Finishes for wood
CLEAR CEDAR DECK FINISH
Q How can I choose a good clear finish for a new cedar deck? I’d like the wood to remain looking natural.
A The thing about deck finishes is that there’s always an inevitable trade-off depending on what you choose. All else being equal, the more clear the finishing product is, the shorter time that finish will last before renewal is necessary. The more opaque a finish is, the better able it is to resist breakdown from sunlight. The longest lasting deck finishes look just like paint.
Fresh cedar is light and bright and beautiful, and many owners of new decks want to keep new cedar exactly the same. I can understand this. The thing is, it takes annual maintenance and reapplication with a completely clear product to keep that new look. The sun and rain have an ongoing campaign on the go to make all outdoor wood look like barnboard as soon as possible.
Most of the questions I get from homeowners at this time of year have to do with decks, so I’ve put together a web page that outlines all the finishing products and strategies that I know work well. I began testing deck finishes back in 1990, and you can get the up-to-date results of this testing for free at baileylineroad.com/ how-to-stain-deck-properly
YELLOWISH WOOD FINISH BLUES
Q What can I do when polyurethane makes wood go yellow?
A Short of stripping, sanding and recoating, there’s nothing that can be done to make urethane on wood more clear after it has developed a yellowish hue. Oilbased urethanes have always been prone to yellowing, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A yellowish hue can give wood a nice, warm antique look. But then again, that’s not always what you want depending on the style of furniture you have in your home. Sometimes crystal clear is what you want. Waterbased urethanes are different than oil-based in that they don’t go yellow very much or not at all. The only problem is that stripping, sanding and recoating an existing finish can be too much work to be worthwhile. It really depends on the surface you’re dealing with and how badly you want to get rid of the yellow.
FINISHING A WOODEN BATHROOM VANITY
Q What kind of finish should I apply to the morado wood on the new front of my bathroom vanity? I’m thinking of some kind of oil that gives a satin finish. A Morado is a hard, tropical wood similar to rosewood, and given the density and natural oiliness of morado, I’d definitely go with some kind of wipe-on finish. The thing is, exactly how successful a finish turns out depends on a lot of factors, including your own ideas of what looks good.
I’d start by getting scraps of morado from the cabinetmaker who did your makeover. Sand these smooth just like your vanity, then experiment with different finishes. The easiest and most foolproof oil-type finish I know of is Minwax Wipe On Poly. Technically speaking, it’s not an oil, but it’s applied just like an oil. Brush some on the surface, let it soak in for a few minutes, then wipe off everything you can with a rag. Let the surface dry, then repeat the process three or four times. Wipe On Poly comes in a satin sheen formulation, so you’ll get the look you’re after. With your sample complete, see how the surface resists water and scratching. If all looks good, you can proceed with confidence on your vanity. If results of the Wipe On Poly sample don’t suit you, then try polymerized tung oil. It’s thicker and takes a little longer to dry, but it’s also one of my favourites.