Natwerk Designs

Is it possible to weatherproof a pine kitchen table so it could be used as an outdoor table?

We are getting a new kitchen table to seat more people but have a lovely pine table that I wonderd if we could treat with something so it could live outside - along with the pint chairs I would also have to treat.... yatching varnish??

Public Comments

1. Yes. Coat it with a marine urethane. If any of the table parts can be easily disassembled, do that before coating so that you don't have uncoated wood areas where water can seep in and stay wet for long period of time. Otherwise just make sure the urethane covers and seeps into the cracks to keep water out.
2. I would not do that. Wood is like a sponge. It absorbs moisture when the humidity is up and dries out when the humidity is low. The chances are the table is made from glued up boards. The glue is not water proof and no matter how you finish it, the glue will fail in a short time and table will be a mess. The same is true of the chairs. Even a spar varnish that is made for marine environments will not completely seal the glue joints. If you go ahead be sure to seal all of the wood top and underneath. That will delay the failure of the glue joints and also minimize the warping of the wood that is quite likely to happen from changes in moisture.
3. Marine epoxy would work It is the stuff they use for wooden boats. Be sure to coat both top and bottom Search for "west system epoxy" I have used it for wood kitchen counters works well.