Sadolin or Yacht Varnish

[Lonnie]

I've just put a wooden swing seat with frame in my garden, I bought some clear Yacht Varnish but my neighbour says not to varnish, as it seals, and the wood can't breathe, but to use something like Sadolin.

My question is, is he right?..

Thanks.

[Lonnie]

Thanks Trimeresurus, good of you to come back so quickly.

[AlBags]

Stay away from varnish outside on timber these days.
Use spirit-based exterior wood treatment .. like Sadolin or Sikkens.

[Lonnie]

Thanks AlBags, thats the advice I'mgetting, you and Trimeresurus, have confirmed it.

I'm grateful to you both.

[heathfield]

I've never understood why you'd want wood to ''breathe''. I've always suspected that it's a marketing ploy - a false benefit -thought up by the manufacturers of acrylic paints, which are microporous after application and allow water vapour to penetrate. If you want wood to remain stable, you have to seal it completely. For example, the dimensions of a front door can increase by up to 1/4'' if sufficient water vapour is absorbed by the wood. Seal it completely and the moisture content, and the dimensions of the wood, will remain constant. My outdoor furniture has been coated with Ronseal outdoor varnish, which remains slightly flexible once dry. It has come through two severe winters plus full summer sun exposure and still looks like it was applied yesterday. I don't think that would have happened with a ''breathable'' paint.

[Lonnie]

Hi heathfield, thanks for your answer, and admittedly I'm a little naive when it comes to wood, however, I've since found out that its been High Pressure treated, and I've been assured that that should last for at least ten years.