Exterior wood surfaces are exposed to a variety of harsh elements. Ultraviolet rays, rain, sleet and snow all contribute to damaging those surfaces. You have several choices when evaluating exterior wood coatings for siding and trim. Many choices will offer trade-offs with respect to translucency, frequency of maintenance, ease or difficulty of application, preparation required, and so forth. Some species will have specific coating requirements, especially dense hardwoods, and not all coatings are appropriate for all situations. The coatings listed below have all performed extremely well for us and our clients over the years, and each has it's own distinct features.


Please contact us for assistance in choosing the best product for your specific project. Our wood care specialists can help you protect your investment with expert advice and high quality products direct from the following wood coatings manufacturers:

One TIME	Natural Finish for Log Homes, Decks, Wood Siding, Docks, Exotic Hardwood, Timbers, Fencing, Shakes, and Garden Furniture. Long Lasting and Low maintenance.
Structures Wood Care	Satin Finish for Log Homes, Wood Siding, Timbers, Fencing and Garden Furniture, Entry Doors and Garage Doors.
Sikkens	Oil-Based Satin Finish for Log Homes, Wood Siding, Timbers, Garden Furniture, Entry Doors, Garage Doors
Waterlox	Hardwood Flooring, Exotic Hardwood Decking, Entry Doors and Garage Doors, Garden Furniture. Use when a clear finish is desired.

The overwhelming principle we want to impart is that wood loves water. Unsealed wood will absorb moisture any chance it gets. Unsealed saw cuts, and uncoated concealed wood leads to a legacy of costly maintenance that can be easily avoided if we follow 3 principles during construction:

1. All end grain (saw cuts) must be sealed with a water-proofer, wood sealer, or glue if we want to avoid unneeded moisture intrusion and deterioration. The cost of backside and end-grain sealing during construction is offset fivefold or more over the expected life of the structure.

2. We must use a coating that is flexible and breathable to insure that trapped moisture does not cause coating failure (See Spar Varnish).

3. Seek to choose a coating appropriate for the UV sunlight exposure given the particular species of wood, while considering client expectations and maintenance capabilities.

We feature cleaners, strippers, wood brighteners and all the tools necessary to make your deck and all the wood surfaces on your home look vibrant.

More about our Featured Coatings

One TIME Wood Protector on Log Home

Here are a few images from a recent project in Montana. Click images to enlarge.

The client is using One TIME Clove Brown/Golden Honey mix on a log home that was stripped of a failed Olympic Stain. Notice the "paint-like" look of the failed original stain.












Here is the home after stripping:














One TIME spray applied with a .521 Tip







.






Notice the natural, translucent look of the One TIME.

One TIME Wood Protector Review

I have personally used and tested One TIME Wood Protector for a few years now. We talk every week to many clients who have used One TIME Wood Protector for previous projects. We continue to get fantastic reports from clients across the country who have shared their results with us. I believe this is the best choice for "headache free" deck and log home care. One TIME Wood Protector is our product of choice for enduring beauty, and easy maintenance on exterior wood.

I have evaluated and tested many many deck and log care products both as a former contractor and as a technical coatings consultant. One TIME Wood Protector is the closest to "the perfect product" for most homeowners. The biggest frustration and an environmental disaster are the products that lead to eventual stripping and sanding. Most "acrylic stains" eventually fail, and build up color, but are very difficult to strip, yet they are continually sold. I just think the majority of acrylics being touted are one of the biggest problems with deck care, and log homes. I, like everyone else would love to find a good acrylic, but most manufacturers are just not there yet with the technology. We have found only one long-lasting translucent acrylic among all we have tested. The majority of acrylics available in the Warehouse and Depot type stores have led to many, many , many, many preventable failures among the clients we consult with across the country.

Most traditional oil based stains contain mildew-feeding linseed oil, and last only a year or two. Many products are highly advertised with false longevity claims. Frequent maintenance coats of most oil based stains generally lead to a darkening over time, and eventual stripping. Many deck and log care product reviews or comparisons rate products in a laboratory setting, and fail to consider the beauty of the wood, and real world circumstances. Most log home products we see advertised and endorsed carry false claims with respect to longevity. They fail to account for the frequent maintenance required.

Bottom line, I just think the One TIME does what it says: wood is protected from mildew and moisture for several years, and we can easily refresh color whenever we desire without ever stripping or even heavy chemical cleaning. I describe it as "non-problematic", unlike most other choices out there.

I hope this helps.

