Need help keeping wood surfaces in your home looking amazing year-round?
If you’re like most homeowners with decks, exterior furniture, and/or trim… you want them to look good. But the sun, rain, snow, and humidity take their toll on unprotected wood… and damage builds up fast if you don’t stay on top of it.
Here’s the problem:
Your outdoor wood surfaces can start showing signs of wear and tear in as little as 3-5 years if they’re not properly cared for. But with a little seasonal maintenance, those same surfaces can last for decades.
Protecting outdoor wood from the damaging effects of sun, rain, snow, and humidity isn’t hard. Nor does it have to be costly. Once you know what to do, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start wood care season early.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- The Importance of Seasonal Wood Care
- Prepping Wood Properly Before Finishing
- Spring/Summer Wood Care Tips
- Fall/Winter Wood Care Tips
- Selecting The Best Wood Finishes & Sealants
How to Protect Outdoor Wood Surfaces from Damage
Why Seasonal Wood Care is Important
Wood expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature.
Just like humans, wood needs to be protected from extreme weather when it’s out in the elements. UV rays from sunlight cause wood to fade, become gray in color, and lose its structural integrity. Although UV rays make up only 5% of sunlight, wood deteriorates quickest on the surface exposed to the sun.
Rain, snow, and humidity cause wood to swell and contract as the moisture levels change. Rot and mold set in if water regularly pools on the surface or makes its way into cracks.
With outdoor decks alone forecasted to grow 68% by 2025, understanding how to care for outdoor wood throughout the year is more important than ever.
Here’s something to consider…
While decks can be painted over and stripped of rotting wood surface, the average replacement cost is thousands. Maintaining your decks is substantially cheaper than replacing them.
How to Prep Wood Before Finishing
First things first. Wood needs to be prepped before applying any kind of stain, finish, or sealant. Neglecting this step is a rookie mistake that’ll haunt you later.
Begin by giving all exterior wood surfaces a good cleaning. Power wash decks to remove dirt, mildew, algae, and old finishes that are flaking off. Scrub furniture and trim with a wood cleaning solution and soft bristle brush.
Lightly sand the wood next. Believe it or not, sanding is what makes your stain or finish look great… Not the other way around.
Sanding wood opens up the grain so liquid can penetrate. And when it comes to sanding decks and other large flat surfaces, nothing saves time and effort like a flexible sanding belt. They flex around curves and corners without removing too much material. Top quality flexible sanding belts will scrub off damaged upper layer fibers while providing a smooth, clean surface to work with.
Hand sand furniture and trim with 80-120 grit sandpaper, followed by 150-220 grit for super smooth results.
Pro tip: Always sand with the grain, not against it. An easy way to spot amateur sanding jobs is visible sand scratches going against the wood grain.
Spring / Summer Exterior Wood Care Tips
Spring is the optimal time to clean and perform any necessary repairs to wood surfaces.
Look for:
- Damaged finishes
- Mildew or mold growth
- Warping, splits, and/or cracks
- Loose boards, fasteners, fittings
Once repairs are made, it’s time to defend your wood from those summer rays!
Sunlight can literally degrade outdoor wood surfaces in a matter of weeks if they’re not protected with UV inhibitors. All outdoor wood that receives direct sunlight should be treated with a UV-resistant stain/sealant.
Outdoor furniture benefits from boat/varnish specifically designed for marine applications. You know… the kind that’s guaranteed not to peel off your boat when you spray it on. Marine spar varnish and specialty outdoor furniture paints offer the very best protection from fading and sun damage.
High-traffic areas of decks wear down more quickly. Look for areas where deck boards show excessive wear due to heavy foot traffic. Depending on conditions, these areas may require a mid-season application of stain/sealant to even out appearance.
Speaking of boat finishes… Pro tip: move your outdoor furniture around once in a while.
Most people keep their patio furniture in the same place all season long. Only to flip it over and find one side of their deck faded much more than the other. Rotating your furniture a few times throughout the season helps prevent uneven fading on decks.
Fall / Winter Exterior Wood Care Tips
Heading into fall means preparing your wood surfaces for moisture build-up and wet seasons.
Thorough cleaning followed by a fresh coat of stain/sealant is the best defense for wood going into winter. Deck surfaces especially benefit from water-repellent preservatives. They provide solid waterproofing while allowing the wood to breathe without trapping moisture in wood fibers.
Tip: Decks attract lots of leaves and other debris during fall months. Be sure to clean your deck often to prevent buildup that traps moisture and encourages mold growth.
Deck maintenance:
- Clean leaves and debris
- Look for pooling water and correct drainage issues before it causes wood rot
- Apply a fresh water-repellent finish before the first freeze
Wood furniture is best protected from winter by bringing it indoors or covering it up. If that’s not possible, cover furniture with breathable furniture covers. They wick away moisture and prevent rain and snow from making contact with the wood surface.
Trim should also be checked along windows and door frames. Caulking should be intact with no cracks visible. Any gaps in caulk allow moisture to reach the wood behind the trim. Trimming should be replaced before it causes the wood behind it to rot.
Wood Finishes: Stains, Paints, Sealants, & More
Not all wood finishes are created equal. Knowing what products to use where will make your life easier.
Decking surfaces: Use semi-transparent wood stains whenever possible. They let the natural wood grain show through while still providing ample UV and water protection.
Outdoor furniture: Think penetrating oil stains. Tung oil and Danish oils penetrate deep into wood fibers while protecting against moisture damage and UV fading.
Exterior trim: Paint or solid deck stains provide the best protection from harsh elements. Just be sure they’re intended for exterior surfaces.
This is just a general rule of thumb… your local climate and weather will have the final say on how often to recoat. Decks typically require a new finish every 2-3 years. Furniture and high-exposure surfaces should be recoated yearly.
Conclusion
Seasonal wood maintenance is simple when you create a routine and stick to it.
Don’t forget: examine and clean wood surfaces at both the beginning and end of each season. Prepare surfaces by sanding before applying any finish or sealant. Use paint/stains that provide UV protection on surfaces exposed to direct sunlight. Lastly, make sure you’re using a water-repellent product before winter hits.
Wood is an amazing building material that lasts a very long time when taken care of properly. When left exposed to the elements with no protection, that same wood can fall apart in a short time. Don’t be that homeowner.
Taking pride in your home starts with preventative maintenance. Protecting your outdoor wood surfaces year-round is one of the best things you can do for your home.
