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RECOMMENDED FINISHES |
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| Exterior Finishes and Maintenance for CPW Products
To Finish or Not to Finish. Western Cedar will gray out naturally
within a season and be indistinguishable from seasoned redwood, teak, or most other woods. To many organic landscapes, this is the preferred aesthetic. Sites and properties that are wooded or scaled with enough acreage or expanse to invite the unfinished look where the gates and fences are more about the landscape than the architecture of the residence. Painting or staining hardscapes such as fences and gates, etc on these sites is to attempt to carry the precedent of the architecture of the residence into the expanse of the wilderness. These assemblies are often best suited to graying out naturally.
Other sites are smaller and dominated to a larger degree by the residential structure. When the fences and gates are close enough to the architecture, or connected to it, then the assemblies become more associated with the house than the landscape. In these scenarios, it is normally best to carry the color of the house body, or trim, onto the hardscapes, or at the very least, finish them with an organic, earth-colored pigment. Because this is such a frequent concern, we'll provide an example: Smallish lots in manicured neighborhoods such as Santa Monica, CA benefit from finished fences and gate. Often painted or stained to match the house. Larger lots in equally manicured communities will most often finish their fences and gates with an earth-toned finish, such as well-maintained suburbs or gated communities. Large acreage lots in fairly rustic settings are better if the fences and gates are left to gray out naturally. The fence in these settings is more closely associated with the landscape than the house. And yet most folks do prefer a finish. Particularly for their gates. * For those preferring an organic tint in a penetrating sealer, CPW recommends WoodRX Ultra. The timetable of how long between maintenance schedules is not something we've tested, as it would optimally require ten or more years for the results. But according to the manufacturer, it will outlast the chemical-based Sikkens, considered by many as the benchmarks among exterior finishes. A look at finishing Solutions
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WoodRX
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A non-toxic water-based finished for exterior applications. Easy application and quick drying allows for two coats within two hours. Because of the quick drying, it also all but eliminates the collection of dust particles gathering between coats. Can be sprayed or brushed. If brushing, maintain a wet edge to your brush to avoid overlapping brush strokes against the grain. Claims to last 10-12 years between maintenance in the most humid coastal conditions. |
SIKKENS| Sikkens Cetrol is an oil-based finish representing the highest level among the various oil finishes for cedar. There are two approaches: Each are linked to the Sikkens web site. 1) Cetrol #1 is the primary application and coloring. Offering a limited range of earthy patinas. Although developed as a base coat for Cetrol #23, it is an acceptable finish in itself. You can brush this on generously, following the grain, and wait for it to penetrate, and ten minutes later, when it is clear that certain areas are not penetrating fully because of the fluctuations in the cedar' grain density, you can wipe everything dry with a clean cotton rag. Let it air dry a day and you are done. Bear in mind that if you wait too long before wiping dry, the Cetrol #1 will become too tacky to wipe. Re-brushing these areas with a fresh application will allow you to wipe it dry with a cloth. If the resulting patina is lighter than you expected, you can apply up to two additional coats of Cetrol #1 allowing each coat to fully dry before applying the next. This results in a darker patina. As with the first coat, you can either let it air dry, or wipe it dry with a rag if portions are not absorbing evenly. #2) Cetrol #23 Plus: For a more presentable finish with a slight sheen, the second and third coats are with Cetrol #23 Plus. These coats are brushed on and left to air dry. Two coats is usually required, with a very light hand sanding using 120-grit or #0000 steel wool between coats. Note: the misture barrier itself is of no imprtance whasoever. CPW products are designed and developed to allow a natural breathing, drainage, and aging, and do NOT require being sealed off. The Cetrol #23 gives you a seal, but it also gives you a pleasant sheen and furniture-like polish to the final aesthetic. (**It may be noted that Sikkens also has a line of one-coat finish called Sikkens Cetrol SRD. This is not recomended simply because it is a thick consistency thatdoes not absord as well and tends to result in a built-up plastic-like finish. It is also far more difficult to apply because of it's molasses-like thickness and may result in unsightly runs. If not maintained on schedule, it will crack similar to a Spar varnish type finish. This product is commonly used for horizontal deck surfaces and anyone who insist on oiling and varnishing an exterior deck should consider building a properly roofed porch.) * To Locate the nearest dealer, Click here: <http://www.nam.sikkens.com/find-a-dealer.cfm> * If you cannot find a retailer in your area, Sikkens can be bought online at the following site:<http://loghomeshoppe.com/Sikkens_Stain.asp> |
Although it states below that Sikkens cannot be sold in California, it is in fact available, by quarts only.
CABOT STAINS
| For those who wish to provide a fuller spectrum of oil-based pigmented color, we recommend Cabot Stains. Cabot provides a number of products. A short review, and their expected timelines between normal maintenance. It should be noted that all of the below products are one-coat applications. Second coat do not absorb, and may result is a splotchy finish of variable absorption due to the variable density in the wood fiber. As with Sikkens, this can be manuevered by applying the second coat and wiping it dry. For a further discussion on the techniques for appliation, please scroll down the page. Locate a Cabot Dealer near you 1/2 pint sample can can be purchased through the below links. If you remind us, CPW will include with your order, a few samples of wood for your finishing process. CABOT STAINS Maintenance Timeline: *= 1-2 years, **3-6= years, ***= 5-10 years * Clear Seal......Cabot's Waterproofing. A natural graying with time. To prevent moisture absorption, Cabot's Clear-Seal Solution (completely invisible) should be re-applied when water no longer beads on the surface of the wood. **Natural Oil......Penetratings oils that enrich the wood tone while providing a water repellant seal. Two options: Cabot SPF. Easy, Eco Water-Based application .  Wood-Tone #3000 Series.  ** Semi-Transparent. Description Not recommended. The varying density of the wood fiber in Port Orford cedar results in some areas absorbing and penetrating, and other areas not. If you want to us a semi-transparent for fullest discolsure of the grain, then you must wipe dry you're brushed-on application, using a soft cotton cloth. >>To color charts. ***Semi-Solid Stains. Description The wood grain remains partially visible. Slightly more opaque and a longer lifeline. >>To Color Charts. ***Solid-Body Stains. Description Richly pigmented. Close to a flat paint finish. No grain visible. The advantage over paint is that the stain penetrates the wood and breaths, from season to season, as the wood shrinks and swells. Requires an oil-based primer. The disadvatage to paint is that it is a flat finish, whereas paint can give you a satin finish. >>To Color Charts. ****PAINT The most durable of all the above finishes, and yet a finish that demands a maintenance schedule that, if neglected, will result in peeling and cracking. This in turn requires scraping and sanding prior to new coats. Scraping and sanding the designs of many of the CPW products can be a tedious affair. Paint requires one primer coat and two top coats. Paint does not penetrate the cedar as stains and oils do. As a result it does not stretch with the same elasticity as stains from season to season. In certain climates, it will crack and peel from the wood’s dimensional changes. |
A few notes regarding the application process.
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�1996-Present Charles Prowell
�1996-Present Charles Prowell