HARRWOODS TIMBER COATINGS
EXTERIOR OILED TIMBER
Care & Maintenance Guide
Exterior timber is continually exposed to sunlight, rain, moisture, temperature changes and the Australian climate.
Your Harrwoods timber has been protected with a penetrating exterior oil system designed to preserve the natural appearance of the timber while providing ongoing protection against weathering.
Unlike a conventional film-forming coating, an oil finish is designed to be maintained and renewed throughout the life of the timber.
Regular maintenance is essential.
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KNOW YOUR FINISH
Harrwoods uses two primary exterior oil systems.
ENDURANCE+ FACADE OIL
Our high-performance exterior oil for vertical timber surfaces, particularly where maximum protection from sunlight and weather exposure is required.
Typical applications include:
- External timber doors
- Timber windows
- Window shutters
- Exterior wall cladding
- Facades
- Gates
- Fences
- Pergolas
- Posts
- Screens
- Other vertical exterior joinery
Endurance+ Facade Oil is intended for vertical surfaces.
DO NOT USE ON:
- Exterior tabletops
- Decking
- Bench seats
- Horizontal handrails
- Horizontal surfaces where water can sit
- Other heavily exposed horizontal timber
For these applications use Harrwoods Endurance Exterior Oil.
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ENDURANCE EXTERIOR OIL
Our versatile weather-resistant exterior oil for timber requiring protection from moisture, weather and UV exposure.
Typical applications include:
- Exterior timber tables
- Outdoor furniture
- Benches
- Horizontal timber surfaces
- Decking and similar applications where specified
- Exterior joinery requiring a general-purpose exterior oil
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WHY EXTERIOR TIMBER REQUIRES MAINTENANCE
No clear or natural-looking exterior timber coating can permanently stop the effects of sunlight and weather.
UV exposure, rain and seasonal movement gradually break down exterior finishes.
Regular maintenance renews this protection before the timber itself begins to weather.
The most important rule is:
DO NOT WAIT FOR THE COATING TO COMPLETELY FAIL.
Refreshing an intact oil coating is considerably easier than restoring timber that has been allowed to grey, weather or deteriorate.
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REGULAR INSPECTION
We recommend visually inspecting exterior timber approximately every 6 months, particularly:
- Before summer
- After summer
- After extended wet weather
- On highly exposed north- and west-facing elevations
- Around the bottom of external doors
- Window sills and lower rails
- End grain
- Joints
- Areas exposed to splash-back
- Areas without protection from eaves or verandahs
Inspection does not necessarily mean the timber needs recoating. It simply allows deterioration to be identified early.
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WHEN DOES MY TIMBER NEED RE-OILING?
There is no universal maintenance interval.
Exterior coating life varies considerably depending on:
- Direction the timber faces
- Amount of direct sunlight
- Exposure to rain
- Protection from verandahs or eaves
- Timber species
- Surface preparation
- Colour
- Building design
- Horizontal versus vertical orientation
- Local climate
Recoat when you notice:
- Loss of colour or richness
- A dry or weathered appearance
- Reduced water repellency
- Uneven appearance
- Early greying
- Increased water absorption
- Exposed or dry end grain
- Areas where the coating has worn away
Early maintenance is the key to keeping the process simple.
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EXPOSED VS PROTECTED TIMBER
Not every part of a building will weather at the same rate.
An external door underneath a deep verandah may require significantly less maintenance than the same door fully exposed to afternoon sun and rain.
Similarly, north- and west-facing timber may require more frequent attention than protected elevations.
For this reason, Harrwoods recommends condition-based maintenance rather than relying solely on a fixed number of years.
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ROUTINE CLEANING
Exterior timber should be kept free from:
- Dirt
- Dust
- Bird droppings
- Pollen
- Grease
- Organic contamination
- Mould and algae growth
- Leaves and debris
- Use a suitable mild timber cleaner and soft brush or cloth.
- Rinse or wipe away contamination as required and allow the timber to dry completely.
Avoid:
- Aggressive pressure washing
- Bleach unless specifically approved
- Harsh alkaline cleaners
- Strong solvents
- Wire brushes
- Aggressive abrasives
- Pressure washing can damage timber fibres and remove the protective oil coating.
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RE-OILING — ENDURANCE+ FACADE OIL
For external doors, windows, facades and other vertical timber:
1. Inspect
Confirm the existing coating is sound.
2. Clean
Remove dirt, grease, mould, contaminants and loose material.
3. Allow to Dry
The timber must be thoroughly dry before recoating.
