Garden Arbor Finishes

When you build your garden arbor and choose wood for material, the most daunting task you might have is choosing a finish for it.

Although the term finish is used to describe a protective coating, we are using it to describe everything you could use to finish your arbor. The finish you choose for your garden arbor needs to be durable and, of course, you’ll want it to look like it was done professionally. The following information will help you to decide which finish is right for your garden arbor.

First of all, the finish you’ll need for your garden arbor will need to be durable as it will be need to stand up under harsh weather conditions. To make sure the finish you put on your arbor holds up, more than one coat may be necessary.

There are three basic finishes you can use on your arbor. They are stain, paint, and finish. While paint will color the arbor with a protective coating, stain will only tint the wood. There are some stains and finishes that simply change the color of the wood without providing a protective coating. This protective coating is very important to protect your garden arbor from decay.

For the protective coating, you’ll want to use a finish and the most common are varnish and polyurethane, shellac, oil, lacquer, or water-based finish. When choosing one, you’ll want to make sure that it is durable. For example, a polyurethane finish is more durable than a water-based finish and it would be the preferred finish for your garden arbor.

When you choose a stain for your garden arbor, you’ll have many color choices, as well as if you choose to use paint. Remember, that you do not have to go with the traditional look of wood or the color white on your garden arbor. Your garden arbor can be done in colors to highlight others in your garden and this is your chance to show your creativity and imagination. The most important thing to remember is to choose a finish for your garden arbor that will protect it from harsh weather conditions.

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