Bird
Epic Contributor
Thompson\'s Water Seal
There have been some posts in the past about the best finish to apply to decks, fences, and wood floors in trailers. I seem to recall some who didn't think too much of Thompson's Water Seal. Now many of you probably already know about the different types of Thompson's, but for those who don't (as I didn't) . . . .. I'd seen the stuff in the stores, but had not used it or paid much attention to the labels. However, when we bought this place, it had some cedar fence up beside that house that was in good condition, but as with most of them, it had turned gray, which I don't like. So one day at Walmart, I bought some Thompson's Water Seal, Rustic Red, and applied to the old fence; two coats, one day apart. It turned out pretty well, but of course, you're supposed to re-do it about once a year (some say about twice a year). And as with the clear stuff, it's an oil based sealer, so I had to clean up my spray gun with mineral spirits when I finished.
Now there was also a cedar fence across the back of the lot (chain link down each side) and that fence was not in very good shape. So we recently replaced it. But then I started doing some checking and found Thompson's also has a water based sealer they call "Advanced". It's more expensive, but the clear is supposed to last 2 years instead of one, and the tinted ones are supposed to last 3 years. The instructions say to apply with a brush or paint pad; NOT to use a roller (I'm not sure yet why not a roller), but it also says if you spray it, to have a brush or paint pad handy to "even it out". It also says to NOT apply a second coat without explaining why not. Now being one who hates using brushes, I just had to find out for myself. So I applied the "Advanced Honey Gold" with my one quart air powered paint spray gun; works quite well. However, I learned the "why" of some of the instructions. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I started at one end, finished at the other end, then went back and noticed some spots that were a bit thin, so I tried applying a little more. That does NOT work as it will with latex paint, or even the oil based Thompson's. Once the first coat has dried (which is pretty quickly), any more applied just beads up like water on a freshly waxed car. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
So the attached picture is what I ended up with, although it looks even brighter if I'd taken the picture earlier in the day when the sun was hitting it at an angle instead of straight overhead. Hope this helps if someone else, with no experience, tries it.
There have been some posts in the past about the best finish to apply to decks, fences, and wood floors in trailers. I seem to recall some who didn't think too much of Thompson's Water Seal. Now many of you probably already know about the different types of Thompson's, but for those who don't (as I didn't) . . . .. I'd seen the stuff in the stores, but had not used it or paid much attention to the labels. However, when we bought this place, it had some cedar fence up beside that house that was in good condition, but as with most of them, it had turned gray, which I don't like. So one day at Walmart, I bought some Thompson's Water Seal, Rustic Red, and applied to the old fence; two coats, one day apart. It turned out pretty well, but of course, you're supposed to re-do it about once a year (some say about twice a year). And as with the clear stuff, it's an oil based sealer, so I had to clean up my spray gun with mineral spirits when I finished.
Now there was also a cedar fence across the back of the lot (chain link down each side) and that fence was not in very good shape. So we recently replaced it. But then I started doing some checking and found Thompson's also has a water based sealer they call "Advanced". It's more expensive, but the clear is supposed to last 2 years instead of one, and the tinted ones are supposed to last 3 years. The instructions say to apply with a brush or paint pad; NOT to use a roller (I'm not sure yet why not a roller), but it also says if you spray it, to have a brush or paint pad handy to "even it out". It also says to NOT apply a second coat without explaining why not. Now being one who hates using brushes, I just had to find out for myself. So I applied the "Advanced Honey Gold" with my one quart air powered paint spray gun; works quite well. However, I learned the "why" of some of the instructions. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif I started at one end, finished at the other end, then went back and noticed some spots that were a bit thin, so I tried applying a little more. That does NOT work as it will with latex paint, or even the oil based Thompson's. Once the first coat has dried (which is pretty quickly), any more applied just beads up like water on a freshly waxed car. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
So the attached picture is what I ended up with, although it looks even brighter if I'd taken the picture earlier in the day when the sun was hitting it at an angle instead of straight overhead. Hope this helps if someone else, with no experience, tries it.
