For this test, five wood species were treated with five different types of outdoor finish, and then a rack of sample boards were left to sit outside for a year in Oregon, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Connecticut. Each region subjected the samples to a unique set of climate conditions. In the end, this test provided new insight on how outdoor finishes and different types of wood hold up to the elements.

Two coats of the Watco Exterior Wood Finish were each applied liberally to the wood samples in this test. This outdoor penetrating oil finish was the easiest to apply, but at the end of the yearlong test, all the samples, except for those in New Mexico, had weathered to various shades of gray. All the samples had rough surfaces. Shallow cracks and checks were common. Some pine samples had full-thickness checks on the end. The Watco Exterior Wood Finish received a rating of unacceptable. It is available from www.rustoleum.com.

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