Protecting Garden Furniture

Sikkens is the only outdoor finish I have found so far that is good. Thompson’s products have shown mildew
3 months after application, they spend way more on advertising than making a decent product.

-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter

There’s another thread on here that links to a demo of “Ultra Ever Dry.” Google it. It might actually be what you’re looking for.

Here is my experience with a picnic bench :
I think i had used “LINITOP” which i produced by LEVIS and available in Belgium/Europe.
It has been OK for at least 15 years.

The first picture shows the top of one leg. Water has entered the end grain it it was finally so rotten that the bench collapsed. But this is not the fault of the product as I think I will show.

This is the end grain side which was in contact with the soil. I don’t know how much of it was chewed off by rotting.

This is otherwise the wood after scrubing with a hand plane. It is still perfectly sound except where there were screws or bolts.

Here is my diagnostic and what I made for the new picnic bench. I also put a very generous coat on the end grain before assembly.

I hope this will help.

-- Sylvain, Brussels, Belgium, Europe - The more I learn, the more there is to learn

“Out door” and “furniture” both mean “temporary”.
If it is wood, and is outdoors, the maintainance is at best, OFTEN.
It is just the nature of the beast.
Any method used to keep the wood off the ground and well drained will help, but a finish will need to be restored often to maintain same.
I’ve used cypress, Eastern red cedar, white oak, and other species. All require elevation from soil, and periodic refinishing.
Nature will prevail.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

I agree with Bill.
My picnic bench was teated twice but I had no access to the top of legs. It would have meant disassemble and assemble again.

-- Sylvain, Brussels, Belgium, Europe - The more I learn, the more there is to learn

Thanks all for the advice and recommendations.Its really helpful for me.

Hey Sylvain, what did you do twice to your picnic bench?

-- Silence & smile are two powerful tools. Smile is the way to solve many problems & Silence is the way to avoid many problems.

I meant “tReated” or “refinished” with the same product.
Sorry for not using the spellchecker.

-- Sylvain, Brussels, Belgium, Europe - The more I learn, the more there is to learn

Epoxy is recommended for wood that contacts the ground.