IN THIS POST:
– Oil
– Sealant
– Stains
Whether you live in a city that’s extremely humid, or whether you’re simply using your wooden furniture outdoors, it is important to protect wood from moisture and damp environments as it can rot and get infested by termites and other pests. So, how can you protect wooden furniture from moisture? Let’s find out!
Ways to Protect Wooden Furniture from Moisture
If you want to place your wooden furniture in an area where it will be exposed to excess moisture and damp, there are three basic ways of adding a protective coating to the wood to prevent moisture damage:
- Oils
- Sealants
- Stains
Let’s discuss each of these methods of protecting wood in detail below.
Protect Wooden Furniture Using Oils
Wood and water can be a bad combination, especially for furniture that is placed outdoors in a rainy climate or if your home’s interior gets flooded during the rainy season. But one of the very successful methods of protecting wood from moisture is to make it waterproof by coating the surface with oil. You can choose walnut oil, linseed oil, or tung oil, or whichever oil your carpenter recommends to naturally waterproof wooden furniture around the house. This process is only appropriate for darker woods though as the oil tends to yellow over time which will become evident on a lighter shade of wood. Here’s how to protect furniture from water damage using oils:
- Mix the oil you’ve chosen with turpentine or apple cider vinegar thoroughly to get a strong waterproof coating on the wood.
- You can choose to use the oil alone too.
- Rub the surface of the wood with sandpaper to smoothen any rough edges, which will become extremely evident after being coated by the oil if this step is skipped.
- Dip a soft brush into the mixture/oil, and apply it all over the wooden furniture, making sure no gaps are left behind.
- Any untouched areas will show up clearly in some time as the wood begins to absorb the oil.
- Reapply on untouched areas as needed.
- Make sure the oil is absorbed completely before wiping all of the surface areas with a clean rag.
- Leave the wood to dry for the day.
- Oil mixtures will dry quicker than pure oils.
- You can recoat the furniture pieces for a second time once they are dry to get a heavier and more durable coat of waterproofing.
Protect Wooden Furniture Using Sealants
Sealants are another means of wood waterproofing and the process is almost identical to the one shared above. Sealants come pre-packaged and prepared, so all you need to do is sand down the entire piece of furniture and apply the waterproof coating as needed. Lacquer and varnish are two types of sealants commonly used for wooden furniture that will leave a glossy coat on the furniture once the piece dries completely. Some sealants will turn yellow over time while others may not. Choose accordingly as per the colour of your wood to avoid discolouration. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process of waterproofing wood using sealants:
- Use sandpaper to smoothen all of the surfaces of the wood.
- Use a brush or a spray gun to cover every wooden surface with an even coat of the sealant.
- Give the sealant about a day to dry.
- Apply at least two more coats to weatherproof wooden furniture adequately.
- Sealants should always be used at room temperature for the best results.
- Make sure you work in a well-ventilated space to allow for faster drying times.
- Let the furniture process the application of the sealant for at least three days after the final coat has been applied before you begin using it again.
Protect Wooden Furniture Using Stains
Staining the wood with a stain and sealant combination is the last method used to waterproof wooden furniture. Clear when applied, the stains will gradually take on darker hues due to the colour pigments used to make them. This process is recommended for wood furniture placed indoors, but you’ll need a heavy-duty stain that works in exterior environments for optimum waterproofing of outdoor furniture. Wood stains come in a range of colours, so make your selection based on the colours dominant in your home’s décor. Here’s how to stain the wood once you’ve made your selection:
- Wipe down the wooden furniture.
- Sand it to ensure that the surface is smooth.
- Apply the stain with a soft brush.
- Let it dry.
- Wipe off any residues with a clean cloth.
- Reapply the stain two to three times for the best finish.
- Avoid using stains for outdoor furniture or reapply frequently as needed.
Out of all of the ways to protect wooden furniture from moisture that we’ve covered above, the stain-sealant combo is the one that retains the appeal of the wooden furniture to the maximum while adding to its qualities and making it waterproof as well. However, since it only works best with furniture that is placed indoors, consider these outdoor furniture materials in Pakistan as an alternative.
Damaged furniture? Here is how to remove scratches from your wooden furniture pieces. You can also check out how to polish your wooden furniture to make it look like new. Keep reading more home décor posts on Zameen Blog and don’t forget to send us your comments about the posts at blog@zameen.com.
