Wood Care Basics > Step 2    Step 2
Protect and Beautify! What is involved in protection?

After cleaning, you should apply a clear or tinted water repellent sealer, pigmented stain, or a wood preservative coating, depending on the level of protection and the look you want to achieve.

Why is it necessary?

Without protection, wood that is exposed to outdoor weather will eventually warp, split, rot and decay from water absorption, and gray from UV exposure. To stop this degradation, apply a protective coating fortified with water repellency and UV resistance. Non-pressure-treated wood is also vulnerable to rot and decay from fungus and insect attack, but can be protected with a wood preservative. Once coated, your wood will better withstand the elements, look beautiful, and give you many seasons of outdoor living pleasure.

What products should I consider?

Water Repellents
These coatings prevent water and moisture absorption, so that structural damage like cracking and warping are minimized. Some water repellents are also made to protect other porous surfaces, such as brick, concrete and masonry. Select one of the following, depending on the substrate to be waterproofed, and the desired look you want to achieve.

Clear

WOLMAN RainCoat^® Water Repellent - Oil-Base

WOLMAN RainCoat^® Water Repellent - Water-Base

Tinted

WOLMAN RainCoat^® Water Repellent

Multi-Purpose

Premium Water Repellent Sealer

Stains
These coatings contain pigment to provide color and protection against UV damage. They come with varying degrees of transparency, which gives you a range of options for showing off the wood grain, or covering it completely. Select from the following WOLMAN stains:

Transparent

WOLMAN F&P^® Premium Wood Finish and Preservative

Semi-Transparent / Solid

WOLMAN DuraStain^® Semi-Transparent Stain

Semi-Transparent with Sheen

WOLMAN EXTREME^® Acrylic Wood Finish

Preservatives
These coatings are formulated to resist fungal attack on the wood surface, and should be used for the protection of any outdoor wood that is not pressure-treated. Some also offer an insecticide to protect wood in ground contact or water contact installations from termites and other wood-destroying insects. Select from the following WOODLIFE wood preservatives:

Above Ground

WOODLIFE Classic II Wood Preservative

Ground & Water Contact

WOODLIFE COPPERCOAT^TM Green Wood Preservative

Ground Contact

WOODLIFE CREOCOAT^® Black Wood Preservative