Woods serves a lot of purpose ranging from being used in wooden exteriors like gazebos, patios, fences, and decking to being used for furniture. There are so many things woods can be used for, but woods are known to suffer several outdoor elements and weather conditions when used outdoors. It is essential that you have the knowledge on how to treat untreated wood for outdoor use before you consider making use of wood for your outdoor projects.
Woods can be affected by excess sunlight and ultraviolet ray attacks when used outdoors, and all of these conditions are capable of causing wood to warp and get decayed. You will notice wood warping when you make use of an untreated wood outdoors, and the effect of weather on wood will cause wood to get decayed over time. It is very vital that wood is protected from outdoor weather conditions, excess sunlight, and ultraviolet light.
Making use of a wood sealer is the best way anyone can treat untreated wood before using them outdoors, and wood sealer will form a protective coating over wood to protect it from all forms of attack. This article is just for you if you have been searching for a way to treat untreated wood, but you have completely no idea on how to go about it. Every piece of information you need to know will be discussed in this article, just for you.
Is It Vital To Treat Untreated Woods Before Using Them Outdoors?
The importance of treating untreated woods before taking them outdoors for use cannot be overlooked, and it doesn’t matter whether you want to make use of them for patios, decks, sheds, and furniture. You are putting your wood in danger of getting easily damaged when you do not treat it before using it outdoors, and treatment of untreated woods is vital in protecting against water, sun, and other unwanted elements that attack wood.
Protecting wood against each and every of these elements guarantees preventing wood rot, causing woods to last longer on the long run.
How Long Does Untreated Wood Last?
The answer to this question is obvious considering how important it is to treat untreated wood before making use of them outdoors. If you do not treat untreated wood before using them outdoors, they will not last as long as treated woods last when used outdoors. Under same conditions, treated woods will last longer than untreated woods when used outdoors, because ultraviolet rays and weather factors have the power to damage untreated woods quickly.
It is possible for untreated woods to last as long as one to two years, but this is beneficial to you if you are working on a long term wooden project outdoors. This is why woods like timber are recommended when working on a long term wooden project outdoors, but make sure you treat your untreated wood before proceeding to using them on an outdoor project. They will not last long.
How To Treat Untreated Wood For Outdoor Use
The significant effect of not making use of treated woods when working on an outdoor project is the rotting and early damage it will pass through. This breaks down the durability of wood, and placing untreated wood under the sun causes the wood to decay sooner than expected. When you use untreated wood for fencing, you will notice that the lower section gets decayed quickly, and this is as a result of coming in direct contact with water.
Coming in direct contact with water from the soil will cause the wood to decay quickly, while sunlight and rainfall will damage untreated wood used for decking purposes. The only place you can use untreated wood and not feel too worried is in a well sheltered region where the wood is not exposed to sun, rain, or ultraviolet rays. Bearing all of these in mind, there are factors you should consider before making use of an untreated wood outdoors.
Factors To Consider Before Using Untreated Woods Outdoors
Project Type
The type of project you want to use a wood for should be carefully considered before you make use of untreated woods outdoors. It could be a short or long term project, but untreated wood when used outdoors are known not to last over two years. Treated woods will last longer than two years, which is why untreated woods are best suited for short term projects.
Lumber shouldn’t be used for big projects as they decay and rot faster under rain and water. The best wood for long term projects is a treated wood.
Type Of Wood
There are different woods you will come across when you want to work on an outdoor project, and the durability of these woods are not the same. There are woods with high resistivity to water, while others tend to soak in water and rot when they come in contact with water. When embarking on a backyard project like decks and fence, softwoods like redwood, spruce, cedar, and pine are recommended, because they are eco-friendly and less expensive.
Treating softwood will cause them to last for as long as ten years, but untreated woods will not last for more than two years. On the other hand, hardwood is best suited for long term projects, and we are referring to woods like maple, walnut, mahogany, and oak woods. The difference between these and softwoods is that hardwoods are not eco-friendly and they are on the expensive side.
The amazing aspect of using hardwoods for your outdoor projects is they will last for more than a decade and are weather resistant in nature.
Steps On Treating Untreated Wood For Outdoor Use
Step One – Creating A Hand Rubbed And Warm Oil Finish
You will need linseed or tung oil for this step, and these are the best oils you can use in creating a hand rubbed and warm oil finish. These oils have been in use for several years based on their ability to protect dark grained woods, and mixing these oils with other ingredients will provide you with the perfect solution you desire. Below are the steps involved when creating a hand rubbed, warm oil finish.
- Ingredients should be mixed and stirred thoroughly
- When applying mixture, a natural bristle paintbrush should be used
- The oil should be allowed to be absorbed into the surface of the wood, before reapplying on surfaces that look dry
- Residual oil should be wiped off using dry rags or towels
- Wood should be allowed to dry completely, and this might take overnight or few hours. How long it takes to dry will depend on the amount of mixture applied on the surface
- Sandpaper should be used gently in rubbing the surface of the wood
- Process should be repeated until the desired surface is obtained
Step Two – Using A Stain Or Sealant
Using a sealant or stain is another easy route to take when treating untreated woods, and you can trust a sealant to make your wood durable and weather resistant. This will cause your wood to last longer, and providing woods with a transparent finish is what applying a sealant is capable of. Using a stain or sealant will make the wood durable and weather resistant, but they require constant reapplication every few years.
Below are the key steps that will guide you when treating your untreated wood using stain or sealant.
- The first step is preparing the wood
- Preparing wooden surface can be done by sanding the surface of the wood, and a rough sandpaper is needed in handling the body of the wood. Fine sandpaper should be used in obtaining the perfect finish, and the surface should be rid of any excess sanding property
- Choose a sealant or stain
- There are several companies that produce different stains and sealants, but a high quality sealant or stain will guarantee premium results. The type of project and furniture being used might help in determining the type of sealant you want to use, and a marine wood sealant can be used if you want your wood to be resistant to ultraviolet ray, rainfall, and sunlight. It will make the wood extra durable.
- A product you can use with a paint sprayer can be used if you intend working on large pieces of wood, and using a paint sprayer speeds up the application process of the sealant or stain.
- Apply the sealant’s first coat
- Applying the sealant should be done using a brush or sprayer, and make sure all spaces are well coated to avoid having dry looking and untreated areas. You should allow it dry for four to ten hours, or any duration specified by the manufacturer
- Go ahead and sand the wood pieces
- Sanding should be done when the first coat get dried, because it will cause the next coat to stick firmly to the wood. Make sure a fine sandpaper is used, and residue should be wiped off before applying the next coat.
- The second and third coat should be applied
- Allow the wood to cure
- Curing might take as long as three to four days before you can make use of the wood
Conclusion – How To Treat Untreated Wood For Outdoor Use
Increasing the lifespan of wood is one of the benefits that comes with treating untreated woods before using them outdoors. It makes sure your wood doesn’t start rotting away after a short period of time, but you should follow manufacturer’s instructions and use high quality products if you are keen on obtaining the best possible result.
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