Dyes are used on wood to enhance color and make them weather resistant. Sealants protect concrete and wood from moisture, but do not stop the movement of water through the concrete from outside. For masonry, sealants are the ideal product. Wood sealants are a completely different beast.
While staining is intended to provide beauty, the sealant is intended to provide longevity and strength. It does this by sealing the wood (hence the name) with a transparent and impermeable substance such as polyurethane. This prevents the wood from rotting and prevents moisture from seeping through condensation, where it can gradually cause cracks. Polyurethane, varnish and lacquer are proven sealants with excellent waterproofing properties.
They are brushed or sprayed onto clean, sanded wood and then allowed to dry completely, before re-sanding and lightly coating the part. Also make sure that the wood you are going to stain is completely dry. Oil-based dyes will tend to seal the wood, thus trapping moisture inside. This will eventually rot and your project will have to be repeated.
This might also be a good time for you to hire a professional gutter cleaning service like Gutter Cleaning Rocklin CA since clogged gutters can definitely cause moisture even after staining. This is also a good investment that will surely save you some money in the future since you can prevent like water damage.
Penetrating sealants such as Tang oil, linseed oil, hemp oil and waxes (natural or synthetic) mixed with mineral alcohols or vinegar are finishes that enter the grain of the wood to enhance it and highlight the shine of the wood; ideal for railings and furniture made of teak, cedar and mahogany. It is best to use a very thick piece of wood for safety reasons, since fine wood is very easy to break. I have stained my cover with acrylic dye and a sealant, and now I want to go over it with Thompson's clear sealant. However, since the dye has already sealed the grain of the wood, the sealant will not penetrate, nor will it penetrate well, and it will peel and peel off.
Since it's not a wood you want to brag about, I would recommend buying new wood and staining and sealing it or simply priming and painting the bench and sealing it so you don't have to do it again every year. If water forms droplets, the wood is not ready, but if water penetrates the wood, it is ready to be stained or sealed, a good indicator of pressure-treated wood that is often shipped wet. Most of the time, wood dyes are used to darken or lighten the natural shade of wood, but they are also available in brighter colors. Spraying a small amount of water on wood is a good way to check if it is ready to be sealed or stained.
It is worth mentioning that there are other wood finishes besides dyes and sealants that may interest you. Water-based dyes are also a better choice for woods that already have a natural resistance to rotting. A dye will protect the wood and provide a more uniform dye or color to the wood to complement the surrounding structures. We have years of experience building decks in a variety of wood types, as well as composite wood (such as Trex).
So choose the best wood dye if you want to color the grain of your wood project instead of protecting it from exposure.
