Protecting New Wood for Longevity
With summer in full swing, many people are investing in new wooden sheds, garden furniture, and other wooden structures to enhance their outdoor spaces. Wood brings a natural beauty and warmth to any setting, but it’s essential to ensure it’s properly protected so that it lasts for years to come.
In the following blog, we’ll provide a guide to help you safeguard your new, untreated wood and keep it in pristine condition.
First thing’s first: Be sure to choose the right type of wood for your needs
Each type of wood comes with its own unique characteristics and will require its own treatment regimen. Be sure to take this into consideration when selecting your timber. For example, oak and teak are known as hardwoods, so they’re naturally more durable and resistant to decay. This makes them excellent options for exterior use. Softwoods—such as cedar, pine, and spruce—are not as naturally durable but are more affordable and can be treated to extend their lifespan.
Next, seal and preserve your wood
Sealing your new timber is an essential step to shield it from moisture, UV rays, and general wear and tear. To seal your wood, begin by gently cleaning the wood with a specialised cleaner or a mild soap and water mixture. Once cleaned, lightly sand the timber to ensure a smooth surface and to open up the grain. Next, it’s time to seal. Use a high-quality wood preserver like Sadolin Wood Preserver. Sadolin Wood Preserver is designed for use on new and bare timber, and formulated to protect against wood-rotting fungi and wood-destroying insects. It is intended for use on exterior wood that is not in contact with the ground or surface water. After treating exterior timber with Sadolin Wood Preserver, it must be coated with an exterior wood stain or paint.
Stain or paint your wood
Paint and stain enhance new wood’s appearance and offer protection from the elements. What’s the different between a stain and a paint? Stains penetrate the wood, highlighting its natural grain while providing varying levels of colour and protection, from transparent to solid stains. Paint offers a more opaque finish and requires a primer and oftentimes a topcoat. Most paints will peel over time and will need periodic maintenance.
When it comes to stains, we recommend Sadolin Classic All Purpose Woodstain. Sadolin Classic All Purpose Woodstain is a versatile solution for both interior and exterior wood surfaces, providing a deep-penetrating, weather-resistant finish. Ideal for large areas like decking, fencing, cladding, and garden furniture, it also serves as an excellent basecoat for new doors and windows. For interior wood, it adds rich colour when followed by a protective topcoat of Sadolin Polyurethane Varnish or Floor Varnish.
If you’re interested in opaque timber protection, Sadolin Superdec is a great choice. Sadolin Superdec Satin is a water-borne, highly durable opaque finish for various surfaces, including wood, weathered plastic, steel, cladding, concrete, masonry, and exterior doors and windows. It naturally erodes by weathering to remain flexible and resist cracking, peeling, and flaking, making it ideal for new and previously painted or stained surfaces, especially when a complete colour change or improvement of a weathered appearance is needed. Use a blocking primer on very resinous timber to prevent discoloration, particularly with white and pale shades.
Ensure to regularly inspect and maintain wood, addressing any issues promptly
Proper timber maintenance requires regular inspections, cleanings, and the reapplication of treatments whenever needed. We recommend checking for damage every season in order to make sure issues are addressed as quickly as possible and don’t evolve into bigger problems. Repair signs of damage, such as cracks or mould, ASAP by sanding, filling, and treating as needed. Store wood, whenever possible, in a dry area. Ensure proper drainage and shield wood from physical damage by avoiding direct contact with materials that can erode the timber.
By following the steps above, you will significantly extend the life of your new wooden pieces, ensuring they remain beautiful and functional for years to come. For more tips on caring for your timber, call into your local Sadolin stockist or visit our blog!