STAINING EXTERIOR WOOD
Spring or summer is a very good time for any outdoor project, especially when dealing with projects related to your home. Planning is important before starting each project. It can be a bit complex, but I prefer to work on projects on days without rain or excessive heat. In my personal experience, I always have pending projects throughout the house or projects that I would like to do one day. In my particular case, I do all kinds of construction, from building a house from scratch to any project related to this wonderful construction trade. Since 2013, when we bought our first house, the projects almost never stop. From the complete remodeling of the basement, wooden fences, construction of sheds to store garden tools, the expansion of the kitchen, the total remodeling of the exterior, the gardens, the patios, and a garage that will later become my tallet and study; the latter is the one that somehow has me more motivated because it is the project that I am currently working on until the fall.
Without a doubt, outdoor projects are the most fun but also the projects that need a little more attention when using wood, such as fences, furniture, doors, or any detail. Wood is a natural material that needs to be carefully protected to extend the life of your project. I have always tried to incorporate wood as the main detail on the exterior of the house and the garage. Throughout the years, I have used different products to protect the exterior wood applications, but I really did not get much into the subject since I let my clients and the people in charge of applying the protection select the product that was appropriate at that time. On this occasion, I wanted to delve deeper into the subject, but I could not find answers to make the best decision. Approximately a few weeks ago, someone contacted me to make collaborate with certain products and one of those products is Cabot. If you don’t know, Cabot is a leading premium brand since 1877 with more than 30 products on the market, all designed to protect and extend the life of exterior applications on the outside, without sacrificing the natural beauty of the wood. For my project, I was in between two products; Australian Timber Oil and Cabot Gold.
Australian Timber Oil: provides penetrating protection against the scorching sun and great water repellency, without sacrificing the natural appearance of the wood
Cabot Gold: provides a finish resistant to the rays of the sun, resistant to cracking and peeling, and with a satin finish perfect for furniture or wooden floors outside. Cabot Gold also gives us polished protection for decks and outdoor furniture.
The product that I used for this particular project was Cabot Gold, an important part was the choice of wood and the preparation for the application of this product. The wood that I used for this project is a naturally strong wood for exterior use and very similar to cedar but cheaper, Douglas Fir. It turns out that in addition to being a very good wood, its durability and resistance to rot and insects make it a favorite choice for outdoor projects like porch decking. It is also naturally resistant to moisture and decay. This tree grows quickly and reaches a formidable height while possessing a bark that is highly resistant to various diseases, pests, and forest fires.
The creation of this project took about four to five days. From preparation to installation, it is always good to have some help especially if you are going to do the installation on roofs or facades. The finish is even more important because the choice and application of the finish is the one that will protect our project without leaving aside its final appearance. Once the preparation of the wood is complete, the application of the Cabot stain is very easy, but not without protection with plastics and blankets so as not to damage surfaces near the project. To apply the stain, I decided to use a professional brush of the Purdy brand of 3 '' and 2 '' with natural white bristles. These will give us an ultra-smooth finish. Cabot® Gold is the ultimate finish, providing a beautiful shine and strong protection against the worst of Mother Nature: the sun's ultraviolet rays, extreme temperatures, rain, and humidity. The first coat penetrates, a second coat adds dimension as it seals. The finish mimics the look of wood floors indoors. The amount of gloss will vary depending on the number and thickness of each coat. The glitter will gradually wear off over time. Two coats are recommended for better protection and exceptional finish. Sanding between layers is recommended, to have a better finish.
Note: Sanding between coats should be smooth with 220 grit sandpaper and the first coat completely dry. The drying of the first coat can take 24 hours or more depending on the temperatures. A temperature of no more than 75 degrees is recommended so as not to accelerate drying and damage the first coat. Once it has been sanded smooth, it is vitally important to clean any type of dust or dirt before applying our second coat. The second coat tends to dry faster but it is advisable to wait 72 hours before installing or using our project.
The installation was done approximately two weeks ago and the days after the installation it rained three to four days a week and I have observed how the water separates from our project, which gives me confidence and peace of mind for the longevity of our project.
