December 22, 2022
Oil or Lacquer? The Best Finish for Outdoor Wood
Two ways to protect wood
There are basically two families of finish for wood exposed to the elements: oils and lacquer/polyurethane coatings. The right choice depends on whether the piece lives indoors or outdoors — and outdoors, the difference is significant.
Why oil wins outdoors
Oil is absorbed into the wood and seals the pores from the inside, instead of forming a surface layer. That lets it repel water without cracking or peeling under sun and rain exposure. It needs maintenance roughly every 12 months, but that upkeep is simple and preserves the wood's natural look.
Lacquer or polyurethane, by contrast, is meant for indoor furniture. Outdoors it develops white staining, cracks and peels over time — and unlike oil, a scratch in lacquer can't be spot-repaired: the whole surface has to be sanded and refinished.
Bottom line
For doors, gates, floors and pergolas exposed to the weather, oil is the finish that ages best over time.
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