Decorative wine barrel care....

steveinaz

Anyone know how to maintain decorative wine barrels? We have a few large ones speckled around the property and on the patio, and I was wondering if I should use linseed, or some sort of finish to help protect them.

rooftop59

Sorry Steve have no idea, but what kind of wood are they made of? Oak?

steveinaz

I believe so, they are "real" wine barrels, but have silvered from being out in the sun.

tonyb

Jesse would be the man to answer that. Or call a wine barrel maker....would imagine some kind of protection coating is needed for that hot sun.

Jstas

If you want to recover the pretty look of the wood, you'll have to oil it. But you'll have to periodically re-oil it to keep it from drying out and getting the silvering happening. If they are going to be sitting outside in Aridziona, I'd get a marine grade teak oil or deck oil. It holds up better than other oils for exterior use.

Oiling is not permanent, though.

The other option is to take the barrels apart, sand the exterior down and reassemble. Then you'll have to protect it.

As far as protecting them, some level of outdoor weather sealant. I don't know that if you oil the wood to restore it you can use a sealant easily because it won't stick to the wood because of the oil. But if you are just going to oil the damaged wood and restore it that way, the oil will protect against moisture and UV damage for a little while.

Like what was said, Jesse is the neighborhood expert on this stuff here. But a wine barrel is no different than a deck or something.

The silvering is UV damage, BTW. Cracking and splitting and raised grain is from weather damage and the wood drying out.

steveinaz

Jstas,
We don't mind the silver look, but I'm just wondering if I should be doing something to keep it from rotting.

thsmith

Steve, Power washing will get back most of the natural wood look. I dont know of anything that will hold up not requiring regular application in the AZ sun. A Clear Wood Finsh deck stain would be good for a year or so.

Like said above, I am sure Jesse has the best answer.

villian

Pressure wash them (It'll take off the dirt and old silvered finish) and refinish them with a product of your choice. IE: Wax, stain, oil, etc.

F1nut

Steve, any type of clear coat or tinted coat, be it for decks or a marine grade finish such as Cetol will not last long in that AZ sun. You'll have to sand down and reapply every year or two. A better idea, one that John suggested is to apply an exterior oil. You'll still need to reapply once or maybe twice a year, but you won't have to sand them down first making it a relatively easy job. That said, I don't think you have to worry much about wood rot in your hot, dry climate.

If you use any oil product, make sure you lay the rags outside, flat on the ground to dry before disposing. The concern is spontaneous combustion.

scottyboy76

Steve, oak is what wine barrels are made from, though not a wine ibndustry expert, that is what i knew as a pro landscaper using them for outdoor plantings.

as far as pest problems, you have to make your mind up if you want to use chemicals, or poly, varnis, or some other finis, which would only slow down any pests.

As far as attractive finish, again, i never bothered, seeing how cheap a replacement oak half barrel would be.

My bias is dont poison unless it is to further your food supply, replace anything having to do with ORNAMENTAL PLANTINGS.

DONT MEAN TO SHOUT, UNINTENTIONAL.

tonyb

The problem I see....is these wine barrels are decorative.

Clean 'em up....fill 'em up with good wine. That's like bees to honey for us Chicago Italians.

steveinaz

Thank you fellas. I think I'll go the oil route, I'm not trying to make them pretty---just want to take better care of them. I'm certainly used to refinishing all my outdoor furniture every spring, as Jesse can tell you. Most everything we have is wood, because we have high winds and typical patio furniture gets destroyed pretty quick---you need furniture with some weight to it.

Thanks again guys!