How To Waterproof Wood With An All-Natural Ingredient

When it comes to waterproofing wood for life outdoors, there are many options. There's stain, there's sealer, there are two-in-one solutions that save you time, but there are also many natural options to consider if you prefer to go a more eco-friendly route. One of the most popular options for waterproofing wood naturally is beeswax. To find out more, we spoke to Bob Beacham, House Digest's expert carpenter and remodeler, in an exclusive interview. "Personally, I love using beeswax polish to condition and protect wood. It's a natural product, is good for the wood, produces a deep glow, and smells great. If worked in well, it will protect furniture from spills," he says.

Still, Beacham tells us, if you want to go the natural route, there are some things to understand before you decide on beeswax. First and foremost, you should understand that pure beeswax is too hard to use on its own, so you will need to mix it with a thinning agent. Second, it will take a lot of elbow grease to get the beeswax worked into the wood properly. Third, it may not be the best choice if long-term waterproofing and durability are what you're after, so be ready to reapply often.

As Bob Beacham noted in his exclusive interview with House Digest, you're going to need more than just beeswax to get the job done. "On its own, beeswax is too hard ... It needs to be mixed with linseed oil and mineral spirits for furniture. Commercial beeswax polish also has those or similar ingredients (some use olive oil)," he says. Mineral spirits are different to paint thinner or acetone and are derived from petroleum. So, if you're opting for beeswax for its natural, eco-friendly properties, you may want to steer clear of that particular thinning agent.

Other than choosing the right product, it is a pretty simple process. "Some beeswax furniture polish is thicker, so it takes a bit of elbow grease, but that's about it," says Beacham. "Pour or wipe on, rub in. Any old linen or cotton cloth will do. I usually use torn up old t-shirts." While the process may be simple, you do need to be sure the wax is worked into the wood completely. If not, Beacham says it may leave a residue that collects dust and dirt. "On bare wood, the first coat will probably get absorbed entirely, so a second application will probably be necessary," Beacham warns DIYers. How do you know when it's done? "If it looks dry and patchy, there isn't enough beeswax. It should have a satin sheen," he says.

The question on your mind may be whether or not beeswax will provide enough protection from water intrusion for your needs. The answer depends on your project. Bob Beacham says he's never used beeswax on outdoor furniture. "A lot will depend on the weather conditions, but if a table, for example, was outdoors all year, I would question that level of durability," he warns in his exclusive interview with House Digest. If you don't mind reapplying regularly, though, or you live in a dry area, it may work just fine. It would not be his first choice for wood projects that will be constantly exposed to the elements, though.

"Indoors I would use beeswax polish," Beacham says. "Outdoors, if it was all about the waterproofing and long-term durability, I would use an outdoor polyurethane varnish or marine spar varnish (urethane)." If none of these options appeal to you, consider learning to apply tung oil for you next wood project.