Just bought a set of garage doors from ebay
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5wn987 (not exactly those - ours have no windows)
and I've got to say, they're very good. I couldn't even buy the wood round
here to make them myself for £49 and to be honest, I'd probably cock it up
anyway. I like to work (read mess about) with wood but I'm just not very
good at it (

Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than painting, but
would that provide adequate protection? I know that if we were going to
paint them, we'd start off with knotting, primer, undercoat and finally
exterior gloss, but what's the procedure when you just want to keep the look
of the wood?

TIA

John

John wrote:
Just bought a set of garage doors from ebay
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5wn987 (not exactly those - ours have no windows)
and I've got to say, they're very good. I couldn't even buy the wood round
here to make them myself for �49 and to be honest, I'd probably cock it up
anyway. I like to work (read mess about) with wood but I'm just not very
good at it (

Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than painting, but
would that provide adequate protection? I know that if we were going to
paint them, we'd start off with knotting, primer, undercoat and finally
exterior gloss, but what's the procedure when you just want to keep the look
of the wood?

TIA

John



Recently someone posted about Sikkens being good stuff. So I have used
it on our shed door. Only a few weeks of experience (not exactly a
durability study), but it was nice to use and *seems* to have produced a
lovely smooth, tough coat. (Despite the door having become a bit sad
over the last couple of years.)

Their varnish-like products do have a pigment in them - so you have to
choose a colour. But you do still see the full grain. The claim seems to
be that the pigment (iron oxides, IIRC) actually provides a huge part of
the protection.

http://www.sikkens.co.uk/en/Sikkens+Home+Page.htm

Not cheap but very good coverage. Bought from Jewsons - I smiled nicely
at the young saleslady and the price became competitive.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

On 12 Jun, 16:14, "John" replyingroup@notemail wrote:
Just bought a set of garage doors from ebayhttp://preview.tinyurl.com/5wn987(not exactly those - ours have no windows)
and I've got to say, they're very good. I couldn't even buy the wood round
here to make them myself for £49 and to be honest, I'd probably cock it up
anyway. I like to work (read mess about) with wood but I'm just not very
good at it *(

Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than painting, but
would that provide adequate protection? I know that if we were going to
paint them, we'd start off with knotting, primer, undercoat and finally
exterior gloss, but what's the procedure when you just want to keep the look
of the wood?

TIA

John

Dear John
Protection against what?
Answering my own question presumably
a) insect attack
b) fungal decay
c) UV degratation

If I were to want to protect the wood without painting I would
1) take it to a double vacuum treatment plant (Protimising) that still
was operating on OS (organic solvent) and slip the operator a fiver to
leave them in the bottom of the cylinder for a couple of days work so
several charge cycles (absent this one will suffice)
2) allow it to dry for several days / week until dry
3) paint it first with a low build non-viscous Water Repellant
Preservative Stain (Saddolins) paying particular attention to the
bottom joints and endgrain where the rain will hit it and, if
necessary, dipping in the paint for some minutes
4) paint it then with a medium build WRPS in the "colour" I liked
which still allowed the wood to be "seen". There is a trade off with
the opacity and UV degradation which only you can decide

If I was painting it (I would not) I would do steps 1 and 2 as above
and then
3) green primer of Dulux Weathersheald followed by exterior under (x2)
and gloss (x1)

Trouble with this is that you have to get rid of the gloss in about 7
years and start again which is not true of WRPSs which simply chalk
off in a couple or 4 years

Chris G

wrote:
On 12 Jun, 16:14, "John" replyingroup@notemail wrote:
Just bought a set of garage doors from
ebayhttp://preview.tinyurl.com/5wn987(not exactly those - ours have
no windows) and I've got to say, they're very good. I couldn't even
buy the wood round
here to make them myself for £49 and to be honest, I'd probably cock
it up
anyway. I like to work (read mess about) with wood but I'm just not
very
good at it (

Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than
painting, but
would that provide adequate protection? I know that if we were going
to
paint them, we'd start off with knotting, primer, undercoat and
finally
exterior gloss, but what's the procedure when you just want to keep
the look
of the wood?

TIA

John

Dear John
Protection against what?
Answering my own question presumably
a) insect attack
b) fungal decay
c) UV degratation

If I were to want to protect the wood without painting I would
1) take it to a double vacuum treatment plant (Protimising) that still
was operating on OS (organic solvent) and slip the operator a fiver to
leave them in the bottom of the cylinder for a couple of days work so
several charge cycles (absent this one will suffice)
2) allow it to dry for several days / week until dry
3) paint it first with a low build non-viscous Water Repellant
Preservative Stain (Saddolins) paying particular attention to the
bottom joints and endgrain where the rain will hit it and, if
necessary, dipping in the paint for some minutes
4) paint it then with a medium build WRPS in the "colour" I liked
which still allowed the wood to be "seen". There is a trade off with
the opacity and UV degradation which only you can decide

If I was painting it (I would not) I would do steps 1 and 2 as above
and then
3) green primer of Dulux Weathersheald followed by exterior under (x2)
and gloss (x1)

Trouble with this is that you have to get rid of the gloss in about 7
years and start again which is not true of WRPSs which simply chalk
off in a couple or 4 years

Chris G

Dear Chris,

Whilst I did ask the question and although I am very grateful for, and very
impressed by, your extensive answer, I'm afraid that most of it went
straight o'er me ed mate )

All I really wanted to know is, instead of painting the garage doors white
again like I've done every four or so years with the last lot, would stain
and varnish be as good at keeping the weather at bay - it is only a set of
garage doors costing £49 )

Rod wrote:
John wrote:
Just bought a set of garage doors from ebay
http://preview.tinyurl.com/5wn987 (not exactly those - ours have no
windows) and I've got to say, they're very good. I couldn't even buy
the wood round here to make them myself for ?49 and to be honest,
I'd probably cock it up anyway. I like to work (read mess about)
with wood but I'm just not very good at it (

Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than
painting, but would that provide adequate protection? I know that if
we were going to paint them, we'd start off with knotting, primer,
undercoat and finally exterior gloss, but what's the procedure when
you just want to keep the look of the wood?

