Different finishes that hold up outside on pine?


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Old 02-02-19, 06:40 AM
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Different finishes that hold up outside on pine?

I am looking at building a few benches. I have set of great and easy to make plans. I am going to paint the legs and they will be made from pressure treated lumber due to contact with the ground.

I would like to use regular pine 2x4's for the seat and back but want to stain them.

What suggestions do you all have for coating the stained wood for exterior use. I am thinking that just a polyurethane would be fine but wanted to get some other opinions.

Thanks
 
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Old 02-02-19, 06:52 AM
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Do you see people polyurethaning houses? Or decks? No... and why not? Because it would be a refinishing NIGHTMARE every year. It rains outside... so you need a finish that resists moisture and UV, and that won't crack or blister when the wood takes on moisture from the air or actually gets wet.

Your best bet would be products that are used on decks and or fences. Usually this will be some type of stain, and it will need reapplication frequently due to being outside.
 
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Old 02-02-19, 06:56 AM
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And using just regular pine would also be a big mistake.
 
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Old 02-02-19, 10:56 AM
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I agree, the entire bench should be made of PT pine, cedar, redwood or cypress. Untreated pine, spruce, poplar, etc. will not hold up long term when exposed to the elements no matter what type of finish you apply.
 
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Old 02-02-19, 01:39 PM
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I am going to paint the legs and they will be made from pressure treated lumber
You cant paint PT wood, it's been injected with water and chemicals to resist rot, put paint on it and it will simply peel off.

Best bet is to use regular pine or cedar with appropriate exterior paint or stains and bring the items inside during the off season!
 
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Old 02-02-19, 02:17 PM
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You can paint PT wood as long as you give it sufficient time to dry out from the PT process but any paint applied on a flat surface like a deck, bench or picnic table won't have a long life. Stains are short lived also but there is a lot less prep needed to recoat them.
 
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Old 02-02-19, 10:43 PM
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You can paint PT wood as long as you give it sufficient time to dry out from the PT process
Sure, but the OP has to understand that "dry out" can be a very long time, like a year!
 
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Old 02-03-19, 05:39 AM
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I made a simple bench out of the "ceder tone" PT lumber from the big orange store and applied no finish to it. The color has faded some but still looks decent.
 
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Old 02-03-19, 09:35 PM
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No way would I use untreated pine outside - either PT or cedar or skip the wood and use composite as if I was building a deck.
 
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Old 02-04-19, 08:54 AM
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Four or five coats of marine varnish (spar varnish, spar urethane) with light sanding between coats on non-PT pine. Should last 3 to 5 years and can be recoated after sanding.
 
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Old 02-04-19, 11:54 AM
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No way would I use untreated pine outside
We have some small pine side tables that are probably 10 years old, stained and varnished.

They go in every winter but they are holding up well so it's not a guaranteed disaster!
 
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Old 02-04-19, 02:12 PM
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They go in every winter
Not an insignificant detail....
 
 

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