It’s designed to penetrate deep into the wood to replace the natural oils lost over time through weathering, and to offer deep-seated protection against splitting and drying, while the tinted oil brings out the colour in greyed wood for a fresh look.

A water-based, penetrating sealer will often slightly raise the wood grain, which can lead to a rough surface feel. This happens when the moisture in the sealer causes the wood grain to swell and push upward. When the wood dries, the grain remains slightly higher in spots. Sheen: While water-based sealers rarely provide a finished sheen on the wood’s surface, oil-based sealers will often impart a slight sheen.Only apply the product onto wood that is fully dry. Ensure the temperature is between 5 and 25 degrees Celsius and there is no imminent rain forecast. Do not apply in damp or humid conditions. Failure to meet these requirements may adversely affect the drying and durability of the finish. We brushed on a light coat of this spar urethane, and it went on smoothly and uniformly. It has strong fumes, so we opened a window and turned on a fan while working with the product. This sealer takes slightly longer to dry than some of the others we tested, and the manufacturer suggests a minimum of three coats, so we applied the subsequent coats 4 hours apart. We then waited a recommended 3 days after the final application before starting our tests. Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement. Water-based sealers: A coat of water-based sealer typically dries to the touch within 1 to 3 hours as long as the temperature is between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity is 50 percent or lower. Users can apply a second coat a few hours after the sealer is dry to the touch. Cure time (when the sealer has dried sufficiently for placing heavy furniture or walking) can be up to 24 hours.

Thompson’s WaterSeal Clear Wood Sealer is one of the best options on this list for superior protection against water damage. Why Trust Bob Vila After a month outdoors, the section treated with SmartGuard still repelled water, and while we could not see any surface film whatsoever, we did notice that the wood on the treated section still looked newer than the untreated section. This sealer protects without leaving a visible trace. Brush: Start in the furthest corner and using a good quality brush, apply along the length of the board in the direction of the grain.We will be happy to organise an exchange for the correct goods at no extra charge to yourself, please get in touch to organise this. Faulty Items Shake / mix well before use and frequently during application (thorough mixing is needed to ensure a consistent colour throughout the treatment).