Treating Douglas wood

Douglas fir is becoming increasingly popular. It is a sustainable choice, environmentally friendly, good for the wallet, has a high quality and a beautiful color. If you really want to get the most out of this wood, then choose Douglas wood treat. This way you extend the life of your fence, porch or garden furniture to the maximum. 

Why treating is smart

Douglas wood is a fairly strong wood by itself. Without treatment, it will still last about 10-15 years. However, if you leave the wood to its natural course, it will age over time. The characteristic orange tint will gradually disappear. 

More annoying, however, is that it does not stand up well to prolonged moisture. It can also suffer from dehydration. So with our Dutch winter months getting wetter and summers actually getting drier and warmer, the conclusion is quickly drawn that treating Douglas-fir has become extra important. 

What is the best thing to treat Douglas fir wood with? 

Before you begin treatment, it is important that the wood is thoroughly clean. This will ensure that the oil, paint or stain can soak in properly and the best possible result awaits you. 

Treating Douglas wood with oil

Do you greatly love the natural look of the wood and want to keep it as long as possible? Then treating Douglas wood with clear oil is a smart idea. The fact that the oil is well absorbed by the wood will prevent the usual aging that normally occurs over time. 

However, you should keep in mind that this treatment should be repeated fairly regularly, every 2-3 years. 

Treating Douglas wood with paint

If you would like to benefit from all the positive characteristics of the wood but don't like the color, then painting is a good solution. By doing so, you also automatically choose the best possible sustainable protection for the wood.

Painting, however, is a time-consuming job, since the wood has to be impregnated beforehand. On the other hand, treating Douglas fir with paint ensures that you won't have to worry about it for the next 10-12 years. 

Treating Douglas wood with stain

The difference between stain and oil is actually not very big. Still, there are differences that can be decisive, especially based mostly on your personal preference. Indeed, although stain provides better protection than oil, it gives a less natural-looking result. On the other hand, the darker the stain is in color, the higher the protection factor is.