"Did you find any particular sealant or finish worked better for preventing moisture issues?"
We switched to wood-clad frames about three years ago, and honestly, a good marine-grade polyurethane finish has been a lifesaver. Bit of extra work upfront, but zero moisture issues since—even during those brutal cold snaps.
"We switched to wood-clad frames about three years ago, and honestly, a good marine-grade polyurethane finish has been a lifesaver."
Interesting you mention marine-grade polyurethane...that's solid advice for sure. I've had good luck with spar varnish myself—it's flexible enough to handle temp swings without cracking, which is key at our altitude. Did a cabin last fall that faces north and gets hammered by wind and ice, and so far it's holding up nicely. Either way, definitely worth the extra elbow grease upfront to avoid moisture headaches later.
Good call on the spar varnish...I've used it too and it's pretty reliable. Only issue I've found is it tends to amber a bit more over time compared to poly. Not a huge deal, but something to consider if you're picky about color matching.
Yeah, spar varnish is solid stuff, but you're right about the ambering. I refinished some window frames a few years back, and at first, the color was spot-on. Fast forward a couple winters, and they definitely took on a warmer hue—not terrible, but noticeable if you're particular. Still, considering how well it holds up against moisture and cold, I'd say it's worth the minor trade-off. Good heads-up though...color matching can be a pain.
I've had decent luck with spar varnish too, but honestly, the ambering bugs me more than a little. Have you ever tried a water-based polyurethane instead? I refinished some trim in our sunroom about five years ago, and it's held up surprisingly well—no noticeable color shift yet. Granted, it might not be quite as bulletproof against moisture as spar varnish, but for windows that aren't constantly soaked, it could be a solid alternative. Just something to consider...
"Granted, it might not be quite as bulletproof against moisture as spar varnish, but for windows that aren't constantly soaked, it could be a solid alternative."
That's a good point about the moisture resistance. I've used water-based poly on some interior trim and furniture pieces, and I agree—it holds up pretty well indoors. But I'm curious how it'd handle the temperature swings and UV exposure near windows. Have you noticed any cracking or peeling at all in your sunroom trim after five years?
Personally, I've had mixed results with water-based poly outdoors or near windows that get direct sunlight. A few years back, I refinished some window sills in our kitchen with a water-based poly because I wanted to avoid the ambering too (totally get your frustration there). It looked great initially—nice clear finish—but after about three winters of cold drafts and summer sun beating down, I started noticing some minor flaking around the edges. Nothing catastrophic, but enough to make me wonder if spar varnish would've been tougher.
On the other hand, I've got a friend who swears by marine-grade water-based finishes for his cabin windows up north. He says they've held up beautifully through freezing temps and intense sun exposure without yellowing or peeling. Maybe it's just about finding the right brand or formulation?
Have you tried any specific brands of water-based poly that seem more durable than others? Or maybe there's some prep trick I'm missing... sanding technique or primer coat? I'm open to giving it another shot if there's a way to make it last longer without ambering.
"Maybe it's just about finding the right brand or formulation?"
I think you're onto something here. I've had decent luck with water-based poly near windows, but prep seems to make all the difference. Light sanding between coats, careful dust removal, and a good UV-resistant primer coat underneath really helped mine last longer. Don't get discouraged—sounds like you're already on the right track, just might need some fine-tuning on the prep side.
Good points on prep work—definitely makes sense. A couple things I'd also consider:
- How much does altitude affect the UV resistance of different coatings?
- Do certain formulations handle extreme temperature swings better than others?
Curious if anyone's noticed differences at higher elevations...
I've definitely seen some coatings fade quicker up in the mountains—UV's no joke at altitude. Makes me wonder if triple-pane windows really hold up better, or if it's mostly marketing hype... anyone tested that out firsthand?
I've had triple-pane windows installed for about five years now at around 7,500 feet elevation. Honestly, the UV coating still faded a bit, but noticeably slower than my old double-pane ones. The biggest difference was actually insulation—less drafty and definitely warmer inside during winter. So yeah, triple-pane isn't magic armor against UV, but it does hold up better overall. Just don't expect miracles...and maybe keep the blinds handy if you're worried about fading furniture.