Sunlight can fade and damage wood, so it’s important to protect it with a coat of paint or sealant.
But not all protection is created equal – some products only last a year or two before you have to re-apply them. These UV protection for wood are different. Once you apply them, the finish will last for years without needing to be reapplied.
You’ll never have to worry about your wood furniture fading again. Not only will this UV protection keep your furniture looking new, but it also protects against moisture and insects.
Let’s look at some of the perfect solutions for anyone who wants to keep their furniture in good condition for years to come.
First things First: What is UV Finish for Wood?
UV finish is a coating that is applied to wood to protect it from damage caused by UV rays. This type of finish is often used on outdoor furniture or other items that will be exposed to direct sunlight.
UV finish can also be used on indoor woodwork, such as cabinets and floors, to give them a bit of extra protection against fading or discoloration over time.
My Top Picks
Best UV Protection for Wood
- Howard SWAX16 SunShield UV Protection – Best for reviving front door
- WALRUS OIL – Wood Wax – Best outdoor wood preservative
- MESSMER’s NAT INC MC-500-5 5GAL UV – Best UV protective wood finish
- Guardsman 460700 Clean & Polish -Silicone Free – Best UV protective wood sealer
- TotalBoat-520605 Halcyon Marine Varnish – Best UV resistant polyurethane
- Bamboogle Food Grade Mineral Oil – Best exterior wood oil with UV protection
- Sundeck CWF UV 5Oil Clear Wood Finish – Best UV resistant clear coat for wood
Best Wood UV Protection Reviews
1. Best for reviving front door – Howard SWAX16 SunShield Outdoor Furniture Wax with UV Protection
- Prevents further drying and fading of wood finishes due to sun exposure, temperature variations, and moisture both indoors and outdoors
- Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain as it protects your wood furniture
- Unique formula combines UV inhibitors with a blend of carnauba wax, beeswax, and orange oil
If your outdoor furniture looks old and faded and you need to inject new life into it, this product could be a great choice.
SunShield is specially formulated to keep teak or walnut wood and other hardwood furniture from splitting and drying due to UV exposure, temperature changes, or moisture.
It protects the natural beauty of the wood grain in outdoor furniture by combining UV inhibitors with a unique blend of carnauba wax, beeswax, and orange oil.
This uniquely blended product permeates and revitalizes natural oils. Apply regularly to keep the wooden furniture elegant, even if you’ve had the piece for decades.
I tried this product on my mahogany door that started to look a little worn, and I was considering refinishing it. I was happy with the results and postponed the refinishing cost because the door looked brand new again.
It took me a few minutes and minimal effort to achieve these remarkable results. The tiny fingernail scrapes around the door levers and dog nail scrapes from the door trim were eliminated.
I also tried it on metal thresholds and wrought iron fencing and voila! They appeared to be brand new.
Again, it’s easier to apply than spar varnish. It smells great and is water-resistant. I may need to use it more frequently, but it is straightforward.
What I Liked Most
- It makes the wood healthy
- It restores old worn out wood
- Easy to use
- It smells nice
What Could Be Improved
- It requires regular maintenance
2. Best outdoor wood preservative – WALRUS OIL-Wood Wax
Protecting wood from harmful UV rays does not have to be stressful if you use suitable wood finishes. You work hard. All the time. If you need a product that can do all the work, this could be a perfect match.
It is a single-step solution to keeping UV light a bay as you apply a pinch of this wax and buff it. It is the best UV protection for wood because it is food safe. It’s made from natural ingredients such as coconut oil, mineral oil, beeswax, and mineral oil.
I use it outdoors and indoors without worrying about the safety of pets or kids. This wood wax is a thick wax I apply after Cutting Board Oil to build on color richness, shine, and water resistance to the wooden furniture and other surfaces.
It is oil-based, and it penetrates the wood for impeccable results. It’s simple to apply even if you are not a pro. I use gloved fingers to warm this wax and rub it into the wood grain.
I allowed the pieces to dry to the touch before buffing the furniture with a clean, dry cloth. I loved the fantastic wood color.
What I Liked Most
- Easy to work with
- Ideal cutting boards and other kitchen stuff
- It works like a charm
What Could Be Improved
- Unsuitable for natural stone
3. Best UV protective Wood Finish – MESSMER’s NAT INC MC-500-5 5GAL Natural UV
- Easy to use
- Highly durable product
- Manufactured in China
Giving wood the best UV protection is a clever way of preserving its natural beauty. It prevents the wood from fading and cracking. This product is one of the wood finishes I trust to do the job.
It is a glossy finish that leaves the wood surfaces with a natural yet glossy appearance. It gives the wood instant protection from UV light and intense UV rays, which are detrimental to the wood if left unchecked.
