Outside signage finish

[lonepine]

For an outside sign, that is a crest, with painted background, letters and designs with outside acrylic paint. What finish could be recommended? I didn't want it to yellow...I was thinking of Man O War Spar varnish...Is there anything else out there? Bob.

[jttheclockman]

Just out of curiosity why do you want to cover with a varnish when you said you used outside acrlyic paint already. You don't see people putting varnish on their houses. A outside stain with more pigment in it is also good and will stand up. My suggestion is put nothing on it. Spar varnish is good for natural wood or wood that is lightly stained. My opinion only of course.

[lonepine]

John, I was trying to extend the life of the paint pattern. It was a lot of work painting this sign. I thought the outer coat could be touched up yearly without touchin up the pattern. Bob.

[jttheclockman]

Bob

The one thing you have to be careful with is when putting a varnish or poly or any top coating on top of outside paint you are sealing off the very properties that were added to help it last in the first place. If you use a good outdoor paint there is no reason that sign won't last for years without having to be touched up. Remember wood needs to breathe. With a solid top coat as a spar varnish you will be touching it up more than the paint. I am not a painter but have seen it first hand. This is just one man's opinion.

[lonepine]

John; Thank you for your advice,I never really thought of having the wood breathe. It does seem logical though. Now, if you had an outside unpainted sign, would teak oil be good on it? the Watco product say it is and it has ultraviolet protection too...any thoughts on that.I have never used this before.Thank you for your thoughts. Bob

[jttheclockman]

The problem with oils such as teak oil and tung oils and Danish oils used outside is that they do not stand up to the weather. They are too thin and you would be touching them up with another coat every year. When they break down they will let the wood turn grey. If you are going clear use a good marine varnish or spar varnish. If the piece is out of the elements then it will have a chance to last longer. Good luck.