In a time where authenticity of materials is valued and principles like biophilic design are on the rise, there is an increased desire for timber accents to look as natural and untouched as possible. 

While the initial look of bare or clear coated timber might be alluring, it’s not practical for today’s projects. The reason for this is that, in most cases, it’s actually the wood stain or colourwash’s pigmentation that helps reflect back UV radiation. Because clear coats are effectively clear by nature, there isn’t much of anything to prevent UV rays from reaching and damaging the substrate.

In New Zealand there is so much more radiation bearing down on timber surfaces — particularly exterior ones, and timber substrates that are not properly protected will break down quickly. Not only can this detract from the look of your project, but it can also ruin your client’s investment.

Resene’s Technical Team are tasked with creating products that are both useful and robust enough to stand up to the challenges of our unique climate. And now, they’ve developed an option for getting that covetable, natural look on your project’s vertical timber surfaces: Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil. Indicated in the name, this product is particularly suited for cedar, but can also be used on many different types of wood both indoors and outside.

With Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil, it’s easy to get a subtly-coloured look on vertical timber surfaces. The formula is available in a penetrating finish that can be tinted to 21 new colours named after some of New Zealand’s most beloved national and forest parks which range from barely-there hues to bold orange, deep browns and off-black. And to make sure you have plenty of choice, you can also select hues from the Resene Woodsman colour range, too.

Lighter colours are made using Resene’s new W tinter which imparts a sophisticated ‘wash effect’ with a level of transparency that a paint pigment can’t. This new tinter is enticingly subtler and affords an even more natural look.

Top specifying tip

When specifying a darker paint or wood stain colour outdoors, be sure to always ask for it to be tinted into a Resene CoolColour formula if one is available. A Resene CoolColour offers better protection for your substrate than a normal Resene colour by reflecting back more of the sun’s harmful IR radiation. Resene Woodsman Cedar Natural Wood Oil is available in CoolColour options.