The product improves the appearance of surfaces and other wooden projects. It penetrates the wood to protect it from the inside and restore it after years of constant exposure to the elements and rain.
It also excels at preventing the wood deck from mildew and mold. You can rest easy knowing that mother nature got nothing on indoor furniture and outdoor with this product.
I found it easy to apply. I cleaned the wood to remove dirt, dust, and grime, applied it with a high-quality paint brush, and applied a thin coat.
I waited for the first coat to dry to the touch before applying the second coating. I lightly and gently sanded between coats then let it dry for two days undisturbed before using the surface.
What I Liked Most
- Works as marketed
- Offers superior UV protection
- Resists mold and mildew
What Could Be Improved
- It needs mineral spirits for a cleanup
4. Best UV protective wood sealer – Guardsman 460700 Clean & Polish For Wood Furniture-Silicone Free
- Enhances wood's beauty, leaving a fresh woodland scent. No artificial gloss, only your wood's natural luster and shine.
- Use regularly to clean, shine, and protect your wood furniture from discoloration with UV sunblock.
- Conceals fine surface scratches and leaves your furniture looking its best.
Guardsman 460700 is the best outdoor sealant for painted wood. It gives you the best value for your hard-earned money without compromising quality. I use this spray to protect my wood from premature fading and greying.
It offered me excellent UV protection for my storm door, front door, and outdoor furniture. It’s a very thick, fragrant spray that soaks into the wood. It was pricier than my average furniture polish, but its quality and effectiveness made up for it.
It contains no wax. It thoroughly cleaned my cabinets were dusty and scuffed from installation. They looked clean without the annoying layer of waxy sheen.
If you have nice expensive furniture and care about it, give this product a go, and you may be happy with the results. It leaves no residue and cleans up spots and spills effectively. Because it attracts no dust, you do not need to use it frequently.
It has a gorgeous shine and is quick and straightforward to use. Even antique wooden furniture shows no aging signs or cracking with this finish on.
A little goes a long way in protecting and shining furniture. The shine lasts for a while, showing no fingerprints.
What I Liked Most
- Offers premium Uv protection
- Cleans up spots and spills excellently
- Superb coverage
What Could Be Improved
- Pricier than regular grocery store polish, but its quality is second to none.
5. Best UV resistant polyurethane – TotalBoat-520605 Halcyon Marine Varnish
- DURABLE MARINE-GRADE VARNISH cures to a hard gloss or satin finish for beautiful brightwork; for interior and exterior use on wood trim, toerails, cockpits, doors, cabinets, chairs, outdoor furniture and more - on your boat or at home
- PROTECTS AGAINST DAMAGE FROM SUN AND WEATHER: Provides superior sun-blocking protection and maximum resistance to salt, abrasion and scratches; excellent adhesion and flexibility let wood expand & contract naturally, without cracking or peeling
- EASY TO APPLY, EASY TO CLEAN UP: Spar urethane is easy to apply by brushing, rolling or spraying; looks milky-white at first, but cures to a clear or clear amber color, depending on formula; for a satin finish, use gloss for build coats and satin for finish coat; easy soap & water cleanup
I was looking for a genuine marine varnish and this product offered excellent protection and optimal resistance to salt, scrapes, and abrasion. It has superb adhesion and is flexible.
It lets the wood shrink and expand without splitting. This spar urethane is super easy to use. It is my go-to option when I desire to give any wood more protection from the elements.
It has a simple soapy water cleanup. So I didn’t have to use any mineral spirits. Based on the formula, it appeared milky-white initially but cured to a clear finish or amber color.
The product dried quickly, allowing me to complete projects faster than conventional varnishes. I was able to apply five coats in a single day, and it required no sanding between coats.
For interior applications, do two thick coats and four to six coats for exterior uses. The product is available in different colors and sizes, so you can easily find one suitable for your project. It has almost no odor and dries lightning-fast.
You can easily sand and reapply more coats as needed. You can save the packaging bag for future use as it is well-designed and durable.
What I Liked Most
- Ease of use
- Produces little odor
- Resealable and simple pour packaging
- Availability in different colors and sizes
- Dries quickly
What Could Be Improved
- Not an excellent epoxy finish
6. Best exterior wood oil with UV protection – Bamboogle Food Grade Mineral Oil For Cutting Boards
- Mineral oil can be cheap and thick or expensively refined and thin, ours is highly refined and thin to absorb deeper into wood fibers to protect your cutting boards better and longer.
- We blend our premium mineral oil with lemon and orange essential oils, to give a wonderful fresh scent but also because the citric acidity opens the pores of the wood fibers even more, allowing maximum absorption for beauty and protection.
- Restores & Protects Wood Cutting Boards - Hydrates, seals and penetrates deeply into wood to prevent warping, cracking, drying & rotting!
