Cedar is one of the most popular wood types. Cedar is a softwood that is easy to work with, making it a favorite of many. As much as cedar is a softwood, it is highly durable and resists pests and molds.
This wood type can resist wearing for a very long time. However, it will likely age faster if left untreated. You need to get the best wood sealers for cedar in a bid to prolong the life of your wood structure created using cedar.
We have reviewed some of the very best wood sealers for cedar that you can find in the market today.
Table of Contents
1. Ready Seal Natural Wood Stain and Sealer
It’s an effective exterior wood sealer for cedar. This product is oil-based with deep penetration into the wood to give a smooth sealing. While testing this formula, we noticed that it dried into an odorless finish. Besides, the finish was not tacky whatsoever. This product helped enhance the natural beauty of the wood by allowing its grain to show.
This product is not available for the interior surfaces, but that’s not the end as you can still use it indoors with the proper ventilation of your working room. Allow it to dry out completely before you could start to use the wooden surfaces. This formula will give your internal cedar wood structures the most adorable and durable finish imaginable.
The Summary of Top Features
- This formula does not need a primer. It’s dark when applied but reaches its actual color in 14 days.
- You may apply this formula using paint sprayers, rollers, or brush.
- This product does not need back brushing and leaves no streaks, runs or laps
- It does not require a wet-line application
- You don’t need to thin or dilute it before applying.
Advantages
- It’s best suited for exterior projects because it can resist water, UV rays, and mildew.
- It enhances the original beauty of the wood without affecting the texture of the grain
- This formula is available in several different colors
- It needs no specific temperature range for application
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for stained or painted surface
- Takes up to 14 days for full color to show
2. Ready Seal 525 Exterior Stain and Sealer for Wood, 5-Gallon, Dark Walnut- Best for Cedar Swing Set
Ready Seal 525 Wood Stain and Sealer is an oil-based sealer with a semi-transparent. This formula helps improve the natural look of cedar swing sets by offering excellent visibility to its texture as well as it’s grains.
If you are looking for the best wood sealer for cedar play set, then consider using this product. It adds the much-needed color to your wooden structures and protects it as well against moisture and other external elements.
This product is two in one as a stain and a sealer, which is an excellent way to save. With it, you won’t need to spend extra coins on buying a separate sealer and a stain.
If you are looking to paint your cedar play set, first clean the surface removing all the stains that might be on the surface. After cleaning, let your wood dry for about 3 days before applying this product.
The Summary of Top Features
- This product does not require a primer. It’s dark when applied first but gains its full color in 14 days.
- You can apply it using a paint sprayer, roller or brush onto the wood surface.
- It does not need back brushing and does not leave runs, laps, or streaks.
- This formula does not need a wet-line application as it can blend itself.
- You can apply it at any temperature.
- This formula does not need thinning or diluting.
Advantages
- It’s both a sealer and stain
- This formula is easy to apply
- It’s durable
- Has a fantastic area coverage of about 150 square feet per gallon
3. #1 Deck Premium Semi-Transparent Deck Stain
It’s a high-end semi-transparent conception with high penetration into the wood giving it protection and enhanced durability. It is both a stain and a sealant and will provide the best to your wooden structures such as decks and fencing products.
This formula comes with protection against the UltraViolet rays with a flat natural-looking finish when it dries. What’s impressive about this product is that it contains low-Volatile Organic Compound.
You can use this product on almost all softwoods from fir, redwood, cedar, fir, as well as a pressure treated pine. This formula is water-based, which makes it easy to clean. It is available in colors such as Natural, Dark Walnut, Cedar, Light Walnut
The Summary of Top Features
- This formula resists potential damages by the UV rays
- It’s a two in one product
- It’s VOCs component stands at (<50 g/L)
- You can use this product on all softwood types such as pressure treated pine, cedar, fir or redwood
Advantages
- It’s both a stain and sealer
- Offers protection against Ultraviolet rays
- It’s available in 4 beautiful semi-transparent finishes
- You can apply it to all softwood types
- It is water-based making it easy to clean
- The formula contains a low volatile organic compound
Disadvantages
- Some users think that its water-resistant capabilities are not reliable.
4. THOMPSONS WATERSEAL TH.042851-16 Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain, Woodland Cedar
This product is one of the best wood sealers for cedar that you will come across. It is both a stain and a sealant with a semi-transparent appearance. This formula is so hard that it prevents damages by external factors such as mildew and UV radiation.