TIA

John



Recently someone posted about Sikkens being good stuff. So I have used
it on our shed door. Only a few weeks of experience (not exactly a
durability study), but it was nice to use and *seems* to have
produced a lovely smooth, tough coat. (Despite the door having become
a bit sad over the last couple of years.)

Their varnish-like products do have a pigment in them - so you have to
choose a colour. But you do still see the full grain. The claim seems
to be that the pigment (iron oxides, IIRC) actually provides a huge
part of the protection.

http://www.sikkens.co.uk/en/Sikkens+Home+Page.htm

Not cheap but very good coverage. Bought from Jewsons - I smiled
nicely at the young saleslady and the price became competitive.

Cheers Rod, I'll give it a coat of looking at )

John

On Jun 12, 4:14*pm, "John" replyingroup@notemail wrote:
Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than painting, but
would that provide adequate protection?

Sikkens or Restol, applied as per directions.

Decorating Direct (google) do them at good prices if not available
locally.

Not varnish, unless you're a varnishista, in which case you wouldn't
be asking

cheers,
Pete.

Pete C wrote:
On Jun 12, 4:14 pm, "John" replyingroup@notemail wrote:
Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than
painting, but would that provide adequate protection?

Sikkens or Restol, applied as per directions.

Decorating Direct (google) do them at good prices if not available
locally.

Not varnish, unless you're a varnishista, in which case you wouldn't
be asking

cheers,
Pete.

Thanks Pete, that's two for Sikkens so it'll probably be that then )

John

John wrote:
Pete C wrote:
On Jun 12, 4:14 pm, "John" replyingroup@notemail wrote:
Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than
painting, but would that provide adequate protection?
Sikkens or Restol, applied as per directions.

Decorating Direct (google) do them at good prices if not available
locally.

Not varnish, unless you're a varnishista, in which case you wouldn't
be asking

cheers,
Pete.

Thanks Pete, that's two for Sikkens so it'll probably be that then )

John


Do read up on their site. Don't use knotting.

Enjoy.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

On 12 Jun, 19:44, "John" replyingroup@notemail wrote:
wrote:
On 12 Jun, 16:14, "John" replyingroup@notemail wrote:
Just bought a set of garage doors from
ebayhttp://preview.tinyurl.com/5wn987(notexactly those - ours have
no windows) and I've got to say, they're very good. I couldn't even
buy the wood round
here to make them myself for £49 and to be honest, I'd probably cock
it up
anyway. I like to work (read mess about) with wood but I'm just not
very
good at it (

Anyway, we fancy just staining and varnishing them rather than
painting, but
would that provide adequate protection? I know that if we were going
to
paint them, we'd start off with knotting, primer, undercoat and
finally
exterior gloss, but what's the procedure when you just want to keep
the look
of the wood?

TIA

John

Dear John
Protection against what?
Answering my own question presumably
a) insect attack
b) fungal decay
c) UV degratation

If I were to want to protect the wood without painting I would
1) take it to a double vacuum treatment plant (Protimising) that still
was operating on OS (organic solvent) and slip the operator a fiver to
leave them in the bottom of the cylinder for a couple of days work so
several charge cycles (absent this one will suffice)
2) allow it to dry for several days / week until dry
3) paint it first with a low build non-viscous Water Repellant
Preservative Stain (Saddolins) paying particular attention to the
bottom joints and endgrain where the rain will hit it and, if
necessary, dipping in the paint for some minutes
4) paint it then with a medium build WRPS in the "colour" I liked
which still allowed the wood to be "seen". There is a trade off with
the opacity and UV degradation which only you can decide

If I was painting it (I would not) I would do steps 1 and 2 as above
and then
3) green primer of Dulux Weathersheald followed by exterior under (x2)
and gloss (x1)

Trouble with this is that you have to get rid of the gloss in about 7
years and start again which is not true of WRPSs which simply chalk
off in a couple or 4 years

Chris G

Dear Chris,

Whilst I did ask the question and although I am very grateful for, and very
impressed by, your extensive answer, I'm afraid that most of it went
straight o'er me ed mate *)

All I really wanted to know is, instead of painting the garage doors white
again like I've done every four or so years with the last lot, would stain
and varnish be as good at keeping the weather at bay - it is only a set of
garage doors costing £49 *)- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

John
Short answer "No". Stain and varnish would degrade pretty quickly.
First the varnish would micro crack (you don't see it) due to UV
degradation, then water would get in and not get out, then you would
get precursor blue stain fungi (which don't damage the wood but do
discolour) and finally both UV and fungal decay damage. All this would
go on under the "apparently" good varnish before it became really
obvious. That is why it is necessary in boats to varnish more often
than appearances dictate.
If you want the varnish look go for a WRP stain but it is not really
equivalent to a stain as good ones are opaque.
Chris