Exterior Varnish Recomendations

[Motown]

My brother built these doors for my shed. Their made of white oak. I want to stain and varnish them. I was looking at Cetol as a possiblility. But it seems to have mixed reviews. Anybody have recomendations a a good exterior varnish?

 

[ford33]

The doors look nice.

If you desire a clear finish after staining, a spar varnish is a good choice. It dries flexible so it expands and contracts with the wood movement and has some UV protection. It is used on wood boats. I have used it on my deck railings and it does well for a few years. After 3 years it will fade and yellow and will need another sanding and re-coat.

Helmsman is one brand available and the one i used. I prefer an exterior grade painted finish because it is longer lasting and requires less refinishing.

 

[Kaizen]

Sikkens or a marine epoxy. I’ve had sickkens last for five years. All of them eventually fail due to uv.


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[Jazz1]

Varathane I used 20 years ago on pine tongue in groove has not yellowed although it’s not really exposed to direct sunlight. Some products claim not to yellow.

 

[66HertzClone]

When we had the addition to our house done we had a custom made Mahogany double door made and this was the product that was recommended by both the manufacturer of the door and the local company that we had finish the door.

 

[Motown]

When we had the addition to our house done we had a custom made Mahogany double door made and this was the product that was recommended by both the manufacturer of the door and the local company that we had finish the door.

I've seen that product, how has it held up? Is it exposed to much sunlight?

 

[66HertzClone]

I've seen that product, how has it held up? Is it exposed to much sunlight?

We used it on the front doors and a man door on the garage end of the house, it gets full sun for about half the day. It looks no different now than the day it was installed. The gentleman who did the finish work told me this is the only varnish he uses on wooden exterior doors.

 

[Ainsley]

+1 on Epifanes, I use that on my canoe paddles. Seems to be the best UV inhibiting varnish, high solids content too.

 

[MushCreek]

White oak doesn't hold up well with just varnish. It will fail in a few years. The best I've seen is to saturate it really well with a marine epoxy, such as WEST system, THEN coat well with a quality marine polyurethane or varnish. The epoxy will adhere better to the oak; the marine poly will protect the epoxy from UV light.

 

[Jazz1]

White oak doesn't hold up well with just varnish. It will fail in a few years. The best I've seen is to saturate it really well with a marine epoxy, such as WEST system, THEN coat well with a quality marine polyurethane or varnish. The epoxy will adhere better to the oak; the marine poly will protect the epoxy from UV light.

Now this sounds like a winner!
Marine applications definitely the most durable.

 

[Motown]

Epihanes is pretty proud of their product. Its $50 a quart. I'll probably use it, but damn its expensive.

 

[6PTsocket]

White oak doesn't hold up well with just varnish. It will fail in a few years. The best I've seen is to saturate it really well with a marine epoxy, such as WEST system, THEN coat well with a quality marine polyurethane or varnish. The epoxy will adhere better to the oak; the marine poly will protect the epoxy from UV light.

I seem to recall an article on outdoor finishing and your idea of spar var over epoxy was deemed to be the best way to get a lasting finish.

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