W158 Wood Products Information - A Test of Water-Repellent Coatings for Wood

Water-repellent coatings slow the uptake of liquid water and are used to improve the appearance and longevity of exterior wood surfaces. By reducing the periodic wetting of wood, water-repellent coatings can reduce the swell-and-shrink cycles that contribute to the checking and weathering of exposed wood such as decking boards.

Many different water-repellents, varying widely in price, are available from a number of manufacturers. A test conducted at the University of Tennessee Forest Products Center compared some of these products.