what type of varnish to use?

Question

I have a sunroom that I just built that has deck boards for flooring that I stained with a "cedar" toned "deckstain". It looks good and I like the color but want a nice glossy finish on it that will also stand up well. Also want the same result on some cedar trim on the outside that is also stained with the deckstain. What can I use that will apply over the existing stain to give me the gloss? Thanks

Answer 1

i used spar varnish on the floor in my kitchen about 4 yours ago and it looks great still you have to give it a couple coats and let it dry for a couple days but it realy holds up well and shines without even putting anything on it

Answer 2

Nothing with a shine holds up well exterior, on the exterior just let the deck stain be. Anything with a shine dries too hard and tend to crack with the expansion and contraction of the wood. In the sunroom, I would recommend the same, but if you really want a shine, then use a Marine Spar Varnish.

Answer 3

On the floor you can use any good polyurethane. On floors I prefer oil based over water base poly. It seems to hold up better to foot traffic. On the outside I would have used a different system. You could apply three coats of spar varnish on the outside trim. You will have to apply a maintenance coat on the outside every year. On the shady sides you might get away with every two years. Sunlight destroys clear finishes quickly.

Answer 4

My favorite is McKloskey's Ultra Spar marine varnish. Very high gloss holds up well to traffic and is the best I know of for exterior. Used it for some wood patio furniture and it took the weather very well.

Answer 5

I don't think they make a exterior varnish.
You can get an exterior polyurethane. The exterior polyurethane isn't cheep but it will work.