Maintaining and Restoring Custom-cut wood products: Expert Tips from Longhouse Cedar

As a leading expert in the field, we understand how much impact custom-cut wood can have on your home or space in terms of aesthetics. This is why we believe that many people ought to pay much more attention to the maintenance of these woods. It is necessary to know how to properly maintain these woods so you can enjoy them for as long as possible.

In this article, we’ll share expert tips on keeping your custom-cut wood products at their best for many years. Without further ado, let’s learn everything you need to know about maintaining and restoring wood products with Longhouse Cedar.

Understanding Custom-cut Wood Products

Custom-cut wood products are wood types built to fit specific dimensions and designs. Due to how customizable they are, these wood products are usually great for improving the beauty of your home and some other aspects of your building structures. 

Some of the most common types of woods people use for building custom-cut wood products include cedar, redwood, and pine.

Cleaning and Sealing Wood Products

If you want your custom-cut wood products to maintain their beauty and durability, it is essential that you clean and seal them adequately. This precaution can help protect the wood product from moisture and many other environmental factors.

Below are some tips you can consider.

• Cleaning

Basic cleaning is an essential thing to do. You can clean the wood products with regular cleaning materials like a soft fabric or brush. These types of materials can easily wipe away dirt and debris without causing harm to the wood surface.

You may also use a mild soap and water mixture to wash away stubborn dirt patterns. Just ensure to thoroughly wash away the soap when you are done. It is also a good idea to wait for the water to dry before starting any sealing procedure.

• Sealing

Aside from regularly cleaning your wood product, sealing them to protect them from moisture and other environmental factors is necessary. 

When you want to seal your wood products, you should first consider getting the right type of wood sealer. There are different wood sealers for different wood types, so you must ensure you get the right one for your custom-cut wood product.

After the purchase is out of the way, you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the sealer. This usually involves the use of brushes, rollers, or a sprayer.

Endeavor to spread the sealer evenly across the wood surface. Make sure the sealer  covers every edge and end around the wood. When you are done, leave the wood product to dry up completely before you do any other thing to it. 

• Regular maintenance

You must carry out regular maintenance on your custom-cut wood product. So aside from regular cleaning and sealing, you should also conduct regular inspections. 

You should always be on the lookout for signs that indicate damage. Some of these obvious signs include cracks, dents, and discoloration. Regular maintenance is essential for prolonging the lifespan of custom-cut wood products. 

When you notice these kinds of signs, you should address them as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming bigger issues. You should also endeavor to keep moisture away from the wood surface. 

If there are drainages around the wood, ensure the drainages are properly installed.

Refinishing and Restoring Wood Products

It is normal for your wood products to start appearing dull years after installation. After all, they are most likely constantly getting exposed to weather elements.

Refinishing your custom-cut wood products is a great way to make them look new again. When the process of refinishing is done properly, it will not only give a refreshing life to your wood product, but it will also protect the wood and extend its lifespan.  

Here are some tips for refinishing and restoring your wood products.

• Stripping old finish

Before you even think of refinishing your wood product, you need to remove the old finish. You should use a wood sanding or stripper to scrape off the previous finishing on the wood.

If you haven’t stripped off a wood finish before, we advise that you read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using the wood stripper. You should also ensure to wear protective gear like gloves and goggles. 

Overall, you should approach the process with care. Or better still, get the help of a professional.

• Painting and finishing

When you are done taking out the old finish, you can now begin to prepare to apply a new paint and finish to the wood. However, you should consider one thing before proceeding to apply the paint. 

Make sure that the paint you want to apply is a paint that’s suitable for exterior application. Once you’ve confirmed that, you can now go ahead and spread the paint evenly across the wood’s surface. Try to get a proper paintbrush for this. 

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the exact number of coats you should apply. You will also get useful information like the exact duration of time you ought to dedicate to drying the wood after painting.

Wait for the paint to dry, then apply a wood sealer or finish to complete the process. The wood sealer or finish will help protect the wood from moisture and other environmental factors. 

• Maintenance

You need to check the wood products for any issues constantly. Clean the wood occasionally, and you can also reapply the finish or sealer as necessary.

Conclusion

In general, it takes several processes to maintain and restore custom-cut wood products. These processes involve cleaning, sealing, refinishing, and regular maintenance. 

At Longhouse Cedar, we value your time and money and provide exceptional customer service and knowledgeable guidance. Please contact us or request a free quote to order our custom-cut cedar products. Please call us at 1-250-248-5887 if you have any urgent inquiries, or send us an email.