Hey everyone! I just got a cedar Gorilla outdoor playground, and I'm on the hunt for the best way to seal and protect it from the elements. I've been looking into spar urethane, but I'd love some advice on a few specifics:
1. Should I go with oil-based or water-based? I hear oil-based might hold up better, but I'm worried about it yellowing since the cedar has a nice reddish tone.
2. What about the finish options? I'm torn between "Crystal Clear Satin," "Clear Satin," "Clear Gloss," and "Clear Semi-Gloss." Any suggestions?
3. Where's the best place to buy this? Is Varathane from Home Depot a good choice, or should I look elsewhere?
Thanks a ton for any tips you can share!
3 Answers
Keep in mind that if you go with a top-coat finish like spar urethane, you’ll probably need to scrape and sand off the old finish and reapply every 3-4 years since it can peel and look bad over time.
Honestly, unless you're okay with redoing it every year or two, I’d just let the cedar age naturally. It's not a life-or-death structure and you can enjoy it as is!
You should reach out to the seller to find out if they use a water or oil based stain on their products. It's been a year since I asked, and I never got a response.