How to Treat Wood With Preservatives

Make sure the wood is thoroughly dry before you start, and will have the time to dry for a few days before you bring it back inside. Damp wood will not absorb the preservative.

Set up outside, if you can physically transport the objects you are treating. Wood preservative is a poisonous and flammable substance that you don’t want in your home if you can avoid it. Place the object on a tarp or canvas drop cloth, away from any open flames.

Apply preservative with an paint brush or garden sprayer. Apply in an even, medium-thin, coat. Make sure to follow any given directions on the package. If you are applying the preservative to a fence or deck, pay special attention to apply a sufficient amount to the ends of the boards, where the wood is most likely to weather.

Check your coverage when you are about halfway through the recommended surface area marked on the package. If there is no recommended area given, figure that most containers are designed to cover from 4 to 10 m. squared. After covering around 3 square meters, check to see if you’re roughly halfway through the product. If you’re more than halfway, start laying down product more lightly. If you’re less than halfway, start laying it on a bit more heavily. Obviously, if you are covering a very small area this method of double-checking won’t do you much good. Instead, simply try to use to even brush strokes or count the number of seconds for which you spray each area. Make sure you are consistent.

Apply another coat if you desire, but wait at least 12 hours before doing so.

Leave the object outside, but under an awning or overhang, in case it rains. After a few days of dry weather, the preservative should be completely absorbed into the wood.