Best Finish for Outdoor Cedar Furniture

Nothing is more relaxing than basking in the evening sun and enjoying that beautiful flower garden outside, relaxing on your cedar Adirondack chair. Garden benches, lounges, and picnic tables are some of the outdoor setups you can easily craft using cedar. To complete the aesthetically unique nature of cedar, it is necessary to choose the right type of finish. The best finish for outdoor cedar furniture will improve its aesthetics and ensure its longevity.

Types of Finishes for Outdoor Cedar Furniture

Oil Finishes

You can choose from several types of finishes in the market. The first and quite common types are oil finishes. These include boiled linseed oil, 100% Tung oil, blends of these two, and varnish. Despite their fame, oils have certain characteristics that make them among the least suitable finishes for outdoor cedar furniture.

These oils are thin. As a result, they will give you the least protection from scratches, stains, and UV rays from the sun. However, oil finishes add some pleasing colour to cedar wood that gets more appealing with time. Moreover, oil finishes are the best to work with since they don’t produce toxic fumes.

Water-based Finishes

As the name indicates, these are finished with water as a thinner. Moreover, water-based finishes can easily be cleaned with water. A water-based finish is a solvent-based finish, such as acrylic or polyurethane, with water as its base. These finishes provide some of the best protective qualities.

For instance, a water-based finish will have excellent, though not the best, protection against water and moisture for your outdoor cedar furniture. Although cedar has natural protective features against moisture, these finishes ensure optimum protection. Moreover, these are easy to use, emit low VOCs, and maintain the colour of the cedar wood furniture.

Lacquer Finishes

These finishes are a unique option for outdoor cedar furniture due to their unique formulation. These finishes can be formulated with special solvents, making them versatile for your individual climatic needs. Moreover, they possess excellent qualities which add to their versatility. These types of finishes are the easiest to apply.

Moreover, they have very quick drying times. These are among the fastest-drying finishes. They provide fairly excellent protection against scratches, stains, and water. On the other hand, these finishes are among the most toxic to work with. Due to the wide variety of solvents, these emit the most VOC content.

Polyurethane Finishes

These finishes are unique types of finishes. You can never go wrong with polyurethane finishes for outdoor cedar furniture. These finishes exist in oil-based and water-based forms. Moreover, polyurethane has been categorized for either external or internal use. However, in some instances, the same product can be used for internal and external applications.

Polyurethane finishes can easily be crowned as the best finishes for outdoor cedar furniture. Their unique formulation will ensure the best protection against water and moisture. Moreover, they are the most durable as the finish layer can last the longest with or without adequate maintenance.

Other Options

There are several other options to consider regarding finishes for your outdoor cedar furniture. Two of these worth mentioning are shellac and wax. Shellac is quite a common finish due to its favourable characteristics. For instance, it protects against moisture, scratches, and stains. Moreover, it ranks among the best when it comes to drying time. It does, however, contain a high level of toxicity.

On the other hand, wax-like oil finishes are natural. This type of finish is safe to work with. Moreover, it adds to the appearance of the wooden furniture. However, due to its brittle nature, the wax provides poor protection. As such, it is a poor choice for your outdoor furniture pieces in direct sunlight and moisture exposure.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Finish for Outdoor Cedar Furniture

Weather Resistance

Being outdoor furniture, the greatest threat to your cedar furniture is weather conditions such as direct sunlight and rain. UV rays from the sun are likely to destroy the molecular material that holds the wood cells together. On the other hand, the rain is expected to wash away this material and cause mould and mildew. A good finish for your outdoor cedar furniture must possess excellent protective qualities against rain and UV rays from the sun.

Durability

The durability of your wooden furniture is greatly compromised by the fact that it is placed outside. Your outdoor cedar furniture is in danger of deterioration due to the harsh effects of rainwater and UV rays from direct sunlight. Despite cedar having its protection, it is necessary to enhance it. A suitable finish will provide a hard and thick layer over the furniture. Such a layer will be impervious to water and reflect excessive rays from the sun.

Ease of Application

The type of finish you settle on for your outdoor cedar furniture should be easy to apply. The various kinds of finishes mentioned have different levels of ease of application. For instance, lacquers boast the easiest application comfort since they can be sprayed on a wooden surface. Wipe-on finishes are also excellent choices since their application is simple and fast. Wipe-on finishes are numerous. However, wipes on polyurethane are the best finish for your outdoor cedar furniture.

Maintenance

Since most of these finishes form a hard layer over your wooden furniture, they are likely to get dirty and damaged by scratches and stains over time. Different finishes are repaired differently. For instance, water-based finishes for your outdoor cedar furniture are easiest to clean as only water and soap are required. Oil-based types can also be easily cleaned by ammonia and water. As such, polyurethane finishes are easiest to clean and maintain to ensure longevity.

