How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

By Harry RamosLast update: 2024-03-12
☰ Table of Content

Untreated wood furniture is prone to rot, warp, and crack, especially if they’re for outdoor use. While the weather impacts are something unchangeable, you can find a treatment to waterproof your properties.

Below are three ways to waterproof painted wood furniture for outdoors, take a peek!

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

Stain Semi-Transparent Oil-Based Paint

This method is perfect for wood furniture placed under your house awning or not exposed to the sun.

The paint to waterproof your outdoor wood furniture should be weather-resistant. The lighter the paint, the more oil it contains.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

You will need:

  • Stain semi-transparent oil-based paint
  • A brush
  • 320-grit and 220-grit sandpapers

How-to:

One big note when using stain semi-transparent oil-based paint for your outdoor wood furniture is aside from accentuating the natural wood color, it might make any defects on the surface visible.

To avoid that, remember to smoothen the furniture surface before coating.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?Start with 320-grit sandpapers, then smoothen the entire surface with 220-grit one, which allows the paint to stick more evenly. Use a dry, clean cloth to wipe off wood dust.

Before painting the first coat of waterproof paint, make sure the wood surface is 100% dry. Apply the paint evenly and spread it over the whole surface with a brush.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

Let it air dry for 4-24 hours. Remove any paint residue and grind the surface with 220-grit sandpapers.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

Wipe off wood dust and then apply the second paint layer. Once done, let it sit for 5 hours.

To test if the wood surface is completely dried, touch one finger or two on it. It’s already dry if your fingers don’t feel sticky.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

Apply the final layer onto the wood surface, repeat the process and wait for 3-7 days to dry before use.

Wood Sealer

This product is easily found in many local shops specializing in wood materials.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

There are two main categories: stain sealers and water-based sealers. Besides, most wood sealer manufacturers name their products after the surface to be treated, for example, wood sealers for outdoor furniture, for the fence, or for floor coverings.

It is also available in colored and non-colored wood sealers depending on your demand.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

To determine the right wood sealer, pay attention to:

  • The environment where you place your wood furniture: Choose a water-resistant product for high-humidity conditions. If the furniture is frequently exposed to the sun, choose an anti-UV wood seal.
  • Check the instructions and drying time
  • Check how to use the product: Some wood sealers require brushing or spraying onto the surface, which means you’ll need to buy a brush or a sprayer

You will need:

  • Some dry, clean towels
  • 0000 steel wool
  • 220-grit sandpaper
  • A paint brush
  • Wood sealer
  • A sprayer (optional)

How-to:

Make sure the outdoor temperature and humidity are at the right level as required on the instructions so that the product does not evaporate too fast. The most ideal place to paint your furniture is in a warehouse.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

Sand the whole wood surface and remove dust thoroughly before applying the first wood sealer layer onto your furniture with a brush or a sprayer.

Create a truly even coating.

Let it air dry as guided, usually between 4 and 10 hours.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

Once your fingers don’t feel sticky when touching the wood, apply the 2nd layer. Smooth out the surface if required by the instructions. Remember to get rid of wood dust before applying the next layer.

Hardwoods (such as walnut, oak, and maple) will require one coating while softwoods (such as balsa, redwood, pine, and cedar) will need up to 2-3.

Wait 3-7 days for all the coatings to dry out completely before use.

Wood Oil

This method is best suited for small furniture, such as outdoor kitchen counters and tables.

When it comes to waterproof oil, there are three popular options: linseed oil, walnut oil, and tung oil. Each works best on specific wood surfaces. To choose the right one, list out the wood types to be treated.

A big bonus of using oil to waterproof painted wood furniture is it lasts a very long time.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

You will need:

  • 0000 steel wool
  • Dry, clean cloth
  • Lint-free towels
  • Sandpapers (choose coarse and fine types)
  • Waterproof oil
  • Pine oil (optional)

How-to

In a metal container, mix the wood oil with pine oil and apple cider vinegar (in a ratio orderly of 1: 1: ½) to make it stickier for a higher-quality coating.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

If your outdoor wood furniture has some defects, smoothen them with sandpaper or steel wool. Then, grind the entire surface to help it absorb the oil better.

Clean off the wood dust thoroughly and wait for the surface to dry out before treating it with oil. Wear plastic gloves during the process to protect your hands.

Don’t apply the oil directly onto the furniture. Instead, use a brush or a folded towel to soak into the mixture.

How To Waterproof Painted Wood Furniture For Outdoors?

Apply an even oil layer onto the surface. Let it sit for 30 minutes before removing any oil residue. Then, wait for 24 hours or until the oil coating is completely dried.

Rub the surface with steel wool or sandpaper, and apply the second coatings. Repeat the process and wait for 3-7 days before use.

Conclusion

With our three methods to waterproof painted wood furniture for outdoors, hopefully, you’ll find the best way to protect your properties. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to let us know. Thanks for reading!

I’m Harry Ramos, who's crazy about all things green. I’m here to share some experience in my gardening adventure and how to choose the best products for your garden. Let's dig in, get our hands dirty, and celebrate the simple, earthy pleasures of the garden together!


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