Waterproofing for wood is the first thing to do when you really want to keep that natural beauty that needs protection for your wood! However, you need to choose the products and techniques that work best for your wood.
Some of the furniture, cabinets and decorations are crafted from wood, the oldest and most loved building material in the world. However, without protection, most woods will be exposed to moisture and high humidity, leading to swelling, warping, and even rotting.
Fortunately, you can easily use products that both protect the wood and enhance its natural beauty. These products are called wood sealers. And we will provide you with our unbiased list of the best wood sealers.
Why Should Use Wood Sealers?
Wood sealers have a strong adhesive layer that ensures durability, flexibility, stickiness and is especially effective in preventing water penetration. Produced on advanced and modern lines, ensuring the whole production process without any errors.
Currently, on the market, there are many waterproofing products for wood. However, not all wood sealers out there are good products and work well with your wood materials.
Wood sealers are building materials with high elasticity and adhesion. Therefore, they can be used to waterproof the entire surface, reinforce and heal cracks for a long time without any other leakage situation during use.
Products can expand or change depending on the impact of weather conditions as well as the outside environment. So the floor or ceiling positions will not crack or leak when it rains or shines.
Some materials have high adhesion to concrete and cement, and are not harmful to human health, safe during use and construction.
To be able to become a good waterproof paint for wood, the first thing that is required is effective waterproofing if not 100% waterproof. Therefore, researchers have created wood sealers products synthesized from fatty acids that are able to effectively resist the penetration of water molecules.
Polyurethane compound was born with efficiency in waterproofing up to 99.9%. In addition, this compound also prevents reverse seepage, so it is now used as a component of very popular waterproof paints on the market.
The method of waterproofing wood with paint has also since been applied and popularized by people. In particular, the paint with this composition is very suitable for wooden surfaces, and different surfaces. However, at present, due to the fierce competition of the market, wood sealers products are produced and sold by many different facilities on the market, making people extremely confused when choosing.
Top 4 Best Wood Sealers Review 2023
#1 THOMPSONS WATERSEAL Transparent Waterproofing Stain
Thompson’s WaterSeal Advanced is the best natural wood repellent and protector in our opinion. This wood sealer has a particularly effective waterproofing ability with wood materials. It will help prevent mold growth, and other side effects of UV rays or moisture caused by rain and moisture in the air. This product is applicable to most wood materials in your home, from natural wood to furniture.
After just one coat of paint, your wood materials will be protected from external agents. The product has increased resistance to corrosion, acids and alkalis. This wood sealer can be applied at temperatures from -20 to +30°C using a spray bottle, roller or brush.
#2 DEFY Crystal Clear Composite Deck Waterproofing Sealer
This product is the most ideal choice for filling aged composite wood materials. This wood sealer has both a good waterproofing effect for your wood materials and can renovate their degraded appearance. This product is especially suitable for you to apply to your other wood floor renovation projects.
This wood sealer has zinc particles that block ultraviolet rays, both prevent the destruction of sunlight, heat and enhance waterproofing. So you can safely use it to reinforce outdoor wood flooring projects.
#3 Eco Advance Wood Siloxane Waterproofer Concentrate
This is a product that can work on wooden floors, wooden fences, plywood, wood shingles, wood planks, etc. You can use it to apply to most indoor and outdoor projects. But it is especially suitable for the exterior wood.
The manufacturer offers two options to the buyer: ready-to-use mixture or liquid concentrate. For starters, we recommend purchasing a ready-to-use mix, as you need the experience to prepare liquid concentrates.
This easy-to-use spray formula provides long-lasting protection for your exterior woodwork from the adverse effects of weather and the outdoors. It ensures extended service life and prevents rapid deterioration of wood materials.
#4 Rain Guard Water Wood Sealer Concentrate
If you are looking for an eco-friendly and budget-friendly wood sealer, look no further than Rain Guard Water Wood Sealer Concentrate. This product is sure to be effective in preventing and protecting your wood materials from the bad effects of moisture, temperature and other agents.
Rain Guard Water Sealers’ exclusive additive formulation allows the wood to absorb the solvent-based sealant, thereby forming a strong water barrier for the wood material. You can apply it to different types of wood materials, from the hardest to the most porous.
Besides, this wood sealer formula is very environmentally friendly. So customers can rest assured to apply wood materials near plants, pets, and human utensils.
How to Effectively Waterproof Wood?
There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come.
- Use linseed or pine oil to create a beautiful and protective base for your hands.
- Seal the wood with a polyurethane coating, varnish, or lacquer.
- Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain sealant combination.
When choosing the right approach for you, keep in mind that some waterproofing methods are better suited for interior or exterior items, while others are geared towards dark or light-grained wood.