Using this formula allows your wooden structure’s natural beauty to show through the grains.
It has acrylic polymers which are responsible for significantly improving the resistance to marring and scuffing. With just a single coat of this product, you can cover and protect your wood for about 4 years on decks and up to 6 years on fences. Use a paintbrush, sprayer or roller in the application of this formula. Thompson’s TH.042851-16 Waterseal Waterproofing Stain has an impressive area of coverage of up to 150-400 square feet per gallon.
It drays relatively faster with 2 hours enough to dry it to touch
The Summary of Top Features
- It’s an exterior wood stain and sealer with complete outdoor wood protection
- The formula comes with moderately pigmented components to add beauty
- It can prevent damages by water and can resist mildews etc.
- Has advanced Polymers which resists fading of the color
Advantages
- Has a relatively wide coverage area of 150-400 square feet
- Comes with about 4 years of protection
- Can resist color fading
Disadvantages
- Can form strips after applications
5. THOMPSONS WATERSEAL Transparent Waterproofing Stain
It is among the very best wood sealers for cedar in the market today. This formula is an all in one product that serves as both stain and sealer with waterproofing protection to your exterior woodwork.
In this formula, there are advanced polymers that give it a lasting fade resistance property. This formula can resist mildew, as well as the dangerous UV rays from the sunlight. You can use this product on freshly cleaned or damp wood without any complications. Even as it protects your wooden structures, this formula allows the natural texture as well as the grain of the wood to show through.
It comes with diversity in the application as you can use a brush, paint roller or sprayer and dries to touch in a few hours.
The Summary of Top Features
- It prevents water damage
- Has advanced polymers that offer a fade-resistant color
- It can resist UV light as well as mildew
- You can apply it to a freshly cleaned damp or dry wooden structure
Advantages
- It stains and seals wood at the same time
- You can apply it to a dry or damp wood
- Allows the natural beauty of the wood to show through
Disadvantages
- Needs proper mixing before application to get it right
6. ToughTimber – Waterproof Deck Sealer, Wood Sealer
The name says it all; this product is a tough industrial grade and a high-end sealer. It ensures the protection of your wooden structure that will last several years. You can use this product on several surfaces like the wooden decks, cedar roofs, shingles, fencing, and any other exterior woodworking projects. This formula can penetrate deep into the wood, to reduce water uptake by up to 95%. It offers protection against mold and mildew. Besides, it can resist oil, gas, and has anti-freezing properties.
You need just a single coat to seal using this formula. You will notice that it is cloudy when you first apply it and dries to a clear and a bit glossy sheen on the same day of application.
The Summary of Top Features
- It’s a high-end wood, roof, and deck Sealer with a lasting protection
- It resists the growth of molds and mildew by preventing the uptake of water for up to 95%
- This formula is easy to use, with just one coat application it goes from cloudy to a bright finish with a bit of gloss sheen.
- Mix it with water in a ration of 1-4.
- This formula covers up to 1,000 sq ft after mixing with water.
Advantages
- It’s a high-grade product with a professional touch
- This formula has a deep wood penetration
- It comes with a very extensive area coverage
Disadvantages
- It only seals
- Gives a glossy finish which can be bad for those who do not like gloss
7. SEAL-ONCE NANO Penetrating Wood Sealer & Stain
NANO Penetrating Wood Sealer is among the best wood sealers for cedar. It comes with a waterproofing wood finish with very high rates of penetration into the wood. It’s high standards of penetration enable the protection of timber against damages by water as well as decay.
This product is water-based and uses proprietary nanotechnology, which forms a flexible and breathable material when it coats the wood fibers at the cellular level.
You can find this product in up to 11 different semi-transparent color tints. The colors include Black, Bronze Cedar, Battleship Gray, Brown, Cape Cod Gray, Shale Gray, Cedar, Light Brown, Clear, Mahogany, Natural, and Redwood.
The Summary of Top Features
- It is a water-based sealer that has advanced penetrating nanotechnology with a performance of an Oil-based product.
- Using this formula is an excellent investment if you are looking to enhance and extend the natural life of your wooden structures.
- It comes with protection against water damage for up to a decade on vertical surfaces and 6 years on horizontal surfaces.
