Outdoor Cedar Finish

[schloff]

Hi guys and gals. I built a patio railing out of cedar a few years ago and finished it with spar urethane. That stuff works all right for a few months, but ends up flaking off and looking like crap.
I was thinking about changing gears and trying an oil finish after I sand the farnish off. This would be easier to reapply when needed (about every 4 months or so, I'm thinking) and not require sanding every 6 months as it is now.
I like the rich, red appearance of the cedar, and I'm not sure an oil would protect the wood from greying with the UV. We have some pretty brutal summers here in southern TN.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Thanks.

[Tom Slick]

I've used the oil deck finish from Sherwin Williams with great results on pine picnic tables. The wood will grey though.

[cabinetman]

You don't really need a finish. But an oil is better than a film. Try Penofin Red Label.

.

[Mr__Bill]

I have used FLOOD wood preservative with UV protection. Every year or so I just put another coat on after washing it. I have used it on fences railings decks and out door planters.

Bill

[steve-norrell]

The folks who built our cedar deck recommended the Penofin product. However, I can't comment on the Penofin because we used a Baer stain instead.

The long hours of sun light hours taken their toll and I wish we had taken the advice to use the Penofin. With 20 - 20 hindsight, I would recommend an oil that penetrates the wood rather than sits on top of it and rather quickly begins to peel off.

Regards, Steve

[jackellis]

We have cedar decks and the builder recommended we use Duckback Natural. We live at 6,000 feet where the effect of UV is magnified, on top of cold winters with lots of snow.

I have to do the decks every year and it's a pain, but this stuff does a good job of protecting the wood from UV and weather damage. The 8 year old deck at our rental house still looks pretty good in spite of the fact that I have not stayed on top of it as much as I should have.

As with all finishes, more pigment = more protection, while less pigment lets the wood show.

[parnelli]

You don't really need a finish. But an oil is better than a film. Try Penofin Red Label.

.

Third vote for the Penofin

[bigstick509]

Here is the 4th thumbs up and a related post.

About two years ago I built these two patio chairs and put Penofin red label finish on them. http://www.penofin.com/products_rl.shtml
It is time to refinish and I can't find any info on the process. I've cleaned them thoroughly with dirtex and now have them in this condition, chair on left is still wet.
I have searched Penofin's web site and can't find any info, my only two options at this point is to recoat or use a wood brightener and then recoat. Originally the finish color was about what the wet chair looks like in the picture. Any one have any experience with this product and or advice.
Chairs are made of 5/4 western red cedar.

[Warren]

There is nothing better on the market than the Penofin red label. Blue label, a bit cheaper, is fine unless the railing is in direst sunlight most of the day. The red label blocks 99% of UV, the blue 90%. It's the UV that destroys the integrity of paint and other coatings. Then the weather gets under the coating the peeling and rot start. The initial higher cost of the Penofin penetrating oil amortizes over a couple of years and ends up being cheaper than other deck stains, certainly cheaper over the long run than paint or solid color stains which need to be reapplied every year or so.

Two coats, pay attention to the time between coats, read the directions. Too much time is just as much a problem as too little time. Either one should look good for a few, not a couple, years. Ideally, apply the Penofin, or any other finish you decide, before erecting the deck. This way you get all six sides of the boards which slows water damage. I had one customer, a lady who lived in a remote area, tell me that her shed lasted eight years between coats of Penofin red. The explanation was that the shed was in the woods and pretty sheltered from direct sun.

Up here in Alaska, I recommended 2 coats initially and then one the next spring. Then sit back for four or five years (or more) and enjoy a beer on the deck as you watch your neighbors refinishing every year or two. We get a lot of UV all year round in south central Alaska. Even in winter where the UV is direct and reflected off the snow.

Try penofin.com, good info and you can check the color selection. Any dealer in your area should have small sample units which you can test out. I don't sell it any more, unempolyed by choice, but it really is the best thing available. If I still had my boat I'd forget the teak oil and spar varnish and use Penofin's marine oil. Sorry to sound like a shill, but of all the products I sold at my buddy's Ace store, the Penofin was one of the products I really like to sell.

My own preference is to let the deck itself age naturally and use Penofin on the railings, benches, storage boxes etc. I like the soft gray of weathered cedar. The wife is not such a fan. So . . . when I redo my 30 year old deck this summer the railings will be cedar and the deck itself will be, I hate getting old I can't remember the na . . . Trex! That's it. The deck floor will be Trex. Expensive but lasts a long time without having much attention payed to it.

[schloff]

Guys, the info ya'll gave was exactly what I needed. Thanks a million. I will get the red. Wonder how the marine differs from the red?

I will have to order online, no dealers in my area.

Thanks again. I will get in touch with them next week.

UPDATE: I won't wait till next week. I just ordered it from Amazon. I'm looking forward to getting it on the railing and seeing what it will do.

thanks again.

[Norm in Fujino]

I use Xyladecor on all our outdoor cedar (and PT wood as well). I think it is an excellent preservative finish. It's available from Boysen in the US, although I think the colors are more limited than we get here in Japan.

http://www.boysen.com.ph/products.do?item_id=937

[schloff]

Checking back in after a long weekend of scraping and sanding. I got the Penofin Red applied, and it looks just wat I was shooting for.
Thanks again.

It absorbed fast, and wicked the excess. it only took one coat, so I have a bunch left over. I reckon I need to get more cedar for some chairs?

Tip for anyone thinking about using this product. Keep lots of rags handy, you'll need them. The instructions call to wipe the excess after 30 minutes.

[cabinetman]

Looks real good. Are you planning another application?

.

[schloff]

I am planning at least one more application. I had to get this one on, as we are expecting some pretty decent rain this week. I'll get the second coat on when it clears up again.

I read that 2 should be adequate. Wondering if 3 coats would be overkill? I hate to overkill at $55 a gallon.

One more thing, what is the storage life in the original container for this stuff? I figure it'd be save for a while, being an oil.

[toolbelt diva]

Looks good. Did you go with a clear stain or colored one? Did you find out the storage life?