Wood has always been mankind’s favorite building material, from buildings to furniture, humans have used wood to build things for thousands of years. There’s no wonder why wood is the most popular material because of its durability and flexibility.
The only problem with this practical material is that it’s affected easily by the changing elements and because it is an organic material it is susceptible to rot.
Humidity, change in weather conditions and temperature changes can cause the wood to expand or shrink, meaning that any wooden structures exposed to the elements can become distorted.
So how can this be minimized? Well, that’s where wood sealers come into it. Wood sealers do exactly what their name says, they seal the wood’s surface to prevent moisture and water from the environment entering the wood.
This means that it will be impervious to the elements and keep its strong shape and structure.
If you type in wood sealers on Google, chances are you’ll find thousands of products that look the exact same, and it can be a headache trying to find the best one.
So, to save you the hassle we’ve done that job for you and scoured the internet for the most effective wood sealers that have been recommended by woodworking experts, and sorted below are a list of 8 of the most effective wood sealers that have been recommended by them.
1. DEFY Crystal Clear Sealer
Composite wood can be tricky to seal since it’s a mixture of various materials, but this wood sealer can easily protect your composite wood from rot, mildew and mold. It provides a clear and durable finish.
This wood sealer’s ingredients include zinc nano-particles which is a natural deterrent to black algae stains and protects your wood from the sun’s UV rays which keeps your wood’s color from fading and fungal growth.
It’s also much easier to clean up after you’re finished as it’s a water based composition. This product’s biggest selling point is that it has better longevity than its competitors and will typically last between a year or two longer than them.
However, there have been a few negative reviews regarding this item saying that they could not tell a difference when applying this wood sealer.
This most likely means that it needs a few coats to be effective, which isn’t great when you take into consideration that this is one of the more expensive wood sealers on the list.
2. Pure Tung Oil Natural Wood Sealer
Tung oil is thousands of years old so you know it’s good if it’s still being used now, the wood sealer is all natural so there’s no need to worry about toxic fumes.
It’s highly resistant to water, alcohol and food acids, so rest assured any spills won’t ruin the surface and it provides a hard wearing finish. It also adds a beautiful matte finish which resembles an antique-style finish on interior or exterior surfaces.
3. Eco-Advance Exterior Wood Waterproofer
This is an environmentally friendly spray on wood sealer that’s safe to use around most living things. Its spray-on formula gives it long lasting protection on most exterior wood surfaces, it’s also water repellent so it resists mold growth and mildew.
It dries clear without affecting the surface’s appearance and is vapor permeable.
4. Thompson’s Water Seal
Within the woodworking community, Thompson’s is a trusted and tried brand for wood and concrete waterproofing. Most experts will always recommend this due to its excellent reputation.
But let’s look at the actual specifications of the wood sealer. It provides superb weather protection and when applied forms a transparent and waterproof barrier to resist mold and mildew.
It’s also super long lasting, so you won’t have to keep applying coat after coat every few years. It can apply on damp or dry wood and can be used on most exterior surfaces.
However, some people have complained of an oily scum being left after the product dries which is hard to remove without damaging the finish, just something to note.
5. Rainguard Premium Wood Sealer
Rainguard is another highly rated brand and is regarded as the best wood sealer for vertical and horizontal surfaces. It is formulated with a water-based silane and siloxane blend to provide immense protection against torrential rain, mold and mildew.
The formula dries invisible, won’t yellow and doesn’t create a slippery film like a lot of other sealers will. The wood sealer also protects from freezing and thawing, so it’s great if you live in a colder climate.
The only real problem this product has is that it requires mixing with a certain ratio to water, this can be bothersome for the average person, but this also allows you to create two gallons of the wood sealer from one quart.
So it’s definitely an advantage if you’re willing to do the boring work at the start.
6. Anchorseal 2
This wood sealer is a hybrid of plant based polymers and wax. It’s most commonly used to protect the ends of green logs and lumber from splitting, it can prevent about 90% of end checking and ensures the wood’s life is extended.
It is water based with no solvents so it is non hazardous and is available in winter and summer formulas, so can be used in a hotter or colder climate.
As long as your wood has some sort of end grain on it, then this product can be used. Anchorseal is actually the top choice for most woodworking experts when it comes to preventing or fixing end grain checking.
7. Ready Seal Stain And Sealer For Wood
This product is useful if you’re looking for a wood stain and sealer, as it combines them both. It claims that it can handle all aspects of any outdoor wood projects. It offers a valuable coat of protection for any outdoor furniture and this also includes protection from UV rays.
This wood sealer and stain also is versatile enough to adapt to whatever wood type you have. The oil based formula prevents water, mold and mildew from penetrating the wood but as it is a stain it will need to be reapplied every 2 years.
8. Roxil Wood Protection Cream
Roxil Wood Protection Cream is a silicone cream emulsion that is used to protect timber (though it can be applied on most types of wood) and it’ll do this through a single coat.
Again, it will protect the wood from moisture seeping into it which will result in color fade, mold and algae growth.
It won’t change the appearance of the wood but it will give the wood a waterproof barrier and can protect most exterior wooden surfaces from the elements
Final Thoughts
Wood sealer is a fairly simple product, but the sheer amount of products available on the market can make it a nightmare to find the correct one for your needs.
As you can see from the list, many wood sealers will do different things and some even have an added bonus, such as being a wood stain as well as a wood sealer like Ready Seal Stain And Sealer For Wood but there’s also an overwhelming amount of wood sealers out there that will dry invisibly to ensure your wooden structure has a natural look.
We hope that we’ve given you a head start for when you go looking for the right wood sealer for you by giving you what woodworking experts recommend most.
