What Is Waterproofing Really?
Knowing how to waterproof wood can be important for many purposes. Yet much will depend on how waterproof you need the wood to be. Most concerns for people exist around home decks, siding, and other outdoor features.
Along with these can be other needs for furniture, outdoor sculptures, decor, and artwork. Waterproofing needs are not exclusive to outdoor purposes. Indoor needs exist as well especially with kitchen tools or covered areas which face humidity.
Where I will go next will detail some of the most common options people use, and one that is less thought of and not as common. The question becomes what method best suits your needs and purpose.
Basic Wood Waterproofing With Oils
Among the most common methods for waterproofing can be found in wood oils. While I prefer Tung Oil many enjoy using Linseed Oil. Why do these oils work in waterproofing and what are their limitations?
These oils penetrate the wood and form a barrier. This barrier is created by oxygen exposure to the oil which polymerizes the surface. Due to this the wood is technically waterproof yet it is limited in how effective it is.
The limitation comes from duration of exposure. It is perfectly fine to use Tung Oil for example in waterproofing indoor items such as cutting boards. As long as the item is dried and put up after use there will be no concern for damage.
Oils will also waterproof the wood well enough to prevent humidity from causing damage pending you meet a basic condition. This condition requires that you maintain the wood item reapplying the oil of choice as needed through time.
Where Oil Waterproofing Fails
Oil waterproofing of wood will fail where it is repeatedly or is constantly exposed to water for extended duration’s of time. Ultimately water will break through the polymerized surface and find an entry into the wood fibers.
Additionally sun exposure will aid in breaking down these oils rendering them far less effective. This is important to consider for outdoor wood features.
This is why it is better to hand wash wood spoons, bowls, cutting boards, or other common kitchen implements which these oils are used on. Once washed just dry and you are perfectly fine. These wood items should never be placed in a dish washer to be washed.
Stains And Sealers For Exterior Wood Waterproofing
Here is where we look at things such as decks or siding. These are the most common items people want to protect around the home. Allow me to explain what these stains and sealers are and how they work.
No matter the brand, and some are better than others, they all have the same basic idea. A stain and sealer will penetrate the wood depending upon how well you saturate the piece. This allows exposure from the atmosphere to aid in a chemical reaction that forms a barrier.
This barrier serves to act as the waterproofing for the wood. This is why when these products are applied the more that is used in multiple applications the better off you are. So pay attention to what the product recommends.
If it requires multiple coats it is for more than getting you to buy more material. How well it protects depends on how deep it can penetrate the wood and that chemical reaction forming a solid layer across the wood surface.
If one enjoys using wood chests you may wish to consider wood like Oak as the material. It is more resilient to moisture. With items like this matching species with the right wood oil will aid in your endeavor.
Where Stains And Sealers Fail In Waterproofing
If it were not for other elements which will impact your wood features these stains and sealers would last much longer. The greatest impact breaking down the protective barrier actually comes from sunlight and heat exposure.
Vertical walls as with siding will fare better than horizontal pieces such as decks. Aside from the ability of a wall to shed water more easily, it also will have more relief from sunlight as the sun moves through the sky.
UV light will break down this protective surface on the wood and begin to allow moisture to penetrate. Once the water is in the wood then heat and cold play a larger role in what can happen next.
Some wood features such as decks, benches, and some furniture, will require more periodic care from season to season. It can be common for people to allow a deck to go multiple years without reapplication of a waterproofing sealer. Twice a year is more beneficial for long term care.
Polyurethane For Waterproofing Wood
Of the waterproofing methods thus far polyurethane is the least effective on natural wood. Yet it can be quite common for some wood features such as front doors. There are different versions and grades of polyurethanes for these applications.
Despite these differences the general idea behind the concept is the same. A polyurethane provides protection from the surface rather than its penetration into the wood.
Indeed it will have some penetration, yet it is not comparable to a product such as deck sealer. Tung oil will penetrate wood far more effectively than polyurethane as well.
How this product works is simple. It penetrates but is a shallow penetration. The grain of the wood will raise as it dries. Sanding and further coating aids in smoothing and building a waterproofing layer on the surface of the wood.
Polyurethane is often used for the beauty of the wood while providing some protection. This is why it is so common indoors within homes.
Where Polyurethane Fails In Waterproofing
For indoor uses polyurethane is great for most things. Hardwood floors would be an exception to explore products that are special for that purpose. Outdoors is where poly begins to have serious issues.
Polyurethane is not designed to have constant or repetitive exposure to water. It is more water resistant than proofing. If left in standing water one will notice in a short time the impact on the wood surface.
Likewise sunlight breaks down polyurethane rather quickly. There are products which have UV protection added to them. These still do not compare to other products which are better designed for outdoor use.
