Questions and Answers with Jim on tips for finishing your outdoor furniture Q:   Why does your outdoor furniture come unfinished? A:   Our furniture comes unfinished because the wood needs to be weathered before it is sealed. Q:   What will happen if I seal the furniture before it is weathered? A:   Inside the wood there are tannic acids. After the furniture has been exposed the tannic acids seep out. No, it won’t ruin the furniture, clothes or hurt you at all. It just produces some spots that will feel slightly oily for a day or two. I recommend that the furniture be weathered outdoors at least 4 months before applying a sealant. If you seal it before the furniture has been weathered the tannic acid in the wood can’t escape. The ugly green mildew spots show up, and they don’t sand out well. Trust me, its worth waiting! Q:   Do I have to apply a finish after its weathered? Q:   Can I leave it unfinished? A:   No, you do not have to apply a finish on them. Yes, it will not hurt the furniture at all. Cedar and Redwood are the best woods to use outdoors. They are are used in decks, sides of whirlpools, park benches, anything that will be outside for a long time. Q:   What will my furniture will look like after time? A:   Unless the furniture is in a three season porch, any wood will fade in the outdoors. Actually, the sun will fade the furniture in the porch as well. Unfortunately, it won't stay brand-new looking forever. By sealing the furniture you can slow down the process of fading. After a while the furniture will turn a soft dove gray. Some people feel the aging of the furniture adds warmth and beauty to it . It gives the appearance that the piece has been a fixture in their deck or garden for many years. Q:   After the furniture is weathered how do you recommend finishing it? What kind of finish? A:   You should use a palm sander with a 120 or 150 grit, and the same with hand sanding. I would not use a belt sander unless you are very skilled with it. That could ruin the wood by sanding big chucks in a heartbeat. You should work on mainly the parts of the furniture that get the most abuse. The others parts just lightly hand sand to smooth the furniture to help the finish to stick. After that, I recommend using CWF (Clear Wood Finish) on the furniture. The directions are great for applying the finish. I would not recommend anything else. I know it does cost more than other waterproof finishes - but trust me, its worth it. Using anything else is like using a $ .99 can of spray paint to touch up your Mercedes or your Harley!! Q:   Can I paint the furniture? What kind of paint should I use? A:   Yes, if you paint them right away. If they got rained on and then you painted the piece, you will have a hard time making it turn out good. If the furniture got wet, you should let it dry out in a covered area for a week. Lightly sand the piece and then paint it. Any paint that is for exterior use will do the job. Q:   Can I leave the furniture outside year around? A:   You can, I would not recommend it! I know I said earlier the wood is made for outdoor use. To extend the beauty and life of the furniture, you should store the furniture in a garage or a shed when the leaves fall and bring it out side in the spring. Custom furniture should be considered an investment and very good care should be taken of it.