FAQ

 
 
Recommended Finishes

It is imperative that your gates be sealed.   This should be done either before the gates are installed, or within 10 days of delivery.
CPW cannot be responsible for gates that have been left unfinished and exposed to the weather, which can cause dimensional changes that may affect the integrity of the gate.

Although CPW does not provide finishing, we recommend all painted gates receive a top quality acrylic latex stain blocker primer prior to top coats.

For oil and stain finishes, we recommend Sikkens.  The image below is a link to more information.
* To Locate the nearest dealer, Click here: <http://www.nam.sikkens.com/find-a-dealer.cfm>
* To order Sikkens Cetrol 1 and Cetrol #23 Plus online, click here

Sikkens Cetrol

Sikkens cetrol is a 2-part oil-based finish representing the hightest level among the various oil finishes for cedar and cypres. 
Cetrol #1 for your primary application and coloring.  Cetrol #23 Plus for your protective topcoat with a soft sheen. 

Apply one coat of #1, followed by either one coat of #23 plus, or . . .
two coast of #23 Plus with a light steel wool or sanding between coats for the optimal result. 
For more information and PDF application guide: Sikkens Cetrol
If you cannot find a retailer in your area, Sikkens can be bought online at the following site:<http://loghomeshoppe.com/Sikkens_Stain.asp>




For those who reside in areas where Sikkens is unavailable, or who wish to provide a fuller spectrum of stain color, we recommend Cabot Stains.
Cabot provides a number of products.  A short review, and their expected timelines between normal maintenance.

Locate a Cabot Dealer near you


*= 1-2 years, **3-6= years, ***= 5-10 years
* Clear Seal......A natural graying with time (approx. 1-1/2 seasons). To prevent moisture absorbtion, Cabot's Waterproofing. (completely invisible) should be re-applied to the gate when water no longer beads on the surface of the wood.
* Natural Oil......Cabots Clear Solutions, in three tints... "Heartwood" the most pleasing of three tints available. A penetrating oil that enriches the wood tone while providing the gate with a water repellant seal.
** Cabots Semi-Transparent and Semi-Solid Stains..........The wood grain remains visible. It is a finish often preferred because the pigments provide a more organic compliment to the surrounding landscape. Requires a single coat. No primer. If neglected beyond its timetable, the finish on the gate simply fades out.

Paint

*** Paint .......The most durable finish, requiring a primer coat and two top coats. And yet, if neglected beyond its lifespan , painted finishes will crack and peel to create an unsightly appearance. In this event, it is then necessary to strip and sand the gate before applying new primer/paint.
(The best primer for cedar is Zinsser Cover Stain, using an acrylic top coat. It is also acceptable to use the Benjamin Moore exterior oil-based stain-blocker primer. )


A few notes regarding the application process.

FINISH APPLICATION
Although sealing or staining or painting your gate does not prolong the life of the cedar, it is often a preferred aesthetic while also helping to maintain the gate's dimensional stability.  In most climates, the calculated spacing between the gate and lock-side post is enough, at 3/8", to allow for normal expansion and contraction.  This is compounded in certain areas such as southern Florida or Hawaii where there is often rain and intense heat within the same afternoon.  These considerations are minimized by a wax emulsion coating on all gates applied in the shop to the top and bottom end-grains of both stiles.

When applying your finish, start with one side, brushing the bottom rail with the grain and then the vertical stiles with the grain to avoid the brush strokes over-lapping. This is for all horizontal rails, not allowing the brush stroke to dry before brushing the vertical stile. Do not apply stain to the edges of the pickets or upper pattern on this side or the stain will run down the opposite side and leave run marks penetrating the bare wood before you are able to finish the opposite side. For those with solid lower panels, do not stain the edges of your open slots until the back side is addressed. Once you turn to the other side, you can then apply stain to the picket faces and edges, knowing the run-off will not absorb against the already stained surface. Check, when finished, the direction of your brush stroke to smooth out any over-laps. Do not, with semi-transparent stains, natural oils, or clear seals, apply a second coat once this first coat is dry. The gate has been sealed, and further applications will not absorb evenly, resulting in a splotchy build-up.

Spray finishes: You can finish your panels with clear seal, natural oil, or semi-transpenrant stains using a common, rented, garden pump sprayer. This quickens the process considerably and although it may require some back-brushing, it is nevertheless much simpler than brushing a thousand pickets. This method is not adviseable for semi-solid stains and paints. Spraying these requires an industrial set-up and requires back-brushing.

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