Exterior Wood Finishes Test

Do not over apply.

Exterior wood finishes test.

Valsparpro exterior clear wood finish provides all season moisture protection for decks fences siding. In almost all cases the finish on the exposed side of the sample boards was beyond repair and often so was the wood. Two years later our search continues for the ideal wood finish relatively easy to apply easy to maintain lasts. Testers applied dozens of exterior wood finishes 22 one part varnishes six two part varnishes 18 synthetics and satins varnish alternatives and eight teak oils and sealers to small panels of bare solid teak and set them out to face the rigors of south florida s weather.

Protect and beautify decks fences and siding with behr s highly rated line of wood stain products. Oil finishes don t provide a protective film that sits on top of the wood like varnish does. Topcoats that offer long lasting protection for wood that is exposed to sunlight water and temperature changes. Nothing blocks uv rays better than pigments.

Choosing an exterior wood finish. To ensure desired appearance and proper drying time always finish a small test area before proceeding. If project requires more than 1 container blend all containers. Film finishes especially better quality ones that flex after curing best protect wood from moisture.

This includes both water borne and solvent borne semitransparent and opaque stains and clear water repellents. There are a variety of exterior wood finishes with different characteristics and properties. Check out our line of exterior wood finishes and stains. 1 1 this guide covers the selection and use of procedures for testing exterior wood stains and clear water repellents.

Dyes impart some color to the finish but do little to block uv rays. The properties that can be examined or in some cases the relevant test procedures are listed in 2 1 and 2 2. Natural and synthetic bristle brushes specifically designed for use with minwax wood finishing products. Shake and stir thoroughly before and during use.

In the june 2009 issue of fine woodworking magazine 205 tom begnal wrote an article called torture test for outdoor finishes where he described how he prepared sample boards from five different types of wood mahogany pine white oak ipe and cedar. An exterior oil finish is definitely the simplest quickest way to treat an outdoor project. Good exterior finishes protect the wood from these harsh conditions but will certainly fail unless they are renewed on a scheduled basis.