Aesthetics

The type of finish you select for your outdoor cedar furniture will determine the appearance of that piece. Except for water-based finishes and some lacquers, all the other finishes leave behind an aesthetically pleasing look that gets enhanced to a darker hue with time. However, different finishes differ in the final sheen, from lighter to darker tones. Oil-based finishes produce the most visually appealing finish.

Top Picks for Best Finishes for Outdoor Cedar Furniture

ZAR Exterior Water-Based Polyurethane

ZAR is a 125-150 sq. ft. per quart water based clear finish with ideal qualities for outdoor cedare furniture. Its unique formulation gives it superior protective qualities for outdoor furniture. It not only provides optimum protection, but it is also pleasing to look at. ZARs light amber finish is ideal for outdoor cedar as it is able o bring out the natural color of the timber.

Pros

• Safe to use because it is water-based. Has very low VOC emissions.
• Unique appearance. This finish dries to a rich amber colour that will enhance the natural cedar color.
• Provides ultimate protection against UV radiation.
• It enhances cedar’s natural protection against mould and mildew by blocking moisture away.
• Maximum durability of all finishes.

Cons

• Relatively costly.
• Not the fastest drying times.
• It will require maintenance.
• Interferes with the natural, earthy look of cedar.

General Finishes Exterior 450

This 1 Quart water-based finish is another excellent option for your outdoor cedar. This product is uniquely formulated with UV absorbers that enhance the durability of the finish. It can also protect from mold and mildew due to moisture.

Pros

• Excellent protection against ultraviolet radiation
• Protects against mould and mildew
• Its water-based formulation makes it easy to use due to low VOCs.
• Durable.
• Multipurpose

Cons

• Results in yellowing.
• A bit expensive.
• It will require maintenance to maintain quality.

STORM SYSTEM

Pros

• Excellent protection against ultraviolet radiation and moisture.
• Suitable for multiple surfaces such as furniture, fences, decks, and more.
• Very durable.
• Easy to apply with a brush.
• Value for money.

Cons

• The oil-based formulation is not the safest to work with due to VOC emissions.
• t may change colour with time
• Requires adequate maintenance.
• t takes longer to dry.

How to Apply the Finish to Outdoor Cedar Furniture

Preparing the Surface

It is essential to prepare the wood before applying the finish. The first thing you need to do is sand the wooden surface. You will need Sanding to eliminate machine marks, which would be highlighted by the finish if left intact. To file properly, sand in the direction of the wood grain, from one end to the other, if possible. Start with coarser-grit sandpaper and finish with a finer-grit one to achieve a smooth surface for your cedar furniture.

Applying the Finish

The first thing you do today after you have achieved a smooth surface on your furniture is to wipe, brush or spray the finish on the wood. The next step is to wipe off the excess finish. Also, you can brush off the excess using a dry brush. However, the lot can be left alone on horizontal surfaces. Once all this is done, please leave it to dry for at least 6 hours. Sand each dried coat lightly before the next skin. Usually, four coats are enough.

Tips for a Smooth and Even Application

Proper Sanding. You will achieve this by starting with the coarser grit sandpaper and finishing with the finest grit sandpaper before applying the finish. Take care of gouges using wood putty to fill them and even out the surfaces. Additionally, you are advised to sand between coats to achieve excellent smoothness.

Maintenance and Upkeep of Finished Outdoor Cedar Furniture

Cleaning and Protecting the Finish

All types of wood finishes mentioned will require cleaning to protect and ensure maximum durability. The finish layer on your outdoor cedar is likely to get damaged from dirty particles, greases, pen marks, etc. Use soap and water to clean a contaminated surface. Moreover, greases will easily come off just by washing them off the same way. Use denatured alcohol to remove pen marks.

Moreover, furniture exposed to ultraviolet radiation will likely become dull with time. To bring back the chine of your outdoor cedar, apply aerosol furniture polish. You can also use paste wax though the process is time-consuming. Regular cleaning is necessary to ensure the finish lasts long and preserves the look.

Touching Up

Re-applying the finish is recommended, especially when the cedar furniture has existed for a long. Often the steps involved are almost similar to applying for the first time. The only difference is that you must remove the original finish before a touch-up. The old finish is removed by using suitably coarse sandpaper. Marks and gouges are dealt with appropriately before applying the finish.

Conclusion

Although cedar has some natural protective qualities, it is recommended to up the protection to ensure durability. To achieve maximum safety and beauty for your outdoor cedar furniture, our expert recommends the mentioned three products with which you can never go wrong. These products ensure maximum protection for your cedar furniture, are easy to use and maintain and are safe for the environment.

Moreover, these enhance the look of your cedar furniture to achieve that desired look. Without excessively affecting the natural look of cedar, the selected product requires little maintenance over time. Your outdoor cedar furniture will last the longest if finished with the right product. This list is carefully prepared to guide you when making what may be a difficult choice.