If you need superior protection for your cutting for longer, grab this product. The product combines mineral oil with orange and essential oils to give the surfaces a terrific scent.
The citric acidity helps open the pores of your wood fibers for extraordinary natural beauty and protection. You could use this product to keep your wooden kitchen utensils looking great all the time.
Apply a liberal amount to the wood surface and let it sit overnight. The product will make the boards water-resistant, ensuring no moisture content in the wood.
It also keeps the timber well-lubricated to prevent drying and warping. Save time and cash by using this easy-to-use cutting board oil that keeps the wood surfaces lively in one application.
The bottle size may appear small, but it is all you need to keep the boards and wooden utensils great for a year or more. You’re more likely to misplace or throw away larger bottles before using up the oil.
I am giving you the best value for money. You’ll appreciate the excellent foam tip applicator. You just push down, and it moves about a quarter of an inch, then squeeze to start releasing the oil.
When you lift it to mix it in, no more oil will come out until you push it down and press it again. It’ll work great, with no mess, and the mineral oil will soak into the wood ideally. It has a light, pleasant scent.
What I Liked Most
- No mess
- Penetrates the wood for maximum protection
- Rejuvenates the wood
What Could Be Improved
- Pricey but worth it
7. Best UV-resistant clear coat for wood – Sundeck CWF UV 5Oil Wood Finish
Constant exposure to sunlight and UV rays causes wood to fade and peel. Flood CWF-UV 5 OIL Clear Wood Finish is a transparent exterior finish that penetrates the wood pores for maximum UV damage protection.
It contains a Flood Penetrol additive for optimum penetration to protect the wood from the elements. It also has transparent oxides to defend the wood against inevitable ultraviolet damage.
It’s a clear tint base that combines with shop colorants to produce a rich wood tone and semi-transparent hues. If you live in a damper part of the country, ensure you use a mildew-resistant product.
Clean your wood before using this product with a deep-cleaning product. UV radiation is also highly damaging to wood, so if you live in a hot, sunny climate, look for stains with powerful UV protection built-in.
Because pigment corresponds with protection, note that a solid color stain provides more UV protection than semi-transparent stains.
I preferred not to see the wood grain, so I went for a semi-solid option. As the wood gets old, it loses its natural resiliency. Hence UV protection becomes more crucial.
If the front door and windows begin to look tired and worn out, apply this product, and their appearance will improve dramatically.
What I Liked Most
- Contains UV inhibitors for maximum UV protection
- Ease of use
- Completely waterproofs the wood
What Could Be Improved
- Not as strong as a solid stain
Best UV Protection for Wood Comparison Table
What to Look at While Buying UV Inhibitor Wood Finish
When purchasing a stain for wood protection, you do not just hop in your local hardware and buy any stains you can get.
You got to do some digging and have a rough idea of a stain or wood finish you need to buy. Consider the factors to help you pick coatings suitable for your project.
Type of sun exposure
UV radiation damages the wood, which differs based on where you live. If you live in a hot, sunny climate, look for stains with solid UV protection built-in.
The pigment concentration in a stain matches the protection level. Solid color stains provide more UV protection than semi-transparent stains.
Clear stains are also durable. Decide the wood grain you need to see before buying a stain.
Kind of coating
Although the primary purpose of each wood finish is to add a protective coat, it also helps to enhance your wood’s aesthetic appeal.
Types of finishes you could use for your wood include penetrating finishes such as cedar oil, Danish oil, or tung oil. Tung oil gives the surfaces a matte finish. Surface finishes include shellac, lacquer, varnish, wax, polyurethane, dye, stain, or paint.
For added protection and a beautiful sheen, apply furniture wax over polyurethane, which will give your wood a smooth and lustrous surface.
Level of protection
Your project should help you pick the best UV protection for wood. If you intend to use the finish outdoors, choose the one that offers the highest UV protection and reap the benefits.
Type of wood
Some woods, such as cedar and cypress, contain special oils that enable them to naturally resists rot and decay. You can leave them outside without any special care.
On the hand, Pine and other softwoods require additional sun protection to make them more durable.
How to Apply UV Protective Wood Finish?
Outdoor furniture will fade and turn grey due to exposure to sunlight and Ultra Violet (UV) rays. Consider protecting outdoor wooden surfaces from direct sunlight with a UV protection stain.
Step 1: Select a well-lit, well-ventilated location
Flaws such as air bubbles, Dinges, brushstrokes, dents, and bare spots will be easier to spot with strong, bright lighting.
It’s also critical to have excellent ventilation because some varnishes and thinners emit strong fumes that can make you feel dizzy or nauseous. If the vapors are too strong for you, open doors and windows or turn on a fan.
