I built an outdoor shower using pressure-treated wood and applied an exterior wood stain and sealer to it. Now, I'm considering whether I should add two coats of exterior polyurethane clear semi-gloss on top of that. Will this provide additional protection, or is it just unnecessary?
2 Answers
Actually, there's no such thing as true exterior polyurethane. What you should look for is spar urethane, which is better suited for outdoor conditions. Make sure to check if your current stain and sealer will work with any clear coat you're considering. You might need to take apart your shower to apply coatings properly since urethane requires sealing both sides to prevent peeling. Also, don't skip on those five coats; it's what many manufacturers recommend for outdoor durability!
Yeah, definitely worth disassembling for a proper seal, especially since you've gone through the effort to stain it already!
Applying a clear coat can definitely help with wear and UV protection, but be careful—it can make surfaces slippery. If you've already got a stain that protects against mold and color fade, you might only need it on the walls for extra UV benefits.
Great suggestion! I hadn't thought about the slipping aspect; thanks for the heads-up!
That's a good point! Just make sure to follow up with good maintenance every year or so.