When left untreated and exposed to sunlight, the original colour of external vertical and horizontal wooden surfaces will fade into a grey/silver sheen.
For some, this effect is extremely desirable, however others wish to retain the natural hue and highlights in the wood. So what can be done to prevent this?
Vertical
UV Protection Oil for Wood
For wooden vertical surfaces, such as windows, doors, cladding, fencing and other vertical structured joinery, Osmo has developed a range of wood oil which will slow the greying process by offering UV protection to the wood surface.
To maintain the woods natural colour, a clear finish will be desired. Compared to untreated wood, Osmo UV-Protection Oil Clear will slow this process by (UV factor) 12 times! The clear finish of this exterior oil enhances the natural character of the wood, without affecting its colour.
The oil contains special ingredients which help the wood surface resist UV rays and in addition, the Extra Clear UV-Protection Oil actively protects against mould, algae and fungal attack too.
Enhanced Vertical UV Protection with Colours
Clear isn’t the only option. You can also get excellent UV protection from tinted and opaque oil colours. Available in natural colours – such as oak, larch and cedar, to name a few – oil tints intensify the natural colour of timber through the use of natural pigments. The transparent nature of the tinted oils allows the wood grain to remain visible after application!
If you are looking to make a statement, then an opaque satin finish from the Country Colour range is what you need. Country Colour is another natural wood oil by Osmo, which provides the best UV resistance.
With a choice of over 15 off the shelf colours to choose from the options don’t stop there, as custom colours from the RAL chart can also be produced to order.
Horizontal
Protecting Wooden Surfaces from Harmful UV Rays
Osmo oils can also be used on horizontal surfaces, such as decking, garden furniture and other wooden structures, to provide them resistance to the weathering process.
Unlike vertical wooden structures, it’s recommended that Osmo Decking Oils (11 tints) or Natural Oil Woodstain (19 tints) be used rather than the Clear, Osmo UV-Protection Oil.
After extensive testing, Osmo UV-Protection Clear Oil requires a minimum drip angle of 15-degrees to offer suitable resistance, and so this is why it is best suited to vertical or incline wood structures.
Why?
An uncovered horizontal surface allows rain to remain on the wood surface for potentially long periods of time. This significantly reduces the UV resistance of Clear Osmo Oil and so the wood will naturally grey much quicker, increasing your ongoing maintenance and upkeep.
Still desire a clear finish?
If a clear finish is desired, Decking-Oil 007 Teak (Clear) is recommended, although the surface will grey naturally over time.
Maintenance: How often do I need to reapply oil?
As with so many products in the Osmo range, the wood oils offering UV protection are easy to use on first time application, with little to no preparation required. As always, it is advised you carry out a test on a small area first to make sure you are happy in your choice of finish.
Needing just two coats of the product, your vertical or horizontal wooden surface is protected and no cracking, peeling, flaking or lamination should be experienced.
Weathering Effect
If the area treated is in a sheltered spot, then re-application may not be required for 2-3 years. However, for exposed areas subject to strong weathering, such as horizontal or south facing surfaces, then the renovation intervals will be a lot shorter. Keep an eye out for grey spots or uneven wear from month to month, and reapply where applicable.
Just like us humans need protection from the harmful UV rays to stop the aging process, so does the natural surface of wood.
The Osmo UV oils range offer the best protection, helping preserve and protect investments made in external furniture, wooden crafted window frames, cladding and decking for years to come.
Buy Your Industry-Leading UV-Protection Oil
Osmo understands that only a suitable wood finish can effectively meet the needs of wood whilst retaining its natural beauty and durability. That’s why Osmo has worked diligently over the last 40-years to develop and pioneer a micro-porous, natural oil-based deck stain with an extensive selection of decking stain colours to meet customer requirements.
Find a supplier nearby today!
Osmo UK works closely with a large network of suppliers throughout the UK and worldwide to offer all of its products in-store at your local trade shop or online.