Doug

One TIME on Log Home
More about One TIME on Decks
Deck Care Blog
See One TIME on Wood
One TIME Wood Protector Reviews at PaintSource.net

Structures Nature One Review

The PaintSource team has been providing painting and wood care advice for over 20 years. During that time we have tested and evaluated most available wood coatings on the market. Many wood stains and coatings readily available demonstrate repeated failure and preventable maintenance. Our experience has shown that only a few select coatings offer the level of performance, beauty, and durability that we demand for our clients. One of those products is Structures Nature One.

Nature One is for our clients who choose a more finished satin sheen on the log. Nature One provides 1, 2, and 3 Coat Systems that address all the shortcomings of every other water based wood coating we have tested. Among the common problems with most acrylics is short-term durability leading to color buildup with frequent maintenance. Most Water based finishes dry quickly leading to irregular sheen and applicator marks. While Nature One dries quicker than the oils, it has adequate open time for easy application. Nature One seems to have the proper mix of natural oils, as it does darken and enhance the wood like an oil, but we get the benefit of water cleanup.

For log homes and wood siding, quicker dry time means we can also utilize limited scaffolding and ladders by leaving equipment in place and recoating in as little as 3 hours without having to break down equipment. We apply 2-3 coats in an area, and we are done in that section. This eliminates 2 extra setups and breakdowns. We love the quick curing nature of the product for this reason.

The translucent clarity of the Nature One is really what makes it a top choice for us among film-forming coatings. This coating is as translucent as any we have tested. Most water based coatings appear cloudy. Natural color and beauty easily shows through and is enhanced by the transoxide pigment in Nature One.

Nature One provides enduring beauty for our clients. We are getting a couple of extra years beyond the typical 3 years of the other alkyd coatings tested. We are seeing 4-5 year durability on south and west facing exposures with a 3 coat system of Nature One. The clear Renew is a great part of the system as well. Many commonly available satin coatings lead to color buildup with repeated maintenance. The Structures renew allows us to easily rejuvenate the harsh exposures every few years, keeping the finish looking practically new for years. We always recommend annual visual inspections for wood structures to identify the best maintenance program for each client.

Another great thing we like about the Structures Nature One is that we can apply it as a maintenance coating over existing satin alkyd finishes that have deteriorated or weathered. We have consulted with hundreds of clients who are frustrated with the required maintenance and solvent exposure of many existing oil base coatings. Switching to maintenance with the water-cleanup Nature One helps us reduce solvent exposure and is our product of choice for most wood care projects where the client desires a satin translucent coating.

We are glad to discuss our experience with Structures Wood Care or any of the other wood care products we feature at PaintSource.net. Our body of information is the result of our diverse experience in the wood care industry. We are not obligated to the manufacturers of any of the products we discuss. We simply share with clients our experience and strong opinion about better solutions available for wood care. Structures Nature One is one of those solutions.

Doug Wilson
Lexington, KY

PaintSource.net

Exterior Wood Care

Semi-transparent and Translucent Coatings

Exterior wood surfaces are exposed to a variety of harsh elements. Ultraviolet rays, rain, sleet and snow all contribute to damaging those surfaces. You have several choices when evaluating exterior wood coatings for siding and trim. Many choices will offer trade-offs with respect to translucency, frequency of maintenance, ease or difficulty of application, preparation required, and so forth. Some species will have specific coating requirements, especially dense hardwoods, and not all coatings are appropriate for all situations. The coatings listed below have all performed extremely well for us and our clients over the years, and each has it's own distinct features. Our wood care specialists can help with expert advice and high quality products direct from the following wood coatings manufacturers:

Structures Wood Care offers a Water-borne Satin Finish for Log Homes, Wood Siding, Timbers, Fencing and Garden Furniture, Entry Doors and Garage Doors.

One TIME is a Natural Finish for Log Homes, Decks, Wood Siding, Docks, Timbers, Fencing, Shakes, and Garden Furniture.

Sikkens carries Oil-Based Satin Finish for Log Homes, Wood Siding, Timbers, Garden Furniture, Entry Doors, Garage Doors

Waterlox is used for Hardwood Flooring & Decking, Exotic Hardwood, Entry Doors and Garage Doors, Garden Furniture. Use when a clear finish is desired.

