If you know how to waterproof a wooden gazebo, the gazebo will not get damaged. Water can cause damage to wood material. When wood absorbs water, it can cause premature damages to your gazebo. The wood will swell and eventually decay. But if you waterproof your wooden gazebo, water won’t be able to penetrate the wood. Apart from that, you will spend less money on maintenance since the wood will not get damaged. How can you waterproof a wooden gazebo?

Why Should You Waterproof a Wooden Gazebo?

Wood is a natural building material you can use in making a gazebo. The look and texture of the wood are why most homeowners prefer using wood to make their gazebos. A wooden gazebo can make your house look very beautiful. It will also blend well with any existing structural design in your home. One drawback of wood is that it can absorb water if you don’t waterproof it.

 Wood is a hygroscopic material; hence it can soak up water when exposed to the weather. A wooden gazebo will get damaged early if you don’t waterproof it. 

Waterproofing the wood will help repel water and moisture. If you fail to waterproof a wooden gazebo, the gazebo will rot or decay. Therefore, you must know how to waterproof your gazebo. What are the materials you can use to waterproof a wooden gazebo?

What You Can Use to Waterproof a Wooden Gazebo

Sealers

You can use sealers or sealants to waterproof a wooden gazebo. Examples of sealers you can use to waterproof a wooden gazebo are varnish, lacquer, and polyurethane. Sealers will protect your wooden gazebo by preventing the wood from absorbing water or moisture. It forms a layer of plastic if you apply it to the wood. The plastic layer formed will prevent moisture or water from penetrating the gazebo.  

There are oil-based sealers and water-based sealers. The oil-based sealers are suitable if you want to waterproof your wooden gazebo. If you want to apply the sealers to the gazebo, use a roller or brush. The roller will allow you to apply the coat over a large area in a short time. In addition, you can also use an electric spray to apply the sealers on the wooden gazebo. 

However, when applying the sealers to the gazebo, It’s important not to stir or shake the sealer vigorously. It will prevent the forming of bubbles that can make the application of the sealer difficult.

Stain

Wood stains are waterproof materials that you can also use to waterproof a wooden gazebo. They contain pigments that can change the wood colour. If you don’t want the one that contains pigments, you can purchase a transparent or semi-transparent stain. Wood stains can repel water, thereby protecting your gazebo from damages. If you use wood stains to coat your gazebo, water will not penetrate the wood. You can stain the wooden gazebo with a brush. 

Paint

Lastly, you can also use oil-based paint to waterproof a wooden gazebo. The paint will create a barrier between the porous wood and moisture. The barrier created will keep water from getting to the wood. You can apply the paint on the wooden gazebo with a brush or rollers.

How to Waterproof a Wooden Gazebo

Knowing that you can use materials like sealers, stains, and paint to waterproof a wooden gazebo, let’s see how to apply it.  Below are easy steps to follow if you don’t know how to waterproof a wooden gazebo.

Step 1

First, before you start to apply either the paint, sealers, or stains on the gazebo, you should cover any materials within the gazebo. Cover furniture, plants within the gazebo with a plastic drop cloth to prevent the paint from dripping on them.

Step 2

Pour the sealer or stain into a paint bucket for easy application. Then use a roller to apply it all over the wooden gazebo.

Step 3

After applying it with a roller, you can use the brush to even out hard-to-reach areas. Use a brush to apply some of the paint to the crevices and those areas the roller did not touch. 

Step 4

Paint inside the gazebo ceiling.  When applying paint on the underside of the gazebo ceiling, you can place a drop cloth on the floor to prevent any floor stains.

Step 5

Lastly, coat the floor with paint or sealers.

Conclusion

 How to waterproof a wooden gazebo is easy. You can use sealers, wood stains, or oil-based paint to waterproof a wooden gazebo. These materials will prevent the wooden gazebo from absorbing water.