Evaluating Clear Exterior Wood Finishes

by Kevin Smith Author

For anyone who enjoys the look of wood, a home made and finished in natural wood, whether that is a log cabin, a mountain chalet, a small vacation cabin or a magnificent home is a pleasure to see and return to. Keeping your wooden home properly protected might include a clear exterior wood finish. Read the information here to find out more about this product.

Considerations for Clear Wood Finishes

The first and foremost characteristic of a clear wood finish is that it is clear! It allows the existing color, tone, and grain of the wood to show through. The other primary job of the finish is to renew the protection of the exterior from the elements. Therefore a clear wood finish for a home exterior should provide several benefits:

Despite being clear in color, it should provide UV protection.
It should be water repellant (not water proof) but allow for wood to breath naturally.
There should be resistance to fungi growth.
It should allow for natural expansion and contraction of the wood.
The product should be compliant with local rules for volatile organic compounds (V.O.C.).

Preparation for Application

Most clear exterior wood finishes are applied to vertical walls. Those walls may need to be prepped in order to ensure the finish does the job it was designed to do. Depending on whether you are dealing with new construction or an older house, how the surface was previously maintained, whether it is smooth siding or more roughly cut, and what, if anything is on the surface, such as mold or mildew, all will affect how you go about getting ready for an application. You will always want to wash the surface with a bleach and water-based solution that may contain additional cleansing items before applying.

Finally consider the outside elements. There needs to be a moderate temperature without the chance of rain for several days. Springtime and summertime are ideal. Cold weather or cooler weather will cause wood to contract and it will not be an ideal time to apply, as pores will not be open to accept the finish.

In Summary

Choosing to live in a home made of naturally colored wood or trimmed with it, is an esthetic choice that encourages living inside and enjoying looking at it from the outside. Using clear exterior wood finish will keep your home looking good and protected from the elements.