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What Finish Should You Use on Outdoor Wood Furniture?

The Best Finish for Outdoor Wood Furniture

Summer is the time to break out the patio furniture and enjoy the warm weather! But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of time and money re-finishing your outdoor furniture every year. So what’s the best way to protect your investment and keep your furniture looking good for years to come? The answer is simple: use a durable finish that will stand up to the elements. Here are three great options to consider.

Option 1: Polyurethane

Polyurethane is a clear, synthetic resin that dries to a hard, glossy finish. It’s commonly used on indoor wood surfaces like floors and countertops, but it can also be used outdoors. Polyurethane is highly resistant to water, heat, and abrasion, making it an ideal choice for protecting outdoor furniture. And because it dries clear, it won’t change the appearance of your furniture.

Option 2: Varnish

Varnish is a clear or amber-colored resin made from plant sources like tree sap or linseed oil. Like polyurethane, it dries to a hard, glossy finish that protects against water damage, heat damage, and abrasion. However, varnish can yellow over time when exposed to sunlight, so it’s important to choose a product that has UV protection built in.

Option 3: Oil-Based Paint

If you’re looking for a finish that will give your furniture a bit of color, oil-based paint is a great option. It’s durable and long-lasting, and it can be applied in any color you choose. Just keep in mind that oil-based paint can take up to 24 hours to dry completely, so you’ll need to plan ahead if you decide to go this route.

When it comes to protecting your outdoor wood furniture, you have a few different options to choose from. Polyurethane, varnish, and oil-based paint are all durable finishes that will stand up to the elements and keep your furniture looking good for years to come. So what’s the best option for you? That depends on your personal preferences and the look you’re going for. But one thing’s for sure—with any of these finishes, your furniture will be protected from the summer sun, rain, and wear and tear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What finish should you use on outdoor wood furniture? An epoxy sealer with an exterior varnish topcoat is the most durable outdoor finish and can last for many, many years.

What is best to coat outdoor furniture? 

What is the best clear finish for outdoor wood furniture? Marine spar varnish is the best type for outdoor use. Its key ingredients are linseed oil (pressed from flax seeds) and alkyd resin (made by reacting linseed oil with alcohol and acid). The film is flexible enough to move with wood as it shrinks and swells with shifts in humidity.

Which is better for outdoor furniture varnish or polyurethane? Because of the higher ratio of solids, varnish is less susceptible to ultraviolet light damage. This protection makes varnish an excellent choice for projects such as outside decks and exterior furniture. This finish gives a more tinted color when applied and requires more coats than polyurethane.

What finish should you use on outdoor wood furniture? – Additional Questions

What lasts longer varnish or polyurethane?

Varnish is less durable but it is more versatile and flexible. It is more durable on outdoor furniture than polyurethane because of its UV damage protection and water-resistance.

Will polyurethane hold up outdoors?

Can You Use Polyurethane Inside or Outside? Most exterior polys can be used indoors, but interior polys should never be used outdoors; they lack the additives that protect exterior finishes from UV rays.

What is the best outdoor wood sealer?

There is more to find out about selecting an outdoor wood sealer below.
  • BEST OVERALL: Seal-Once Nano+Poly Penetrating Wood Sealer.
  • BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Rain Guard Water Sealer.
  • BEST OIL-BASED: Ready Seal Exterior Stain and Sealer.
  • BEST WATER-BASED: Thompson’s WaterSeal Advanced Natural Wood Protector.

What type of polyurethane is best for outdoor furniture?

  1. Minwax Helmsman Indoor/Outdoor Spar Urethane – Best Polyurethane for Exterior Wood.
  2. RUST-OLEUM Ultimate Oil-Based Spar Urethane – Top Poly for The Money.
  3. RUST-OLEUM Ultimate Water-Based Spar Urethane – The Watery Cousin.
  4. ZAR Exterior Oil-Based Polyurethane – Rich Shine Exterior Urethane.

What’s the difference between polyurethane and varnish?

Polyurethane is a water- or oil-based plastic resin used for coating wood or as a wood finish. Varnish is an older type of finish made from resins, oils, and solvents, but very often, the term “varnish” is misused as a generic name for all types of wood finishing.

Which polyurethane is best for outdoor use?

Best Exterior Polyurethane
  • RUST-OLEUM Ultimate Oil-Based Spar Urethane – Editor’s Pick.
  • Minwax Helmsman Indoor/Outdoor Spar – Best Exterior Poly for Small Projects.
  • RUST-OLEUM Ultimate Water-Based Spar – Best Exterior Water-based Polyurethane.
  • Deft Water-Based Polyurethane Finish – Best Interior/Exterior polyurethane.

How long does polyurethane last on wood outside?

How Long Does Exterior Polyurethane Last? You have to apply three to five poly coats to your wood for perfect UV protection and resilience against outdoor environments. It will last up to 12 months with the desired performance.

What happens if you don’t sand between coats of polyurethane?

For some types of poly, nothing happens if you don’t sand between coats of polyurethane. However, most polyurethane will not adhere properly if you skip sanding dust nibs and brush marks on the finish. The polyurethane finish will eventually peel off or become deformed.

What’s the difference between urethane and polyurethane?

Urethane is flexible and malleable, making it ideal for objects that have different shapes and forms, and it is used in liquid form. Polyurethane, on the other hand, is stiff and rigid and is ideal for firmer items, with many advantages over natural rubber.

What is stronger urethane or polyurethane?

There is no difference between the terms urethane and polyurethane.

Is urethane stronger than polyurethane?

On the other hand, polyurethane is a harder coating that can withstand some wood movement, but it’s not as flexible as spar urethane. The flexibility of spar urethane makes it a fantastic choice for exterior projects that experience a lot of wood movement caused by extreme humidity and temperature swings.

Should I use Polycrylic or polyurethane?

The formula has an acrylic base; polyurethane is added for better adhesion and durability. Polycrylic is not as durable as polyurethane and is meant to be used only on interior surfaces such as cabinets, furniture, and trim.

Is water-based polyurethane better than Polycrylic?

Polycrylic is far less dangerous and toxic.

As mentioned earlier, it also has a high VOC count that can irritate your lungs, meaning you’ll need to wear respiratory protection while applying it (although water-based polyurethane is far less potent than the oil-based version).

What is the hardest polyurethane finish?

Moisture-cured urethane is considered one of the hardest finishes available, but also has one of the highest VOC’s. Because it dries so fast, it’s difficult to apply, so it’s not recommended for DIY’ers.

Does polyurethane turn yellow?

Oil based polyurethanes turn the floors yellow…and over time, they become more yellow…and sometimes even a bit orangish. It’s the UV rays from the sun that turn them a darker yellow or amber and the more they are exposed over time, the yellower they get.

What clear coat will not yellow?

The best non-yellowing clear coat is Minwax’s Polycrylic. It’s easy to use, dries within a few hours, can be applied multiple times within 24 hours, dries completely clear, and doesn’t yellow over time. It comes in a variety of sheens, including satin, semi-gloss, and gloss.

What is the downside of oil based polyurethane?

Cons of Oil-Based Polyurethane

Longer dry times. Dents easier due to it softer finish. The odor is unbearable (respirator use is recommended). The floor darkens over time.

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