As a Decorator of over 20 years, it’s safe to say that I’ve oiled a lot of wood in my time. It’s a fairly easy process and makes exterior timber look exceptionally rich by enhancing the wood’s grain and giving it a real sense of depth.
There are a couple of things that you need to avoid, which I’ll get into later. The main drawback of using oil rather than stain or varnish is longevity, but you can get around that with product choice and the maintenance going forward.
I’m going to use this blog to explain everything you need to know about how to apply exterior wood oil. Follow this advice and you won’t go wrong.
Tools & Products You’ll Need
Barrettine Universal Preserver
Exterior wood oil protects against UV radiation and water ingress, but you should use wood preserver to protect against fungal decay, mould, or insect attack. Using a preservative first ensures that the wood is protected from within. Click here for product details.
Barrettine Armourflex UV Wood Oil
After experimenting with almost every wood oil available, I’ve concluded that Barrettine Armourflex UV Wood Oil is the best. All exterior wood oils leave a similar finish, but unlike most of the others, Barrettine Armourflex is hydrophobic, which better protects the wood from the elements, and leads to longer lasting results. Click here for product details.
Tack Cloth
Dust can significantly hinder achieving a good finish when using any woodcare product. Tack cloths aren’t expensive, and they remove any fine dust from a surface prior to applying the product. Click here for product details.
Kana Tank Brush
You can use any paintbrush with a dense stock to apply wood oil or preserver, but some are better than others. The Kana Tank has been developed specifically for this type of work. It contains a ‘tank’ of dense natural bristles inside the core of the brush that holds onto thin material like oil or varnish. The natural bristles are encased in thinner synthetic bristles to manipulate the oil and lay off for a nice finish.
Using the Kana Tank Brush means less flicking, less dips, and a better finish. Click here for product details.
Other items
Sandpaper, clean cloth, gloves, stir stick, masking tape (if needed), dust sheets.
How to Apply Oil to Exterior Wood
Prepare the Surface
Wood oil will not adhere to a previously sealed surface unless the previous coating is also oil. So, if your timber is coated in stain or varnish, then you need to remove it by sanding with the grain.
Treat any algae with fungicidal wash. Clean any dirty areas with a cloth and clean water. Once dry, dust over the whole area with a dry brush, and wipe with a tack cloth.
Apply the Wood Preserver
If you’re working over a previously oiled surface, then you can skip this step. If not, decant the Barrettine Wood Preserver into a paint kettle or pot, stir, then apply with a brush or roller. Always work with the grain and try not to apply too much material at a time. The wood preserver will penetrate deep into the timber.
Prepare for the Wood Oil
Once the wood preserver is fully dry, lightly abrade the timber again in the direction of the grain. You should use a fine sandpaper or wire wool for this and be careful not to create visible scratches. Dust off and then wipe with a tack cloth.
Apply the Wood Oil
Decant the wood oil into a paint kettle or pot, then stir. Apply the material to the timber using the Kana Tank brush. Start at one side, painting a couple of boards at once, before moving onto new boards. This helps to maintain a wet edge.
Avoid pooling and apply thin coats, otherwise your oil may blister further down the line. Really work the material into the timber with the brush, then ‘lay off’ by passing the tip of the brush very lightly over the timber.
Apply a Second and Third Coat
Lightly abrade the surface again, dust off and run a tack cloth over the whole area. Apply a second coat like you did the first. You’ll find it much quicker and easier than applying the previous coat.
You don’t need to, but I recommend applying a third coat. This just helps with longevity.
Aftercare & Maintenance
Once your exterior wood is oiled, you just need to maintain it. Providing you follow the instructions laid out in this blog, and use my recommended wood oil, the finish should last a couple of years before it needs any attention at all. Even then, all you’ll need to do is lightly abrade the surface, dust off, run a tack cloth over, and apply one coat.
Important things to Remember for Maximum Longevity
As mentioned, the longevity of finish is really the only drawback when using exterior oil. So, I thought it was worth recapping on the things you can do to ensure the oil lasts on your exterior wood.
- Only work when the weather is warm and dry.
- Adhere to recommended recoat times on products.
- Use Barrettine Wood Preserver and Armourflex UV Protection Oil.
- Apply thin coats of oil and avoid pooling.
- Apply a maintenance coat of Armourflex UV Protection Oil every two years.
FAQs
What is the best way to apply wood oil?
Some people use a cloth, others a roller, but by far the best way to apply wood oil is to use an appropriate brush. You need to really work the material into the timber, and a paintbrush is the easiest way to go about it.
How many coats of oil on exterior wood?
One coat of wood preserver followed by three coats of UV oil will help with longevity of finish.
What are the disadvantages of oil on wood?
Oil on wood looks a lot better than stain or varnish, but it does come with one major disadvantage, and that is the ongoing maintenance. If exterior wood is oiled properly with Barrettine Armourflex UV Oil, you will need to apply a maintenance coat every couple of years. If you use a lower-quality product or you don’t do a good job of the initial application, then you’re looking at a maintenance coat every year.
Can you apply too much oil to wood?
You can’t apply too many coats, but you can apply too much in a single coat. This leads to the oil sitting on top of the timber and flaking or blistering over time.
Final Thoughts
As with any exterior decorating, the quality of products and the initial application is important when applying oil to exterior wood. Spending 20 minutes going through this blog, then preserving the wood and using a hydrophobic oil will avoid costly maintenance.
That said, it isn’t rocket science. Anyone can do this type of work and achieve a good finish. It’s rewarding too! I’m not exaggerating when I say that freshly oiled wood is stunning! The depth to it is unrivalled! I absolutely love doing this type of work.
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