The great British weather is a constant source of conversation. Complaints about rain, wind, sun, ice and snow is an almost daily occurrence. The weather will, of course, impact on your garden bench, with everything from the sun to rain slowly eroding away at its strength and structure. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and the boat owner who finds gratification in the wet, glossy look of a two-part varnish borne of painstaking preparation and careful application will weigh our test data much differently than the one who regards brightwork maintenance as a masochistic endeavor. For the latter, we recommend seeking out a varnish alternative (easy to apply, easy to maintain) that suits your tastes. With modest maintenance, the Cetol products with gloss overcoats have proven to be the most durable. In other words, if you want wood to maintain its natural color, then avoid applying a Linseed oil finish to it. There are only a few basic types of varnish, although in many cases hybrid products are available, particularly alkyd/ tung oil and alkyd/modified urethanes that can offer a wider range of desirable properties. Polyurethane boat varnish

Using the right brush is one of the most important ways to get a smooth, beautiful finish. The other is having the right technique. But all the technique in the world won’t help if you don’t have the right brush. Try painting your house with a push broom. You’ll get paint on the surface, but it won’t look good. The same holds true for applying finish coats of varnish with a foam brush, because even though foam brushes don’t leave brush marks, they tend to introduce more bubbles. Small bubbles can be sanded out of build coats, but not finish coats. The test was designed as an endurance test, a fight to the finish, so we have not done any maintenance coats or touch-ups to the test panels. These products can be expected to have much longer lifespans if they are regularly maintained. How We’re Rating the Marine Varnishes A marine varnish does a wonderful job of safeguarding the wood materials in your vessel. It helps inhibit mold and mildew accumulation, and avoids water penetration onto the wood as well. Aside from these, it can make the wood look more glossy and impressive, giving your vessel a more appealing and expensive look. Frequently Asked Questions Hardwood is exactly that – a hard wood from a tree that is slow growing. Thus, when felled and cut, the wood is made into a delightful garden bench. Robust and long lasting, a hard wood bench is ideal for any application in the garden. Scrapers for removing old varnish. Pull scrapers offer the best results with the least amount of effort and gouge potential.

Varnishing wood builds a protective layer over the wood, contributing not only to how long the hard wood garden bench will last but also its beauty. But it is important you use the right oil for the right application. For exterior wood furniture, for example, you need to choose an exterior oil that is water resistant and offers some kind of UV resistance too, to stop the sun bleaching the wood. If you want to make it a really good job, then take a leaf out of a sailor’s book and use an epoxy layer before you apply the exterior varnish. This combination means that the finish and protective coating lasts a long, long time and will put up with all kinds of weather and use. Garden furniture allows you to relax and enjoy the surroundings of your lush, colourful garden. Despite such a vast array of garden furniture, many people still enjoy the garden bench.

Usually, this doesn’t pose a problem on brown or reddish lumber. Especially if you wanted to further deepen the color of a wooden surface. Follow the instructions of each product, apply, wipe clean, and buff to a high shine. These cleaners will often leave an invisible residue that acts as a protective layer, keeping the plaque cleaner for longer. If you don’t sand over the final layer of epoxy, the exterior varnish will not have anything to adhere to. This means it will peel and bubble, and all your hard work is wasted.

As well as sanding lightly, sand your outdoor wooden bench with the grain – any swirl marks will stand out when you varnish the bench so take your time.

The other two-parts are still holding up well, with Interlux Perfection and Nautiking Nautithane offering uncompromised protection and better-than-expected gloss after 24 months. Perfection has been reformulated since the test began and is now sold as Perfection Plus. Practical Sailor often supplements panel testing with product challenges aboard our test boats to see whether top products still earn their keep in the real world and to try out new products. Two such evaluations are our exterior wood finish tests. To get the best finish and protection, you must choose the right kind of varnish. Always choose a varnish for hardwood and for exterior applications. Don’t be tempted to buy a cheaper varnish intended for interior use, assuming it will offer the same protection because it doesn’t and it won’t. PolyWhey vs. Cetol Death Match 2. The Cetol Natural Teak with Cetol Marine gloss overcoat still looks good on our Union 36 test boat three years after application. For the money, this is surely a worthwhile investment because it is not that overpriced and it also comes with a longer shelf-life and is quite easy to use. But, do keep in mind that it is necessary to apply more coats first before you observe some visible outcomes and you better not expect more from the manufacturer’s customer service support. 4. TotalBoat Lust Marine Varnish

Go for the one that features maximum UV protection, can help inhibit mildew or mold growth on the wood.