If one uses this product on wood pieces such as furniture the key is to maintain the wood across time. Prevent persistent exposure to water and minimize direct exposure to the sun.
Epoxy Resin For Waterproofing Wood
Among the best waterproofing options available is epoxy resin. This is expensive and often used on smaller objects. Rarely would you see this product used on something larger than a table.
How this product works is essentially by encasing the wood with this resin. It hardens and becomes clear. The wood is essentially trapped beneath the surface.
As long as the epoxy resin is not compromised in some way then the wood is safe. I would strongly advise to research the product you are using and what impact UV light has on it. Not all of these products are equal.
Where the use of this product is exceptional can be seen when unique tables or other artistic features are produced. What would be damaged wood can be salvaged into special home items. These pieces are typically quite beautiful and unique.
Alternative wood hardeners can also be used for more general repair. While some can be used on art pieces there are specific brands dedicated for artistic purposes.
Downside To Epoxy Resin
When this product is used wood is no longer wood. I say this because visually the wood is there but by feel it is gone. When you touch the wood object the feel of the slick surface is from resin rather than the wood grain.
Does Paint Waterproof Wood?
Paint is very limited in its waterproofing. Rather I would call it making wood water resistant. It is not advisable to use paint on deck flooring but many will do this.
When it comes to vertical features such as walls or siding then paint is perfectly fine if properly maintained.
For exterior wood art features the key issue is color fading due to UV exposure from sunlight. Most sculptures that are wood typically are more of a natural finish or stains are applied. Yet these too can also suffer some color loss due to fading in time.
Hand Tools, Kitchen Utensils, Free Standing Wood Art
Tung Oil would be my first option for many of these items. Wood Art can be unique in how the artisan crafted the piece and may require more finesse. Yet with these pieces you would be surprised at how beautiful Tung Oil can make them.
The advantage to using this oil on hand implements such as tools and utensils comes back to tactile reasons. The feel of the wood item in the hand is more natural. There is less chance of slipping if it becomes wet and overall improved use with dexterity.
An additional benefit is found with this oil. It is food safe in addition to helping with waterproofing.
Wood paneling, Wood Wall Art, Indoor Furniture Pieces
Here various polyurethane finishes work best. The exposure to water is minimal and you gain a few other bonuses. With furniture and wood art the polyurethane does not alter the natural color of the wood like Tung Oil will.
This allows for greater aesthetic appeal across your wood items especially if they exist for decoration. Wood grains are allowed to appear more true to nature and some texture is maintained to tactile feel by touch.
Outdoor Furniture And Wood Fixtures
Stick to stains and sealers that are designed for outdoor uses. These will provide the greatest waterproofing for your wood without going into more exotic and expensive measures. Try to avoid placing indoor items in an outdoor space which can cause potential long term damage.
What Causes The Most Damage To Wood?
Damage to wood most commonly will come from UV exposure and moisture. When both are present at the same time it is a challenging endeavor to maintain your wood.
The best products to use for waterproofing should come with some kind of UV protection. If they do not have this then choose something else.
Of the two factors which cause damage, moisture is commonly the greater enemy unless an item is in constant direct sunlight.
One can use these common waterproofing methods then bury a plank of wood to later find it deteriorated into nothing.
It is for this reason that you should pay attention to application methods. If it requires multiple coats to provide a proper barrier then allow the wood to have what it needs. Cutting it short does not benefit you in the end.
How Heat And Cold Temperatures Impact Waterproofing
I have seen water get into a crack then freeze which resulted in concrete breaking. Wood is no different in how the elements can impact it over time. This is why I recommended earlier that exterior features be coated for protection at least twice a year.
After a winter as early spring comes is a good time to prepare the wood for the rains and the summer heat. In late fall it is a good time to once again prepare the wood for colder temperatures which will allow for sustained exposure and freezing.
Wood will expand and contract with these changing temperatures. In turn this will allow for micro cracks to form in the barrier which moisture can penetrate through over time. Visually it may not appear that the waterproofing is compromised yet looks can be deceiving.
The key areas to focus on for this continued maintenance will be any wood deck flooring or other horizontal pieces. These will face the greater brunt of elemental forces.
The Trick To Waterproofing Is In The Elements
The real trick to waterproofing is taking into consideration all the elements which the environment you live within will bring to you. Sunlight, heat, cold, moisture by humidity or sustained water exposure, each play a role.
There is no way to guarantee that a deck will last forever. In truth it is just a matter of time until something will need to be replaced. Yet there are other features which can be protected forever.
Indoor pieces will fare the best. The greatest enemy to wood art is sunlight as the impact is the same for other things like hardwood floors. UV films can be added to windows to aid in protecting the interior of your home.
Inside humidity should be kept in line with standards that are acceptable. If this is done then your wood items should become heirlooms for generations to come. This goes a long way to show what exposure to elements will do.