How to Preserve Cypress Furniture

Cypress trees have natural compounds in the wood that act a preservative against the damages of insects, fungus and weather aging. The natural preservatives make cypress ideal for outdoor furniture as it does not need to be heavily treated with chemicals in order to hold up. Cypress wood turns from pale blond to a delicate silver grey as it ages naturally. Whether you want to maintain the look of new wood or allow your cypress furniture to take on the natural look of aging, a preserving treatment will keep the wood strong and free of penetrating moisture for many years.

Soap
Sponge
Bucket
Paint brush
Drop cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a plastic bucket with lukewarm water. Add a mild detergent formulated for wood surfaces to the bucket as directed on the label.
- 2
  Scrub the cypress furniture thoroughly and set it in the sun to dry. New furniture does not need to be scrubbed before applying the preserving agent.
- 3
  Select a wood sealer. Wood sealers penetrate the grains of the cypress wood and prevent moisture from entering the wood grains. Wood sealers without UV protection will allow the cypress to turn a natural weathered color while still preserving the wood. To keep cypress wood looking like new, use a wood sealer that contains UV protection.
- 4
  Place the cypress furniture on a drop cloth to protect the surface underneath. Choose a day when the air temperature is above 70 degrees F. Check the label on the product for specific temperature requirements as it varies from product to product.
- 5
  Apply the wood sealer to the cypress furniture using a paint brush. Apply evenly to all sides and ends of the wood. Allow the furniture to dry for the amount of time specified on the product label before using.

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