Clear Exterior Wood Finish?

[spence]

I'm putting pine log siding on a cabin in Western Montana and wonder if any of you have experience with sealers. 20 years ago I would have used Thompsons water seal but I imagine in this day and age there are better finishes available. Should I use one of the synthetic and water based premium finishes they use on log homes? Or is oil based stuff still the best?

[bkrahmer]

I work in a local lumber yard probably not far from you. We sell a product called Superdeck log oil. It's supposed to be pretty awesome.

[jrhode]

Around here we pretty much laugh at Thompson's. The only good thing about the product is their great marketing campaign. Everyone knows about Thompson's!

I haven't heard of Superdeck, so I can't comment on it. We use products by Sikkens, Cabot's, TWP. Sikkens is the premier around here. Very high quality, u-v protection, long lasting. They are oil based products. I don't think the water-based products have caught up to the the oil based products yet.

[spence]

Thanks for the replies. I found the Sikkens site. There are many different products there. I don't want a stain, just a clear satin finish to protect the wood.

http://www.nam.sikkens.com/product-category.cfm?product_category=exterior

They have a base coat/top coat system and a one coat system.


The superdeck has linseed oil in it which has a tendency to turn black after repeated wettings, but gives good protection. I read somewhere that linseed oil provides food for certain organisms and that's what turns it black. That is supposedly the advantage of synthetic oils.

[jrhode]

I would reccomend the Sikkens Cetol Log & Siding in Natural or Natural Light colors. The Natural Light is only slightly different than the color you'd get if you wet the wood with water. (but it'll protect it a lot better! :D )

[spence]

jrhode,
Thanks for the advice. Have you ever used the Cetol SRD?

[jrhode]

Yes, I use the SRD on deck floors. It's excellent for that. It doesn't form a film, though, so it really doesn't have much of a sheen. You had mentioned that you wanted a satin finish. The SRD would be basically a matte/flat finish. It's more like a penetrating stain in that sense.

The Log & Siding product is more like putting a exterior varnish on than a stain. It would last longer, but it is a two coat deal (more labor & material up front) whereas the SRD is a one coat. (less labor & material, possibly more maintenance?)

Put it this way - the L & S would be a more "formal" look, and the SRD would give a more "rustic" look, in my opinion.

Either one would be a good choice. It just depends on the look you're going for. The key to keeping exterior paint/stains nice is to repaint/stain before they go flake & chip (paint/varnish) or turn grey (stain).

[spence]

Thanks, jrhode, that's exactly the information I wanted. I think I'll go with the SRD. The contractor will not have to leave the scaffold up overnight to do the second coat. When I said "satin" I just meant not glossy. Rustic is more my style.

Sikkens SRD it will be.

[jrhode]

Great! Glad I could help. Good luck with your project!