Timber Post and Beam Entrance Maintenance

[zmotorsports]

Fellow garagejournal members. My wife and I are in the beginning stages of purchasing our new to us home. The front porch/entrance has a post and beam style arched timber design. There is also a matching piece of wood near the bottom of the window of the bonus room over the garage.

This is quite similar to the one on the home we are buying, less the rock at the bottom of the columns. The columns go from the concrete porch landing to the roof where they are arched.

I am out of my element as far as maintenance of these types of components. One house that we looked at had a similar arched design but the columns and arch were stucco and not exposed wood.

Can you guys inform me as to the best way to treat and/or maintain these wood features? As much as it pains me to say this, the home is only 3 years old and the current owners have done nothing as far as preventive maintenance so the wood appears a bit dry. Nothing is rotted or deteriorated by any means I just want them looking beautiful again and I don't know how to get them there, whether it be staining to bring out the natural wood grain or painting and filling in the grain. The brick is quite a bit darker than the one I pictured above and the front door is also dark wood but I don't necessarily want to match the front door. I have always liked the front doors of homes to stand out or contrast somewhat to the brick/rock/stucco of the home.

If you could give me some pointers on how to treat them and have them be as maintenance free as possible I would greatly appreciate it. One of my co-workers recommended having them done in stucco when I am having my detached garage built but I am not certain that is the best alternative. If I can get away with an annual type of maintenance somehow I would very much appreciate it.

Thanks guys.

Mike.

 

[zmotorsports]

Actually I was able to copy and paste the front of the house that we are purchasing. It may be hard to see but the wood is similar in size and shape to the one I posted in the post above.

Mike.

 

[beakie]

knowing the kind of wood would help.

could you find out what the previous owners have done/used?
if they used oil based, it could cause anything water based not to penetrate well.
or maybe it's been left to age untreated, in which case you have lots of options.

 

[kbs2244]

This is the kind of thing where local knowledge prevails.
Local knowledge of weather, wind, and sun exposure due to where the house faces will all come into play.
Find a well recommended outside painter, or at the least, a good paint store.

 

[Ed Devinney]

We just sold an old log cabin that's had exposed wood for many of its 200 years, 20 in our care. We didn't use a product on the wood, which was OK with the rough finish on that house. You'll definitely want a finish on the wood you're getting into. 2nd on gathering local knowledge.

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks everyone. I am meeting with my contractor tomorrow who is building my garage so I will consult with him. I just thought I would throw the question up here as there seems to be many who work with wood. I don't. No pun intended.

Mike.

 

[egdede]

I see 3 garage doors...and you get to build a garage!!!!

 

[MeanGreenZ71]

Subscribed. I am looking to add some decorative wood like this to my shop build. I am interested in what you find out for products and care.

 

[My Old Tools]

Looks like it has an opaque or semi-transparent stain on it. Look at deck stains and sealers. Paint holds up best, but it doesn't look as good on rough sawn wood to me. If it is finish planed lumber, paint to match the trim.

 

[zmotorsports]

I see 3 garage doors...and you get to build a garage!!!!

Correct. There is a three bay garage on the house with the farthest bay on the right full depth, if memory serves it measures 12' wide by 45' deep. I will then be building a 50' deep by 60' wide detached garage in the back yard which will hopefully be commencing as soon as we take ownership, weather permitting.

Mike.

 

[zmotorsports]

Looks like it has an opaque or semi-transparent stain on it. Look at deck stains and sealers. Paint holds up best, but it doesn't look as good on rough sawn wood to me. If it is finish planed lumber, paint to match the trim.

Thanks. It still has quite a deep grain visible so it isn't paint and I assumed it was a stain. I also have heard wood absorbs most of it's first application of anything very quickly so I am assuming they stained it once when the house was built and the current owners have done nothing since. It was built only three years ago (2013) so if I apply another good coat of stain, what can I expect a coat of stain to last? Are we talking staining every year, every other year? Is there something else that would look nice but be more maintenance free?

Thanks everyone.

Mike.

 

[rcass]

we have solid cedar beams for our entrance and used rymar extreme weather stain/sealer. It is excellent and should last several (they say 10) years. Sold at SW.

 

[My Old Tools]

Thanks. It still has quite a deep grain visible so it isn't paint and I assumed it was a stain. I also have heard wood absorbs most of it's first application of anything very quickly so I am assuming they stained it once when the house was built and the current owners have done nothing since. It was built only three years ago (2013) so if I apply another good coat of stain, what can I expect a coat of stain to last? Are we talking staining every year, every other year? Is there something else that would look nice but be more maintenance free?

Thanks everyone.

Mike.

If it gets west sun, you might get 2 years. Sun really eats finishes. We have some west facing dormers in cedar. They need restaining two or three times as often as the others.

 

[zmotorsports]

we have solid cedar beams for our entrance and used rymar extreme weather stain/sealer. It is excellent and should last several (they say 10) years. Sold at SW.

If it gets west sun, you might get 2 years. Sun really eats finishes. We have some west facing dormers in cedar. They need restaining two or three times as often as the others.

Thanks guys. Our new home faces North so I think once I get the wood treated and brought back to life it will last a few years between treatments at least. The deck in the back yard (south) may need a bit more attention like possibly every other year.

I spoke to my contractor friend today and he recommended a product called TWP (Total Wood Preservative). He said he has built a couple of those wood pergolas and treated them and they have lasted four to five years between treatments.

Mike.