The overwhelming principle we want to impart is that wood loves water. Unsealed wood will absorb moisture any chance it gets. Unsealed saw cuts, and uncoated concealed wood leads to a legacy of costly maintenance that can be easily avoided if we follow 3 principles during construction:

1. All end grain (saw cuts) must be sealed with a water-proofer, wood sealer, or glue if we want to avoid unneeded moisture intrusion and deterioration. The cost of backside and end-grain sealing during construction is offset fivefold or more over the expected life of the structure.

2. We must use a coating that is flexible and breathable to insure that trapped moisture does not cause coating failure (See Spar Varnish).

3. Seek to choose a coating appropriate for the UV sunlight exposure given the particular species of wood, while considering client expectations and maintenance capabilities.

Go to Log and Siding Products

Go to Deck Care

Stains and Finishes for Exterior Wood

Exterior wood care requires first the knowledge that a maintenance program is required regardless of your coating choice. Maintenance does not consist of simply reapplying coating to the house every 1-3 years. Many clients face conflicting information, and unmet expectations with respect to the various wood care choices. Basically, the more translucent or “ natural” the coating is, the more frequent the maintenance cycle when compared to more opaque or heavily pigmented products. Wood coatings manufacturers rely on a variety of ingredients to create their products. Many times, products sacrifice one benefit at the expense of another. A product that has all the elements of a premium product (appearance, UV resistance, moisture resistance, ease of application, and simplicity of use) will appear costly at first when evaluated only on a per gallon cost, or on the basis of the initial cost of the complete coating system.

Regarding the common problem with blackening and mildew, it is usually a combination problem. Many heavily advertised and available wood care products rely heavily on a linseed oil base, with inexpensive pigments and waxes, as do most of the products available at the “Big Box Stores”. While the linseed gives short term richening and waterproofing of the wood, that protection is short lived. Once the coating fails to repel moisture, a couple of things occur. First, the wood begins to hold moisture on the surface, and combined with the linseed base, you have a surface that is highly conducive to mildew growth. Further moisture intruding and exiting can “bleed” extractive from darker woods causing varying degrees of staining. This moisture transfer, combined with the breakdown of inexpensive pigments leads to UV degradation, that causes the coating to release from the surface, and also causes further organic growth on the surface of the wood in a continually accelerating cycle of deterioration.

The products featured at LogCare.net and PaintSource.net combine all the elements proven for premium protection and enduring beauty for various wood care projects. Coatings choices represent our research, testing, and continual evaluation of available wood care products.

Some choices are “rustic” or “natural” looking, while others are more “finished” or “varnished” looking. Some choices are oil-based, some are water-based, and one is neither water or oil. Each of these choices offers distinct advantages, performance capabilities, application ease or difficulty, and maintenance frequency. Your coating
choice should be made after evaluating your expectations, existing surface conditions, and desired appearance. We will be happy to assist you in making that choice.

One great coating choice if you desire simple natural looking wood protection with extended maintenance cycles is OneTIME Wood Protector. One Time is not shiny, is easy to apply , and gives you good color retention for 3-4 years on SW exposure (much longer on NE), and 7 years protection against organic growth on the wood surface. The One TIME has various advantages with some trade offs when compared to the Sikkens or Structures.

One TIME can be applied only to bare new wood, or to stripped wood. Any previously applied product should be chemically (or cob blast) stripped prior to the application of One TIME. One TIME represents probably the longest lasting, least costly option for exterior wood care.

Still, some clients prefer the look of a more finished surface with a satin sheen. For those clients, the following represent our coatings of choice.

Sikkens Cetol (see-through) refers to their “translucent line of coatings and stains, and there are three distinct products for logs and wood siding within the Cetol line. Cetol 1/23 , and Cetol Log & Siding. These choices offer various performance, application, appearance (degree of sheen),and maintenance variables that should be evaluated based on your specific project requirements. Sikkens products have exhibited excellent performance for our clients. Most surfaces require sanding for the use of Sikkens Wood Coatings.

If you desire the finished satin look of the Sikkens Cetol 1/23, or Log & Siding, but want a waterborne formulation, we would certainly consider Structures Nature One for mildew prone environments. See a recent Structures project here. Nature One is our product of choice when a translucent satin finish is desired by our client. Many clients convert to the waterborne technology of Nature One for maintenance on an existing Oil based or Alkyd Finish.

Again, all three choices offer a variety of performance, appearance, and maintenance characteristics. All represent premium choices that outperform most products available. All use expensive Transoxide pigments giving the most natural looking, longest lasting UV protection possible in each coating category.

I hope this information is helpful.

Doug Wilson
About PaintSource

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