Judging by the labels on the cans of exterior grade clear finishes at paint stores and home centers the job of keeping wood looking good seems downright easy.
Clear coat for exterior wood door.
By paul s articles clear coats exterior finishes comments off on the best exterior wood finishes wood decks need a finish that is easy to maintain and won t show wear paths.
The best clear finish for an exterior door is 3 coats of clear epoxy followed with 2 3 coats of spar varnish.
Polyurethane wood finishes are synthetic coatings that prove highly durable and water resistant making them the best clear coat for wood protection.
Others remain crystal clear.
Clear gloss 275 voc oil based exterior spar urethane 2 pack.
You don t necessarily need to strip the finish all the way to the wood.
They provide a natural appearance with a variety of satin semi gloss and glossy sheens and are ideal for kitchen cabinets doors furniture and floors but not recommended for outdoor use.
After the second coat of captain s varnish i sand working up to 320 grit paper to dull the surface completely.
Exterior oil exterior varnish and an epoxy sealer with an exterior varnish topcoat.
After flipping the door i coat the perimeter edges first then proceed to work from the center out.
Crystal clear or amber tone.
Many clear finishes add a rich warm amber tone to the wood.
However if your project is a light color whether stained or unfinished wood it is best to protect it with a finish that remains crystal clear.
There are three basic clear finishes for outdoor furniture.
You can choose whichever look you prefer for your project.
Minwax helmsman indoor outdoor spar urethane best overall polyurethane for exterior wood doors.
To find exterior clear finishes that contain an adequate amount of the uv resistant additives you usually have to go to a marina in a coastal area or find one of these marinas online and purchase by mail order.
Previous varnish only finishes only lasted 2 3 years.
Just brush one of these products on a mahogany entryway a redwood deck or cedar siding and the wood will stay as fresh and bright as the day it was cut.
Between coats i start sanding with 240 grit following the same sequence as i did when prepping for the initial coat.
It s less work to keep up the finish than to replace.
Application ease and service life are the two major differences between these finishes.
The reason we consider this product as the overall best exterior polyurethane is because you can use it both indoors and outdoors woodworking projects.