How To Waterproof Wood Furniture For Outdoors
Watching the stars at night or the moving clouds during the daytime gives a relaxing mood to us. But when the rain suddenly pours, it ruins the atmosphere as well as your furniture outside! We can’t just let that happen because we spent money on those. But how to waterproof wood furniture for outdoors? Learn how by reading till the end.
What Would Happen if We Don’t Waterproof Our Furniture?
Water is an omnibus solvent. So imagine your furniture being showered on a rainy day. They will go wasted if not properly taken care of. Not to mention if your furniture is made out of wood! If you have this type of furniture, the worst thing that could happen if you failed to waterproof it is the rotting. Wood furniture should not be exposed to humid and moist. If they catch it, they will start to puff, weaken, then rot. So before this thing happens, you must do the precautionary measures. It is important to know how to waterproof wood furniture for outdoors to save your lovely furniture! So if you want to save them, follow the steps below.
How to Waterproof Wood Furniture for Outdoors:
Choose the Right Type of Wood for Your Furniture
When you choose the kind of furniture for outdoor, make sure that it’s made up of nice wood. This will give you less stress on how to weatherproof wood furniture. They may be pricey, but they will surely last longer even if exposed to moist and humid. Below are your best options of wood type if you’re planning to use it outdoor:
- Cypress
- Acacia
- Cedar
- Ipe
- Eucalyptus
- Mahogany
- Shorea
- White oak
- Black locust
- Teak
- Redwood
Use Wood Filler
The first step on how to waterproof wood furniture for outdoors is by using wood fillers. None of us would want to replace a wood furniture yearly just because we fail in waterproofing them. Luckily, we can fight back by using wood filler in our furniture. If you will use wood fillers on your slightly damaged furniture, it can help it making it look brand new. The slight to medium worst damage in your furniture can be restored. You can also use this when filling, sealing, and coating your wood furniture so the water won’t go inside the holes and cracks. If you notice some discoloration on your furniture, wood filler can make it look better. There are two types of wood filler that you can use:
Water-Based
Most people wonder if it would dry out or melt if exposed to water. That is why you may be hesitant to use this. Truth is, they stick well on the surface of the wood. Unlike the solvent-based, you’ll find it very easy to clean. They are ideal for D-I-Ys, so you can use this without the help of a professional.
Solvent-Based
This is what our industry mainly uses on wood. You may notice that most professionals use this. That’s because they are dependable. Although they dry quickly inside their cans, they are a good sealant and filler on wood cracks and holes.
Sand It
In waterproofing outdoor wood furniture, after sealing the cracks and holes, you need to sand it to even out the lumps. Sanding will help you achieve a fine finish on your furniture by rubbing off the excess sealant. It will also help the coat to stick well on its surface. So make sure that you’ll be using a quality sandpaper to get a smoother surface.
Apply the Coating
What are the finishing touches on how to waterproof wood furniture for outdoors? You’re almost done in the process. After sanding it, make sure to have a face mask because the next step requires spraying or painting. This type you can use either varnish, lacquer, or polyurethane to coat your furniture.
Use Waterproofing Spray
So how to waterproof wood furniture for outdoors? Use a waterproofing spray. You can skip those steps if you bought a readymade furniture. But if you chose to have a customized furniture, this too will help. It can add color and beauty to your furniture while resisting liquid. You can buy this on hardware or online. You don’t need to be a professional to apply this. All you need to do is spray all around your furniture and let it dry. When it completely dries, your furniture is ready to use rain or shine.
Conclusion
We need to set furniture outside of our house when we’re hosting parties or simple get together. But the weather can be too killjoy sometimes. It will either give us a toasting heat or a flooding rain. The fact that we have furniture outside is alarming. We didn’t just get them somewhere, of course. We bought them with money, so that’s a big reason for us to do something to protect them.
One of the best methods that we can do is by waterproofing them. So now that you already know-how to waterproof wood furniture for outdoors, they are ready to use rain or shine. Nothing can stop you now from your outdoor siesta or parties because you don’t need rush on putting them inside if it rains! Find out more about wood furniture care.