- It contains Ultra Low-VOC, which makes it safe for people, pets, plants, or marine life.
- Its application is an easy one, and you can clean up using soap and water.
- The formula prevents warping, cupping, rot, mold, etc.
- It comes with a UV barrier to prevent fading.
Advantages
- Dries to touch in about 2 hours
- Available in many colors for flexibility
- Contains low VOC
- It’s an easy to clean formula
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for application on surface temperature that is below 45°F/7.22°C or above 95°F/35°C
8. Ready Seal 110 1-Gallon Can Golden Pine Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer
This Ready Seal Stain and Sealer for Wood product is one of the best performing sealers for cedar in the market. It is an oil-based, semi-transparent product that serves as both stain and sealer.
In this formula, you get a unique blend of oils, high-end resins and fine ground colorations that can penetrate deep into the wood for protection of the elements of the wood. This formula brings out the best of the natural beauty of wood by exposing the grains.
It is suitable for exterior wood projects and is effective on premium-grade lumbers, such as Western Red Cedar, Cypress, Douglas Fir, Spruce as well as Redwoods.
The Summary of Top Features
- It’s a goof-proof formula
- This formula leaves no laps, runs or streaks
- No back brushing
- You can apply it at any temperature
Advantages
- Has low VOC contents
- Relatively more extensive coverage of up to 150 square feet per gallon
- It dries to a durable natural flat finish
- This formula does not crack or chip
- You can apply it easily through brushing, spraying and rolling
Disadvantages
- Some users said it’s thinner than they expected
The Best Wood Sealer For Cedar Buyer’s Guide
Each time that you are looking to seal your cedar made wooden structures, it’s always vital that you get it right, especially with the best wood sealers for cedar wood types. We’ve seen instances where people just buy products without conducting proper research and end up with the wrong formulas.
So that you are not one of the people who get it wrong with the sealing projects, we have highlighted some of the factors that you should consider as you shop for your products. They include:
Area of Application- Interior or Exterior
Understand the location of your woodworking projects before shopping for your preferred sealing formula. If you are working on a project on the outside environment, you should ensure that the sealer you buy is for exterior use. There is a lot of flexibility for the interior projects as you can use either sealer.
If you prefer to use an exterior sealer inside, then see to it that you apply your sealer in a room with proper ventilation and circulation of air.
The Color of The Sealer
Color is essential when sealing your cedar made furniture. We advise that you try and use natural colors on surfaces such as kitchen cabinets and tables as they allow the natural beauty of wood to show. This is just our recommendation; you can always choose a color that pleases you the most, though.
You can confirm the color of your project by reading the manufacturer’s labels on the containers or test the sealer on a small piece of material instead of jumping straight into the whole project.
Type of Sealer
The type of sealer that you use for your woodworking matters a lot, especially if your furniture is of cedar wood. Cedar is a dense softwood, therefore, always ensure that you buy an oil-based stain sealer with deep penetration properties for this kind of wood.
There are also water-based wood sealers with the properties of the oil-based sealers, which makes them perfect for use on the cedar type of wood. Therefore, keep in mind the type of sealer that you intend to buy, and it should be in a position to work correctly with your wood type.
NOTE: You Can Leave Cedar Untreated
As our reader, we understand that you might be working on a budget. If so, we’d like to let you know that cedar wood can do reasonably well without necessarily having an additional finish. As it ages, however, cedar wood starts to turn silver-gray with a rustic feel, which changes the appearance.
For cedar swings, instead of applying a finish, you can wash it yearly using a mild detergent solution and a brush. If you happen to see mildew growing on it, you can treat it with a bleach solution. Alternatively, use a mildew wash.
Conclusion
Cedar is one of the unique wood types if you consider it’s property, such as being soft and dense at the same time. Therefore, you need to be cautious when dealing with this type of wood.
If your wooden furniture is products of cedar, ensure that you only use the best wood sealers for cedar each time that you want to give them a finishing touch. Our best sealing product for cedar wood is Ready Seal Natural Wood Stain and Sealer. You must not forget that we have reviewed the very best products in the market, and any that you will choose will work perfectly for your projects.
Tyron Otieno
Tyron is an avid woodworker and writer. He founded this website to help other woodworkers, whether hobbyists or professionals by sharing his knowledge and experiencie after a decade of woodworking.