#1 METHOD 1: Use oil mixture
- Step 1: Make a warm oil mixture, rub by hand
Flaxseed oil, extracted from the seeds of the flax plant, and pine oil, extracted from the Chinese pine tree, are the basis for most hand rubs.
Used for centuries, these oils beautify and protect dark-grained woods such as walnut and mahogany, and they are still used today with few improvements. Mixing the oil with other ingredients speeds up the drying time and eliminates stickiness.
The standard hand rub mix consists of one part oil (boiled pine or linseed oil), one part mineral spirits, and one part polyurethane.
- Step 2: Conduct
- Stir well.
- Use a natural bristle paintbrush to cover the sanded and cleaned dark-grained wood. (If you’re waterproofing lighter-colored wood, such as pine or ash, skip this method and move on to either of the next; hand rubs tend to yellow over time. )
- Allow the oil to penetrate the surface and reapply wherever it looks dry.
- Wipe off excess oil, rub thoroughly with a clean dry rag to remove excess oil.
- Let the wood dry completely. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to overnight, depending on the level of oil in the mixture.
- Lightly sand with fine sandpaper.
- Repeat the process with as many additional coats of paint as required to obtain your desired finish.
Once you get used to the oil blend, feel free to experiment with this recipe. For a thicker product, reduce the number of minerals. If you want more time to work before the finish dries, reduce the amount of polyurethane. Or, conversely, add more poly for a more glossy finish and faster drying time. You can create countless custom mixes!
Note:
Oil-soaked rags used to wipe off excess oil can ignite on their own, even when not near an open flame, because as the oil dries, it generates heat. Take precautions by keeping a bucket of water handy when working; When the rag absorbs the oil, drop it into the bucket and continue using the clean rag. Then hang the rag to dry separately. When completely dry, you can throw them away without risk, but rags should not be reused.
#2 METHOD 2: Use sealant for best protection
Polyurethane, varnish and lacquer are tested sealants with excellent waterproof performance. They are brushed or sprayed onto clean, sanded wood and then allowed to dry completely before the piece is re-sanded and lightly repainted.
For best results, paint your finish in a “room temperature” environment. And never shake or quickly stir the sealant before application; Doing so may cause air bubbles to remain on the surface, even after the adhesive dries.
Although they dry relatively quickly (some in as little as 15 minutes), these sealants often contain chemical solvents, so ventilation is required during application. Polyurethane waterproofing for wood is a viable solution.
These are the pros and cons of the most common types of sealants:
- Polyurethane sealant
In addition to acrylic and polyurethane resins, polyurethane sealants for wood waterproofing contain a variety of solvents, allowing you to choose your favorite finish — anywhere on the spectrum from high gloss to light gentle, soft. Today’s polyurethane won’t be yellow, so it’s a good choice for light-toned woods. Oil-based polyurethane offers the most durability, but brush cleaning requires minerals or turpentine. With water-based polyurethane, cleanup is a snap with soap and water.
- Varnish
A combination of turpentine, solvents and drying oils, creates a tough, scratch-resistant shell without yellowing. To waterproof outdoor wood, choose a marine-grade paint that contains UV absorbers to protect against sun damage. For interior use on end tables and coffee tables, the varnish is a good choice to combat squeaky cups. Clean the brush with turpentine or mineral water.
- Lacquer
A mixture of resin dissolved or synthetic in alcohol is the sealant of choice for wooden furniture. Although it can develop a slightly yellowish color over time that is considered unappealing on lighter woods, lacquer provides a rich, warm and unique scratch-resistant finish on deep-toned woods. . It comes in a wide selection of gloss finishes and can be thinned with a lacquer thinner.
For optimal results, apply several coats of lacquer. Note: Lacquer gives off strong fumes, so ventilation is absolutely necessary; work outdoors or open a window and use a fan. Waterproofing wood with lacquer is an excellent solution, but it is quite laborious.
#3 METHOD 3: Work quickly with stain sealant combos
When time is of the essence or you are protecting a large project, with a wood waterproofing method, such as laminate flooring, use a quality stain repellent combo. These multitasking products add color while providing water resistance in a single step.
Stain adhesive products contain color pigments with the addition of a binder, which can be oil-, water-, or alkyd-based. Depending on the concentration of the pigment in the product, the end result can be transparent, opaque, or in between. If using an exterior wood stain remover, you’ll want to reapply every year or two to keep the wood protected.
With the exception of alkyd products, stain sealants do not accumulate on wood surfaces; instead, they soak in and any excess evaporates. Alkyd-based stain sealants leave a light surface coating on wood, making them more suitable for furniture pieces, such as indoor beams or rustic furniture, without the need for application in the future. Outdoors, alkyd-based stain sealants tend to peel if the wood is not completely clean and dry when applied.