A Complete Guide To Using Exterior Oil For Your Wood
Wood is a natural material used extensively in construction and home furnishings. As a highly porous material, wood is susceptible to water damage. For this reason, wood needs to be treated differently from other materials like metal or concrete to ensure it is well-protected and lasts a long time.
Keep reading to learn more about how to treat your timber with wood oil.
Wood Treatments
Wood can be treated with a variety of different substances to add a level of protection or style to wood features.
Wood Paint - Wood paint offers an opaque finish to wood that offers total coverage of the wood grain.
Wood Stain - Wood stain is a semi-transparent paint that changes the colour of the wood. Colourants are suspended in a chemical or solvent to allow them to penetrate the wood more deeply.
Wood Varnish - Wood varnish is a colourless substance that seals the wood, creating a protective barrier without changing the appearance of the wood.
Wood Oil - Wood oil creates a protective and water-repellent finish that conditions the wood and improves its natural quality.
The Benefits Of Wood Oil
Aside from enhancing the natural grain of wood and delivering a satin and smooth appearance, wood oils have many long-term protection benefits. After timber is cut down, the naturally occurring wood oils diminish over time. Replenishing timber with wood oil provides deep-level protection against damage and degradation.
Wear and Tear
With continued use, wood is subject to wear and tear and can become scratched or suffer imperfections. Oiling your wood helps prevent damage and reduce the appearance of existing scratches.
Weathering
Weather and the elements have the potential to cause significant damage to wood because of its high porosity. Treating timber is essential to increase resistance to water absorption to prevent wood from rotting or decaying.
UV Degradation
UV rays from the sun also have the potential to damage wood by causing discolouration or reducing flexibility. Particularly with decking, which receives a lot of sunlight, a special UV protective finish wood oil is required. Decking oils resist UV rays to ensure the best quality protection.
Fungus
Mould and fungus thrive in warm and humid environments. Since wood is susceptible to moisture, exterior wood creates the perfect environment for fungus to grow. Untreated wood is more likely to experience fungal growth, leaving unsightly green patches on your timber.
Choosing An Exterior Wood Oils
Exterior wood oils are used as a protective coating for treating and preserving exterior wood surfaces. Wood oil is specifically formulated to withstand variable outdoor conditions and protect wood from moisture, sunlight and temperature changes.
Wood oils come in a range of distinct types to suit different uses and applications, with differing levels of protection and style. When choosing a wood oil, you must consider the needs of your wood and preferences.
Type of Wood
Although some wood oils may work for various types of wood, varieties like oak, pine or beech may require a specialised oil. Make sure you check the wood oil container to find out which wood it is appropriate for.
Surface
Surfaces with different uses will have different requirements. For example, decking would benefit from anti-slip properties while a table may need to be free from harmful chemicals that could make their way into the body. For this reason, the wood oil must be suitable for its intended use.
Finish
The finish of coatings can be either matte, eggshell, satin or gloss. Matte and satin finishes offer the most natural-looking results, but the level of sheen you choose depends on your preference.
Colour
Some wood oils have colour ranges with clear finishes and tinted stain options for lighter or darker wood tones. Changing the tone can give timber character and make it match other wood pieces you may have.
Types of Exterior Wood Oils
Here are some of the exterior wood oil products available:
Exterior Oil
Treatex Exterior Oil is the perfect final touch for many outdoor wooden installations, such as decking, wooden doors and cladding. Our wood oil formula sinks into the timber and wood capillaries to create a weather-resistant coating that protects against cracking, splitting, and fading caused by moisture and sunlight.
Our extensive colour range offers 14 shades from sheer to Belgian black to ensure you find the ideal shade to match your outdoor decor.
Larch Oil
Larch Oil is specifically designed for use on cedar or larch materials for versatile application on indoor or outdoor surfaces. It provides UV protection, anti-flaking and water resistance. If timber is particularly susceptible to decay, fungi or wood rot, we recommend applying a protective layer of exterior oil before applying this product. This product contains no harmful ingredients, making it ideal for surfaces or toys used by young children.
UV Oil
UV oil is a UV-resistant clear wood oil that offers complete sun protection to prevent sun bleaching, which can discolour and even warp wood. Made from a combination of sustainably sourced natural oils, UV oil is suitable for vertical wood applications, including fences or doors but not horizontal applications. This product deeply penetrates timber to provide a long-lasting water-resistant UV protective finish.
Anti Slip Decking Oil
Treatex Anti Slip Decking Oil utilises a natural and sustainable mixture of sunflower and soybean oil and is free from harmful substances. A castor oil-derived polymer creates an anti-slip surface which doesn't cause bioaccumulation.
This product is suitable for most treated and untreated decking and timber. We recommended applying the Anti Slip Decking oil over a UV protective finish to minimise the risk of slipping on outdoor wooden surfaces that are prone to becoming slippery.
Wood Oil Preparation
Prepare timber by ensuring the wood surface is clean and dry before application. This product works best on unfinished wood, if you are using pre-treated timber, make sure it has been cleaned or lightly sanded.
Wood Oil Application
Stir the tin thoroughly before use and regularly during application.
Use a brush or roller to apply a thin, even layer of Treatex Exterior Oils, working with the direction of the wood grain. Where possible apply the first coat to all sides of the wood before installation.
Pay particular attention to any end grain, where liberal oil application is required for a fully protective seal.
After applying the first coat, you must wait 12-24 hours before the second coat can be applied.
If wood oil is being applied to decking, we recommend applying two coats of Treatex Anti-Slip decking oil over the top of UV oil, leaving 8-12 hours between applications to ensure oil absorption.
Treatex Ltd
At Treatex, with over 40 years of experience, we have established ourselves as one of the leading wood finishes suppliers in the UK, Europe and Australasia. We pride ourselves on having excellent customer service and have built a reputation based on honesty, approachability and knowledge.
We’re passionate about all things wood and timber. We specialise in providing a range of high-quality wood finish products that protect your wood from damage whilst enhancing its appearance. We offer a range of interior and exterior oils for wood, including anti-slip decking oil and UV protective finish oil to provide protection and style to all types of wood surfaces and furnishings.
For any queries or more information about our range of Treatex exterior wood oils, call us at 01844 260416 or get in touch online.