Finishing exterior Ash fascia?

[flanajb]

The shed fascias had started to rot and I had a load of boards of ash sitting in the garage (yes, I know it's a waste of quality timber), but I had no plans for the ash and decided to use it to make replacement fascias. What I want to know is the best way to finish it.

Varnish
Rustins Plastic Coating - Have some spare from a recent worktop reseal.
??

Thanks

 

[Jake]

It's a not a durable timber at all, you'd be better off buying some pine or something and saving the ash for something internal.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

^^^ +1 - it rots while you watch it.

 

[flanajb]

Oh bugger! They are all made up and sanded. Is it really that bad?

 

[ColeyS1]

Aluminium primer, minimum 2 coats for it to stand half a chance.

Coley

 

[flanajb]

Aluminium primer, minimum 2 coats for it to stand half a chance.

Coley

If I want a clear finish? A few coats of UV resistant epoxy of a yacht varnish?

 

[ED65]

I've salvaged a few bits of ash from the wild (discarded hurleys) and it hadn't exactly rotted away, but exposure to the weather doesn't do it any favours and it becomes spongy on the surface. Couldn't tell you how long that took though.

Are the rest of the shed boards unfinished? If not then some of the same wood preservative could work as well on ash as it does on crappy softwood.

 

[Beau]

Oh pipper! They are all made up and sanded. Is it really that bad?

No it's not all that bad if well protected. Think Morris travellers coach work was all ash and with some good maintenance it could last a good long time.

Just googled wood maintenance on Morris travellers and there is loads of info. From a quick glance clear preserver and Danish oil seem the favoured rout as varnish holds moisture in and does not breath. I should add I have not used ash outside myself but as logs its a long way off being the first to rot.

You could always go the epoxy resin rout and encapsulate each piece in resin but you need to be carful to seal all fixing holes as well. Boats are done like this with no bother.

 

[flanajb]

The clear preserver is a great idea. I hadn't thought about that.

I'll have a google as the method you mention does seem an easier option that the epoxy route.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

... I had no plans for the ash and decided to use it to make replacement fascias. What I want to know is the best way to finish it.

Oil based paint, all edges, faces and ends. Shield it from UV exposure and moisture as much as you can. Actually, protecting any wood or wood based product, whether durable, non-durable and everything in between from these sources of deterioration with a high quality paint is always the most effective solution, albeit not always the most desired one, which explains why yachting types sand back, repair/replace and varnish their brightwork so frequently - almost continuously seems to be the way for many boat and yacht owners, ha, ha. Slainte.

 

[flanajb]

I wasn't planning on painting it. Being a lazy git, I might just bin the idea and replace it with tanalised softwood from the builders merchants.