4. Prepare
If the existing surface remains sound, extensive sanding may not be required.
Lightly sand rough, weathered or damaged areas where necessary and remove all dust.
Failed or unsuitable previous coatings must be removed before refinishing.
5. Apply
Apply Endurance+ Facade Oil thinly and evenly in the direction of the timber grain using an appropriate brush or roller.
Avoid excessive coating thickness.
For routine refurbishment of a sound existing oil finish, one maintenance coat will generally be sufficient.
More substantial restoration may require additional preparation and coating.
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RE-OILING — ENDURANCE EXTERIOR OIL
For tables, outdoor furniture and other suitable exterior applications:
Clean the timber thoroughly and allow it to dry.
Remove loose, failed or heavily weathered coating and lightly sand where required.
Apply Endurance Exterior Oil thinly and evenly in accordance with the product directions.
Do not allow excessive oil to pool on the surface.
Pay particular attention to:
- End grain
- Joints
- Edges
- Horizontal surfaces
- Areas where water regularly sits
- Highly exposed surfaces
These areas generally experience the greatest weather exposure.
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EXTERNAL DOORS
External timber doors deserve particular attention.
Regularly inspect:
- Door face
- Top edge
- Bottom edge
- Lock and handle penetrations
- Hinged edge
- Leading edge
- Glazing surrounds
- Joinery joints
- Any exposed end grain
The bottom edge of a door is particularly important because water can be drawn into unprotected end grain.
Maintain all faces and edges of the door.
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WINDOWS
Inspect timber windows carefully around:
- Sills
- Bottom rails
- Corners
- Glazing
- Joints
- End grain
- Areas where water collects
Horizontal window components generally experience greater weather exposure than protected vertical surfaces and should be monitored accordingly.
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OUTDOOR TABLES & FURNITURE
Outdoor furniture experiences particularly severe exposure because horizontal surfaces receive direct sunlight and hold water.
Use Endurance Exterior Oil rather than Endurance+ Facade Oil on these applications.
Where possible:
- Do not allow water to remain pooled on the surface.
- Use furniture covers during extended periods of non-use.
- Allow covered furniture to breathe.
- Avoid permanently trapping moisture underneath waterproof covers.
- Clean food and drink spills promptly.
- Inspect horizontal surfaces regularly.
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GREY OR WEATHERED TIMBER
If maintenance has been left too long and the timber has begun to grey, simply applying more oil may not restore the original appearance.
The timber may first require:
- Thorough cleaning
- Removal of biological contamination
- Removal of weathered grey fibres
- Sanding or suitable timber restoration
- Complete drying
- Reapplication of the appropriate Harrwoods oil system
Severely weathered timber may require professional restoration.
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TIMBER MOVEMENT
Exterior timber naturally responds to changes in temperature and moisture.
Small amounts of:
- Expansion
- Contraction
- Grain movement
- Checking
- Colour variation
- Surface weathering can occur naturally.
Maintaining the protective oil system helps reduce moisture absorption and weather exposure but does not eliminate the natural characteristics of solid timber.
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COLOUR & UV EXPOSURE
Sunlight naturally changes the colour of timber.
Endurance exterior coatings substantially reduce weathering and UV damage, but no transparent timber coating can completely eliminate the effects of long-term UV exposure.
Timber with greater exposure will therefore require more frequent maintenance.
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YOUR SIMPLE MAINTENANCE ROUTINE
EVERY 6 MONTHS
INSPECT
Look for dryness, fading, greying, reduced water repellency and coating wear.
WHEN DIRTY
CLEAN
Remove contamination using an appropriate mild timber cleaner.
WHEN PROTECTION BEGINS TO DIMINISH
RE-OIL
Do not wait until bare timber is exposed.
THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE PRODUCT
MAINTAIN
Small, regular maintenance is much easier than major restoration.
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WHICH OIL DO I USE?
Doors, windows, cladding, facades & vertical joinery
ENDURANCE+ FACADE OIL
Maximum UV & weather protection for vertical exterior timber.
Tables, outdoor furniture & suitable horizontal exterior timber.
ENDURANCE EXTERIOR OIL
Weather and UV protection for exterior timber exposed to the elements.
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THE HARRWOODS RULE
CLEAN • INSPECT • MAINTAIN • PROTECT
Do not wait for exterior timber to look badly weathered before maintaining it.
Regular preventative maintenance preserves the timber, simplifies future recoating and helps maintain the natural appearance that makes real timber unique.
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HARRWOODS TIMBER COATINGS
Designed to protect real timber — while keeping it looking and feeling like real timber.