Sealing My Cedar Porch With Pine Tar And Linseed Oil

Earlier than I may even get to the pine tar utility, I had fairly a little bit of prep work to do. I had already sanded the porch just a few of weeks in the past, however I had solely sanded it with the intent to color the porch, so it was nonetheless trying fairly splotchy with a whole lot of the previous stain left behind. I additionally didn’t take any time to sand the seen areas between the boards.

After which I sanded the entire thing once more with each 60-grit and 80-grit sanding discs. This time, I made certain to get the seen areas between the boards, and I acquired all the previous stain off of the boards that I presumably may.

Earlier than making use of the pine tar and linseed oil, I examined the boards with the water take a look at to verify they had been prepared for a penetrating product. To do the water take a look at, you merely drip water onto the boards (I examined in about three areas) and see if the water soaks in or if it beads up on the boards. If the water beads up on prime, it’s a must to do extra sanding as a result of if water beads on the boards, the boards gained’t absorb the end. But when the water soaks into the boards, you’re prepared for the penetrating end.

The wooden filling, sanding, and cleansing course of was the toughest and longest a part of the method. I don’t have a elaborate mud collector on my handheld sander, so it made an enormous mess and left mud all over the place. After the whole lot was sanded, I used my Store Vac to hoover the porch boards in addition to the siding to take away all the mud, after which I adopted up by sweeping the boards very well to verify all the mud was gone.

That is the pine tar that I used, which I purchased from Earth + Flax, and I selected the Genuine Brown colour. It is available in a extra pure colour if that’s what you like, however I really like a darkish stained porch. Each time I’ve stained my porch prior to now, I’ve at all times chosen a darkish colour. I simply love the excessive distinction of the darkish boards and the white trim.

I’ve by no means used pine tar earlier than, so I wasn’t fairly certain what to anticipate. In my thoughts, one thing referred to as “tar” can be very thick, however because it turned out, it was really very skinny. It needs to be combined very well earlier than you combine the pine tar with the linseed oil.

That is the linseed oil I used, which I additionally bought from Earth + Flax.

I initially combined the pine tar and linseed oil in a 1:1 ratio. The colour was very stable, so after testing that out on one small board within the far nook, I remixed it to at least one half pine tar to 2 components linseed oil. It was nonetheless actually darkish (which I needed), however with the brand new ratio, it seemed loads much less stable.

I utilized the pine tar/linseed oil combination with a 3-inch brush. It’s presupposed to be utilized in skinny coats, however I did discover some buildup in areas as I went alongside. So I did two boards all the way in which throughout at a time, let it soak in very well, after which went again and wiped any extra off with paper towels.

Observe: Any paper towels or rags with linseed oil must be positioned in a bucket of water after use. Linseed oil can spontaneously combust because the oil oxidizes if the warmth can’t escape because it dries. So by no means go away a used, wadded up rag full of linseed oil mendacity round. After use, simply put it straight right into a bucket of water.

Sadly, I ran out of time and didn’t get the pine tar/linseed oil on the entire porch and steps. I labored till 9:30 final night time, working by the sunshine of my entrance porch lights, after which determined to name it quits for the day. However I completely love the way in which that is turning out.

It’s actually darkish proper now, however I’m fairly certain it’ll fade some over time.

Since this was my first time utilizing pine tar, and I volunteered to be the guinea pig for these of you who had been interested by it, right here’s my real opinion.

1. It’s extremely straightforward to use. I discover it a lot simpler to make use of than any of the prior stain merchandise I’ve used. I used to be very shocked on the constant colour over the entire space, which is usually exhausting to get with a normal stain product. With stain, you usually get darker areas in the event you’ve already stained an space and you then attempt to mix in a brand new space. The colour builds, and it will get darker the place the comb strokes overlap. That doesn’t at all times occur, but it surely’s fairly widespread with stain. That by no means occurred with this pine tar/linseed oil combination.
2. It has a really robust scent, which I used to be warned about a number of instances. However the scent is in contrast to previous merchandise I’ve used. The previous stains and different merchandise I’ve used have an unnatural chemical scent. That’s what I’m used to. Pine tar doesn’t have a chemical scent, but it surely does scent like a campfire. After making use of it, you will scent such as you’ve spent your entire day standing round a campfire. Truthfully, I’d reasonably scent a campfire than robust chemical substances.
3. The one disadvantage to pine tar and linseed oil is that it takes loads longer to dry. After I end this coat, I should wait 72 hours to use the following coat. After which it takes weeks for it to totally treatment. You don’t have to attend that lengthy to stroll on it, but it surely’s a really slow-drying, slow-curing product. In order that’s undoubtedly one thing to contemplate in the event you’re wanting a fast turnaround so as to instantly begin utilizing your deck or porch.

Anyway, up to now, I’m an enormous fan of pine tar. I feel it’s lovely and extremely straightforward to make use of. And most of all, I really like that it’s all pure. I’m not coating my entrance porch with chemical substances. That’s a giant plus.