Wood clear exterior treatment?

[ebinmaine 67,641]

Any of you folks have a natural wood colored siding on a building?

Are there treatments on the market that will keep a natural clear wood color and not allow it to go gray?

Looking for recommendations on what products to use and what products you haven't been the most impressed with.

 

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

My barn is pine shiplap with “clear” oil based stain. Turned fairly dark once stained. 

[ebinmaine 67,641]

14 minutes ago, stevebo said:

My barn is pine shiplap with “clear” oil based stain. Turned fairly dark once stained. 

 

 

Beautiful setup. How long has that been in place and the stain on it?

 

 

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

I built the barn in 2014 and have stained it twice since then. Each time it gets darker. The pic above is with just one coat. 

[Horse Newbie 7,075]

56 minutes ago, stevebo said:

My barn is pine shiplap with “clear” oil based stain. Turned fairly dark once stained. 

I think I seen a YouTube video where you had held a “Meet and Greet”.

That barn is beautiful inside and out !       Very nice !

Edited March 24, 2022 by Horse Newbie

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

1 hour ago, Horse Newbie said:

I think I seen a YouTube video where you had held a “Meet and Greet”.

That barn is beautiful inside and out !       Very nice !

Thanks. Yep second week pretty much every October is the m&g

[ebinmaine 67,641]

Just now, stevebo said:

Thanks. Yep second week pretty much every October is the m&g

It's a 😃 GREAT time. I highly recommend going to anyone who's ever thought about it.

 

[formariz 11,987]

You will need to use a clear exterior sealer which is really an oil. What ever type or brand you use the secret is to apply it every year religiously.  As @stevebo mentioned wood will have a tendency to get darker as time goes on. It’s oxidation .  Stay away from anything that will form a film on wood. It will be the beginning of the end. Proper oil sealer penetrates into wood and allows it to breathe naturally.  

I want to tell you what I actually use but I just can’t remember it. I been here too long it’s obvious. It’s available at Home Depot and comes in gallon square cans. I use the original clear type without any stain. Can also be used in masonry. 

Edited March 24, 2022 by formariz

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330]

TRW or TWR IS THE BRAND I USED

[Handy Don 12,237]

Thompson WaterSeal is what I've used and the annual application is, indeed, necessary for any area exposed to weathering or sun.

 

I've never found anything that can keep the wood looking like wood that doesn't darken with age or repeated applications.

Edited March 24, 2022 by Handy Don

[formariz 11,987]

@Handy Don

Thank you. That is what I was trying so hard to remember. Thompson Water Seal. I use the original clear uncolored type. 
 

As far as oil darkening wood, it all depends on the type of oil used and the color of the wood species being used. With one notable exception all oils will darken most woods. The exception is pure Tung oil which is not easy to obtain. It will impart a somewhat golden tone to most woods but not darken them. Subsequent applications will also not darken it further. I use it specifically for finishing pine when an oil finish is the intent and I want to keep the mellow creamy look of the pine.  

[tunahead72 2,424]

1 hour ago, formariz said:

... The exception is pure Tung oil which is not easy to obtain. It will impart a somewhat golden tone to most woods but not darken them. Subsequent applications will also not darken it further. I use it specifically for finishing pine when an oil finish is the intent and I want to keep the mellow creamy look of the pine.  

 

Still available at Woodcraft, but it's pricey at just over $100 a gallon.

 

[dcrage 628]

The attached pictures shows the Behr product I use and an example of what it looks like after 5+ years. This is western red cedar and there is a cedar tint in the stain. Avoid treatments containing linseed oil products. There are microorganisms that love to eat linseed oil components causing the black ‘crap’ seen on wood structures a year or two after treatment. Wood siding can be ‘freshened’ before retreating using a water solution of TSP and bleach with plenty of elbow grease!  Granted it is a lot of work but you don’t remove wood layers like what happens with power washing. 

Edited March 24, 2022 by dcrage