"Adrian C" wrote in message
...
I've got iroko timber around my south facing aluminium windows that I've
just sandpapered off the old mahogany coloured varnish. It's a hot ledge
when the sun is glaring at it (as it is today).

This varnish previously had been a mix of Ronseal exterior painted on top
of older Sikkens Cetol HLS / Filter, and was cracking quite badly so it
had to go. I've still got tinned remains of both Ronseal & Sikkens (last
used 2003) in the tool shed.

So... which do I use?

Ronseal: Lasts 5 years (it sez on the tin), Dry and recoatable in 6 hours,
in the future lightly rub down and recoat with same is minimal fuss. It's
not expensive.

Sikkens: Lasts ?, needs 16 hours wait between coats, needs one coat of HLS
and two of filter, in the future I'd only be happy stripping off to bare
wood to do it again. Costs a bit more. Lots.

Of course, I have a question mark above. How long does Sikkens normally
last in the glare of the unforgiving sun? In terms of wood protection, it
its use justified over Ronseal?

--
Adrian C

My personal experience - windows previously had been coated with some
unknown stain by the house builder so decided to completely strip the sashes
and frames down to bare wood and start afresh with *the best*. Applied
single coat of Cetol HLS plus, allowed a days drying and then applied 2
coats of Cetol Filter 7 over the course of the next 2 days, lightly rubbing
down with fine wire wool between coats. Result - after 3 years south facing
window sills started flaking off, followed by lower sash horizontals.

After 5 years windows were so flaky that I decided to again restrip the rear
of the house (the south facing side) and (on a friends recommendation) tried
Ronseal 5 year stain - 3 coats applied over 2 days with a light rub down
between 2nd and final coat. - result - after 7 years all surfaces are still
sound, although have given them a single coat top up as the surface is sound
but going dull. The Ronseal is much easier to use, fast drying (you could
do 3 coats in a day if pushed) and you can rinse out the brushes in water.

- I will carry on using Ronseal in the future!