Clearing Confusion on Clears
Every week it seems you see, hear or read about another new
clear product on the market. If you’re confused about
clears, wood preservatives, water-proofers or sealers that claim they will protect, preserve, seal and last longer, work better and go further than the competition. Let’s try to clear the air of confusion about
clears with some straight talk. When choosing a
finish for wood, there are two elements to consider:
aesthetics and
protection.
- Aesthetically, there is a growing trend among homeowners to try and maintain the “natural” look of the wood’s original color. However, the best protection from the sun‘s U.V. rays is pigment and a delicate balance of resins, solids, chemical preservatives and/or waxes to protect the wood from moisture.
Thus the problem: balancing the
aesthetic desires of the homeowner with the
protective requirements of the wood surface. Given this delicate balancing act,
stain manufacturers have produced a number of
clear products to meet the aesthetic desires of the homeowner, as well as the
protective requirements of the wood.
Clear products can be classified into three distinctive categories:
- Water Proofer/Sealers
- Wood Preservatives
- U.V.-Resistant Clears (blocking or absorbing)
Government regulations on raw materials used in the products, along with changing technology, has caused an abundance of new clear products on the market.
High solids, water based, oil emulsion and traditional solvent based are just a few examples of the different
types of clears sold within each of the three distinctive
categories of clears. So, when choosing a
clear product, it is important to match the
aesthetic desires with the protective requirements of the wood and, at the same time, understand the limitations of the product.
Water-Proofing Sealers
Clear products that fall into this category are
clear penetrating finishes. They typically contain a large amount of wax, usually paraffin, or some other proprietary wax that reduces the amount of water absorbed into the
wood, thus preventing swelling, shrinking, warping and splitting. Because moisture is repelled, fungus, such as mildew, does not have the moisture needed to grow. These products offer
spectacular beading of water upon initial application. However, they offer the wood
no protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, resulting in the
wood turning a yellow-gray,
and then black. In addition,
water-proofing sealers rarely contain more than just a small amount of resin. Thus the wax in the product quickly breaks down, and the water-beading properties vanish.
The life expectancy of these products range from 6 months - 1 year on horizontal surfaces (decks), to 1-2 years on vertical surfaces. Examples of such products would include Thompson’s Water Seal, Cuprinol Clear Wood Seal and
Cabot’s Clear Decking Stain. Cabot uses a complex mixture of micronized wax, dispersed in hydrocarbons, in our Clear Decking Stain. This micronized, water-repellent mixture is more easily dispersed within the resins of the product, providing water repellency wherever the product has penetrated the wood, not just the top surface.
Wood-Preserving Clears
These clears are very similar in appearance to water sealers/proofers except that they
contain less wax, no resin, and an added EPA registered fungicide. Usually the amount of EPA approved fungicide is so slight that they add no significant benefit to the homeowner. The addition of these chemicals to the product, and the subsequent EPA registration, allows manufacturers to use the words “
Wood Preserving” when describing the product. Without the EPA approved fungicide and registration, the “
Wood Preserving” terminology is not allowed on the product’s label or literature. However,
they offer the wood no protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, resulting in the wood turning a yellow-gray, and then black. In addition,
wood-preserving clears do not contain any resins. Thus, the small amount of wax in the product quickly breaks down, and the waterbeading properties vanish.
The life expectancy of these products can range from 6 months - 1 year.
Wood Preserving Clears are becoming scarce in today’s marketplace for several reasons:
The government has placed restrictions on some of the most commonly used fungicides used in this category of clears, and at the same time the reduction of these fungicides has left these clear products less effective. Also, the cost of the fungicides has caused manufacturers to take a closer look at the formulations. More recently, the widespread availability and use of pressure-treated wood has also had a negative effect on the popularity of Wood Preserving Clears. Wood Preservatives still on the market include
Benjamin Moore 088 and
Olympic Clear Wood Preservative. Increased regulations on the use of fungicides will contribute to the
decline of products in this category.
U.V.-Resistant Clears are not truly clear, but rather products that impart a
slight amber color or tone. To achieve this slight amber cast and afford the wood some protection from the sun’s U.V. rays, manufacturers will use everything from
heavy dark neutral oils to transoxide pigments.
Transoxide pigments are translucent and highlight the grain and texture of the wood. Because there is pigment in the product,
the wood is receiving protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Transoxide pigments are also versatile, finding success not only in traditional product formulas, but also in VOC-compliant formulas. The life expectancy of U.V.-
Resistant Clears can range from 1-2 years on horizontal surfaces (decks), to 2-4 years on vertical surfaces. Cabot’s high-penetrating
Clear Solution and Australian Timber Oil® provides a durable finish for both decks and siding. By penetrating deeply into the wood,
Cabot Clear Solution and Australian Timber Oil provide increased protection to not only the wood surface, but also the underlying wood fibers.
Matching the aesthetic desires of the homeowner with
the protective requirements of the wood is a
delicate balancing act. By having a clear understanding of the customer’s needs and by careful explanation of the benefits and limitations of the various clears,
customer expectations will be satisfied.
Wholesale Stain