Step 2: Work in a dirt and dust-free location
Work in a clean location that’s dust-free. You may need to mop or vacuum your workspace to stop dust and debris from settling on your project and ruining it.
Avoid working outside on windy days, as tiny dust particles may land in the wet finish and ruin the results.
Step 3: Sand the surface
Sand the surface in the grain direction. Use 220-grit sandpaper when applying finish to bare wood. To begin refinishing, use 80-grit sandpaper to remove the previous peeling finish. Work your way up to 100 and 220 grit until you achieve a smooth surface.
Step 4: Remove the sanding dust
Using a clean cloth, remove the sanding dust.
Step 5: Thin the UV-resistant wood finish
Determine if the finish you are using is a ready-to-use formula or needs thinning. If it is water-based, thin it with water following the directions on the can.
If the product is oil-based, thin it with the manufacturer’s recommended amount of mineral spirits. Dilute the finish just enough to let the brush marks flow out effortlessly.
The rule of thumb is not to use ten percent of mineral spirits. Stir the mixture gently until thoroughly mixed.
Step 6: Apply the finish
Using a brush, roller, or sprayer, apply the finish. If you are finishing a storm door, begin at one corner of your door and work your way across the surface, from wet to dry regions. Brush the wood in the direction of the wood grain.
Step 7: Let the UV coating for wood dry
Allow the finish to dry for at least twenty-four hours. Drying time differs based on environmental conditions, the type of finish you are using, and the type of wood you are working on.
Refer to instructions on the can and keenly follow them for the best results. Apply four coats on unfinished surfaces and two coats on previously stained surfaces.
Advantages Of Sun Protection for Wood
Here’re the benefits of UV protection for wood.
- Water-based UV finishes allow for immediate use of the surfaces after being cured using a mobile UV light system by a flooring expert.
- The floor’s immediate usability allows homeowners or business owners to get back to work quickly and prevents early-use damage during the curing time of other finishes.
- Extra toughness. UV finishes are more durable than traditional two-component finishes. As a result, they safeguard against early-use wear and tear.
- Still, they also provide increased long-term durability, extending the life of the wood by a considerable margin.
- UV finishes contain few volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This results in improved air quality and a secure environment for owners.
Penetrating Oil Finish Vs. UV Cured Wood Finish
Penetrating oil finishes, also known as ‘natural’ oils, contain a natural oil base, such as linseed or cedar oil. The traditional oil is mixed with solvents to expedite drying time.
A famous example of a penetrating oil finish is tung oil. Penetrating oils penetrate the wood and typically require at least two coats.
Penetrating oil finishes are known as ‘oxidative’ oils since they dry through air exposure. UV-cured finishes; on the other hand, cured wood finish only dries through UV light exposure.
Penetrating oil finishes give the wood a natural appearance and feel -as it soaks into the wood fibers instead of concealing them with plastic.
Repairing is simpler because you can feather new oil into the nearby finish and renew the finishes without sanding. Uv-cured finishes are eco-friendly, durable, and require less maintenance than traditional finishes.
FAQs
Is polyurethane UV resistant?
Polyurethane coating is highly resistant to harmful UV rays. Polyurethane finishes contain a small number of UV inhibitors, and that’s why they do a near-perfect job resisting UV damage.
Which coating is UV resistant?
Penetrative oil finishes such as varnish, shellac, wax, dye, lacquer, and polyurethane are UV resistant. Also, linseed oil, cedar oil, and tung oil offer the best UV protection. You pick a type of wood finish based on your budget and project.
How do you keep wood from fading?
Use a varnish to prevent color change in wood. Varnish seals the wood fibers and protects them from UV light and moisture. You can use Lacquer. A lacquer forms a tough shell over the wood surface, providing it with durable protection.
Does varnish provide UV protection?
Yes. Varnishes are applied as a final coat to prevent the wood from fading, moisture, grime, dirt, and UV rays. However, the varnish is not suitable for coarse-grained woods or ultra-softwood.
How often do I need to reapply protection oil?
You need to reapply protection oil once after every 1-2 years depending on the type of oil you have used and how often you use your equipment. If you use your equipment frequently, then you should reapply it after every 1 year. Remember that all oils are not created equal and some are designed for longer-term protection than others.
Next, read our article on applying beeswax to wood for protection and continue learning about this valuable technique for preserving and beautifying your wooden items.
Conclusion
UV protection is critical for wood. It seals your outdoor wooden furniture from the harmful effects of the sun.
Using the best UV protection for wood is the best method of protecting surfaces from the damage brought about by ultraviolet rays. My top pick is Howard SWAX16 SunShield Outdoor Furniture Wax with UV Protection.
It’s easy to use, affordable, and works as advertised.