements long-term.