The world’s best-loved and oldest building material is wood, cost-effective, attractive, and environmentally sustainable. People have been carving some of the most fantastic furniture, trim work, and cabinetry from wood for centuries, and it is one of the most durable materials to date.
However, wood requires proper protection in order to live for a longer period. Without adequate protection measures, most kinds of wood will result in swelling, rotting, or warping due to the increased exposure to moisture and humidity.
Fortunately, there are ways through which you can weatherproof your wood to make sure that it survives for long. If you are trying to find out such ways, this article is going to answer how to weatherproof wood.
Weatherproofing Materials
Before we get to the process of weatherproofing wood, let’s check out the three basic weatherproofing materials for wood. Though all these materials work well in general, each one has its own characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks.
Tree and Nut Oil
Oil wood finishes such as linseed, walnut oil, and Tung oil are highly beneficial in protecting the wood. Moreover, they provide a rich finish that makes sure that your wood always looks polished and clean. Generally, linseed oil is the most used oil for weatherproofing food because it is not expensive, available almost everywhere, and can be suitable for several types of wood.
Linseed oil can be bought in either boiled form or raw form. The raw form is used mainly for finishing wood countertops or any space in direct contact with food. This is because the boiled type of linseed oil is toxic. You can buy all the oils mentioned above in their pure form, or you can get the pre-blended versions.
Stains
Water or oil-based stains are used for finishing exterior wood as well as interior wood. There are many varieties of water and oil-based stains that you can use in different colors as well. However, the most used version of stains is the oil-based variant which is semi-transparent.
You can choose any of the types that works best as per the needs of your woods. Generally, you should consider lighter colors for indoor wood weatherproofing.
Sealants
When you need to finish previously weatherproofed wood, sealants or sealers are used. Before you apply the new layer of the sealants, you should make sure that you have removed the previously applied layer. Sealants can be used on decks, floors, and furniture.
Sealants can be classified as follows:
Polyurethane: used for light-colored types of wood. It is usually water-based.
Lacquer: primarily used on furniture and applied in a manner of several thin coats.
Varnish: used for finishing furniture and cleaned up with turpentine.
Ways to weatherproof your wood
Preparation plays a huge role in the process of weatherproofing wood. You prepare for weatherproofing wood just like you would for any other weatherproofing project because the process is somewhat the same. The method may differ with the change in waterproofing materials, but generally, the procedure followed is as discussed below.
Preparing the wood
Firstly, you have to prepare the surface of the wood by removing any imperfections that may be on it. For example, there may be rough spots or uneven areas on the wood that you can flatten out with rough sandpaper, scraper, or file. When the surface of the wood becomes smoother, it is easier for the weatherproofing agent to stick to the surface.
Once you have evened the surfaces, make sure to sand them with a fine-grit scrape. There are different choices for grits on sandpaper, but for smoothing out wood, a 220-grit sandpaper is a better choice than others. Notice the direction of the wood grain on the surface, and then sand in the same direction with the sandpaper.
An electric palm sander can also be used for most projects. Moreover, you can also use belt sanders or simply a block of wood and a strip of sandpaper. After evenly sanding out the wood, clean it with a cloth to ensure that the excess dirt is removed. You can also sand with fine steel wool if you want, as it makes the wood have a silkier surface.
Applying the material
The application process differentiates with every weatherproofing material. Let’s see how to apply all three types of material.
Oil waterproofing
The oil weatherproofing material is applied with a natural bristle paint brush or a cloth rag. When one layer is applied, you may need to wait for it until it is infused into the surface. After that, check for any dry spots and reapply the agent. After the first layer dries, you can clean the surface with a clean rag and sandpaper and apply the subsequent layers. You may keep applying layers until you get the look you want.
Stain waterproofing
Apply the stain weatherproofing material with the help of a paintbrush and let it dry for some time. Ensure that you apply the first layer evenly. When it dries, lightly clean it with the help of fine sandpaper. Then, a clean cloth. You can apply the second coat after cleaning. You can carry on with the same process until the wood feels as smooth as you want. With stain waterproofing, it may take days for the wood to dry.
Sealer weatherproofing
Clean the wood and remove all the finish that had been applied beforehand. Check for the instructions on the label of the sealer to see if it is better to use it with a spray or a brush. You should apply sealer weatherproofing at a moderate room temperature to avoid extremely fast drying after the first layer dries, clean, and then apply the subsequent layers, up to three.
Conclusion
Weatherproofing is one of the best ways to keep your wood intact and beautiful for longer. Moreover, it increases the durability of the wood, and it is an easy DIY process that can quickly be done without any prior experience. If you need to weatherproof wood, make sure to follow the method mentioned above, and you’ll end up with a fine and beautiful piece of wood for your use.