Waterproofing Teak Wood Shower Bench Using Oils & Sealant And Stain
Shower benches, also known as transfer benches, can be ordered pre-built, attached, or separately. Foldable or removable benches are typically favored in smaller shower rooms or restrooms. Whatever the situation, maintaining and caring for the shower benches is always important. These are frequently sopped in water, which causes the bench material to deteriorate and the growth of mold and mildew. The waterproofing of shower seats fulfils the ideal purpose. The most common woods used to make shower benches are teak, bamboo, acacia, and cedar. With a range of prices and life spans, these are incredibly popular and practical solutions. Shower benches made of wood can be fixed or mobile. The most common choice is teak because wood is water-resistant by nature, quite inexpensive, and incredibly durable. Cedar and bamboo are placed after teak.
Waterproofing Using Oils
Typically, oils are used to weatherproof wooden objects. Oils like teak oil, Tung oil, and linseed oil can be used to make shower benches. The natural appearance and gloss of hardwood shower benches are preserved with oils. They give an additional layer of defense and preserve the wood's inherent oils.
Teak Oil is a blend of a number of different substances, including varnish, linseed oil, lacquer, and teak oil. Although it works well on other types of wood as well, teak wood benefits the most from it. Therefore, teak oil is reliable if you have a real wood shower bench, which is the most typical type of shower bench.
Tung Oil, which is made from the nut of the Tung tree, is a drying agent used in inks, paints, and varnishes. It is specifically intended to waterproof all types of timber surfaces. Another drying oil that guards against moisture and abrasion is
Linseed Oil. Linseed must first be boiled before use, though. Shower benches should be oiled every three months for maximum effects because they come into daily touch with moisture.
- Clean And Dry
This should be a required step if the shower seat isn't already clean. To avoid the growth of any mold, the bench should constantly be cleaned after each usage. Use water and mild dish soap to clean the shower bench. Any filth that had gathered on it would be removed. Now wait 3 to 4 hours for the bench to dry. - Smoothen It
The bench's edges can be made smoother by using sandpaper. It would make applying oils hassle-free. - Apply Oil
It's now time to use a brush to actually apply the oil. To thin the oil to the required consistency, you can combine it with other substances like turpentine oil or mineral turpentine. - Wait And Reapply
At most, it would take a few hours for the combined oil solution to entirely dry. For improved protection, reapply the oil after that.
Waterproofing Using Sealant And Stain
Another method of waterproofing the shower seats uses sealant and stain. Sealant can also be used on its own to waterproof. However, the combination of sealer and color pigment makes it a durable choice. For sealing shower seats, people frequently use varnish and polyurethane. If your seat can be moved outside, you can also apply lacquer. This is because applying lacquer in a closed space would be problematic because lacquer emits a lot of fumes. Because sealants contain silicone, they are waterproof. When combined with stains, sealants give your shower area a cool, customized touch and color. A faint stain is left on the wood by stains and sealants with an alkyd base.
- Clean, Dry And Smoothen
Similar to oiling, the surface must be cleaned with sandpaper, dried, and smoothed before sealer and stain are applied. - Apply Them
Apply the sealer and stain combination now with a brush and allow it to cure for 4-5 hours or overnight. To give the bench a premium finish, apply a second coat. - Precautions
Before waterproofing the sealant on the bench, you shouldn't shake it. Foam and bubbles would occur as a result of this. Even after application and drying, these bubbles would continue to appear on the bench's surface.