Another ?? for the knowledge base - outdoor wood finishes

[mjohnson]

Surely there are some informed opinions here in the PPOT...

We're getting new garage doors today.

They're currently faced with unfinished cedar planks. I'm planning on a clear polyurethane or something similar.

The doors are south facing and are at 7200ft here in New Mexico (300+ sunny days/yr). When they get wet from rain or snow they don't stay wet for long.

What's my best bet to protect these things? (besides a time machine and an order for steel doors). Any favorite brands?

Oil or water based? We had good luck with water-based PU on our oak floors but this application is outdoors. That sun's a blow torch up here.

Thanks in advance!
-mike

[Hugh R]

They don't sell the oil-based stuff in Los Angeles anymore, too much SMOG forming stuff. I buy real verathane in Arizona. The water based stuff on my outdoor bench is gone in a season, the oil-based looks good for several seasons. It get full sun.

[356racing]

I use the Sikkens Cetol line on my cedar garage doors in Phoenix. You have to stay after it and re-apply every 2 years or it will crack and peal and then you have to sand and start over. That's been almost 11 years and so far so good.

[Bugsinrugs]

+ 1 on the Sikkins. Oil base....it will make your eyes sting. Great stuff though.

[mjohnson]

I'll pursue oil-based. We're still the wild west out here so I'm certain that it's available.

Of course I should have planned this ahead of time. Supposed to have wet weather this weekend and I want a coat or two on them by then.

I think they're a huge improvement - the last owners really beige-bombed the exterior of this place.

[Evans, Marv]

The color change and wood garage doors really pop. I used a product from Amteco called Total Wood Preservative. Used it on decks and on the pillars and beams on my patio. Worked far better than two other products I tried. I don't know if you can get it there, but if you haven't already bought something, you might give it a look. The first batch I bought was oil based. Some years later I had to buy water based for the patio (California). If you try this stuff, see if you can get the oil based. However so far the water based on my patio wood supports exposed to the sun have held up fine. info is: www.twp-amteco.com, (800)969-4811. The people at the place I bought mine told me they sell lots to government contracts in 55 gallon barrels. Since they have different series of stains for different applications, I would talk to a distributor or call the company to find out which would be best for your application. I mixed two colors, Cedartone and Redwood to get the shade I wanted. The Cedartone is the color on the birch ceiling planks.