I live in California and have a new cedar sided house. I was told that we are in a low VOC area. What Sikkens product do you recommend?
The Sikkens products that are VOC compliant throughout California are, Cetol 1 RE, Cetol SRD RE Translucent, Cetol SRD Semi-Transparent Stain, Cetol WB SRD Translucent or Rubbol Solid.
I don’t want to rent a power washer for the cleaning procedure. Is a garden hose OK?
No. The use of a garden hose, even with a nozzle, will not properly remove the mill glaze, dirt, pollution, old coatings, etc., that may be found on the surface. We have done extensive testing and found using cleaning solution of 4 ounces of TSP, 1 quart of outdoor bleach and 3 quarts of fresh potable water, followed by a power washing at 500-800 p.s.i. is an efficient, effective way to clean the wood, without hand scrubbing or sanding the entire surface.
I have an exterior door that has been coated with Cetol 1 RE. I want to put an acrylic/urethane coating as a top coat. Is there a problem with that?
We do not recommend that type of product because it loses its flexibility, and it does not offer the durability and protection of Cetol Door and Window or Cetol 23 Plus RE.
I want to fill the nail holes on the outside of my house. I bought filler and would like to know if I can fill the holes with a mix of Sikkens and wood filler.
Without extensive testing we cannot tell whether the filler powder and Sikkens are compatible with each other. For this reason, we recommend to fill all joints, cracks, and nail holes with a good quality polyurethane or acrylic filler prior to coating application. Areas where caulking is smeared over the wood surface can be sanded after drying with 80-grit sandpaper to remove the caulking residue. It is important to remove caulking smears because the pigments in the Cetol finishes will not penetrate and will, show up lighter in color.
I have sprayed Cetol SRD on my siding. I have overspray on the windows and field stone. What should I do?
If the overspray is still wet, wet a rag with mineral spirits to wipe off the coating. If the overspray is dry, it will be difficult to remove and will require the use of a paint stripper/remover or carefully scraped off with a razor blade. Safe use of any paint remover is important. You should consult with the manufacturer of any paint stripper you use to help you with the situation.
I used Cetol 1 RE to stain the interior of the windows in my log home. I was informed by the dealer that you do not recommend the use of Cetol 1 RE for the interior. What should I do now?
Sikkens does not recommend the use of any exterior products for interior use. If it is already applied, we recommend top coating the Cetol 1 RE with two coats of Cetol BL Interior Clear to seal the surface.
I like the look of Cetol 1 RE and Cetol 23 RE Plus products. I would like this on my picnic table. What can I use?
The Sikkens system recommended for picnic tables, wood lawn furniture, play sets, etc. is two coats of Cetol 1 RE. This is the best system to use on unique applications. The maintenance on this system should be done every 1-2 years with Cetol 1 RE.
I would like to paint my picnic table. What product would you recommend?
If you are looking for a painted appearance to the picnic table, Sikkens recommends Rubbol Solid.
Can an insecticide be added to the Cetol 23 Plus RE?
Sikkens does not recommend adding any insecticide or additives to the products.
I have some teak garden furniture and want to protect it. The store told me to use Cetol Door & Window. Is this the best product to use?
We do not recommend Cetol Door & Window for any surfaces other than doors and windows. Sikkens recommends two coats of Cetol 1 RE on garden furniture.
When should I apply the caulking when using the Cetol 1 RE and Cetol 23 Plus RE or Cetol Log & Siding system on my log home?
The best way to apply the caulk is to put it on between the first and second coats, making sure the first coat is completely dry and the caulk is completely dry and completely cured before applying the second coat. However, it is possible to put the caulk on bare wood first and coat after, or coat and apply the caulk last.
Can Rubbol Solid be applied on a fiberglass door?
Yes, first wipe the surface with liquid sandpaper, scuff the surface with a nylon scuffing pad and then apply two coats. Rubbol Solid may take several days to dry to a hard cure.
How do you remove excess product from glass?
If the product is wet, it can be removed by wiping it off with a rag soaked in mineral spirits. If product is dry, it will have to be scraped off with a single edge razor blade.
We have 2,500 square feet of western red cedar to be coated with the Cetol 1 RE and Cetol 23 RE Plus system. The paint store told me to use two coats of Cetol 1 RE, then one coat of Cetol 23 Plus RE. We want to apply two coats prior to installation and then apply Cetol 23 Plus RE 1 ½ years later. What is the best way to apply this?
The recommended system would be one coat of Cetol 1 RE applied prior to installation to all sides of the wood, then two coats of Cetol 23 Plus RE after installation. All the coats need to be applied within one month. No coating system should be partially applied and finished 1½ years later.
We are building a new log home in the late fall. We will probably only have time to apply one or two coats. We were thinking of putting on one coat of Cetol 1 RE and one coat of Cetol 23 Plus RE. The following spring we will apply the final coat. Is this acceptable?
No, we do not recommend just two coats for an extended period of time. The entire 3 coat system should be finished within one month.
I accidentally applied Cetol 1 RE and Cetol 23 Plus RE on my deck-one coat of Cetol 1 RE and one coat of Cetol 23 Plus RE. What should I do now?
Cetol 1 RE and Cetol 23 Plus RE is a three coat system and is not recommended for a deck. In order to get durability from the product another coat should be applied. Other than removing the product and using a recommended deck system this is the only suggestion we can make. The deck products cannot be used over the Cetol 1 RE and Cetol 23 Plus RE.
I have a contractor painting my house. I saw him mix different products and pigments into the coating. Is it OK to add pigment and/or other products to Sikkens products?
No, we do not recommend adding anything to our translucent products. The Rubbol Solid and Cetol SRD Semi-Transparent Stains can be tinted using universal tints available at the dealer. No other additives should be used with any Sikkens products, as they could possibly slow down drying time, change gloss levels, affect the flow of the product, etc.
Is it OK to apply two coats of Cetol SRD RE to my home?
Cetol SRD RE is a single coat system. However, if the first coat does not have an even appearance (around knot areas, etc.), lightly reapply while still wet.
I have cedar shingles and applied one coat of Cetol SRD RE Cedar, but the appearance is uneven. How can I fix it?
Cetol SRD RE is a single coat system. However, if the first coat does not have an even appearance (around knot areas, etc.), lightly reapply while still wet.
We have a new western red cedar fence and would like to use Cetol SRD RE. Would this be the recommended system?
Yes, one coat of Cetol SRD RE can be used on fences after proper surface preparation. The Cetol SRD RE can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on. If sprayed or rolled, however, the application should be back brushed.
How often should I maintain the Cetol SRD RE system?
Cetol SRD RE should be weathered before recoating. Visually inspect the coating and when it appears faded spray the surface with water. If the water penetrates and the wood turns dark due to the moisture, this is an indication that its time for a new coat of Cetol SRD RE, however if it still repels water, do not apply a maintenance coat, but a light cleaning with oxalic acid cleaner and brightener is restore the look of the deck. When reapplying Cetol SRD RE, the surface should be back to bare wood; otherwise the wood may look dark, blotchy, or shiny.
Our house was coated with one coat of an oil base stain about 1 ½ years ago. It is developing a lot of mold and mildew, and in some of the exposed areas it has weathered off. I want to use the Sikkens translucent product on my house. What do I have to do?
In order to use any of the Sikkens translucent finishes on your home, the other product must be removed. Please refer to the Previously Coated Wood section in the product brochures or contact your local Sikkens dealer for assistance with removing the current product from your home.