Gentlemen, Your advice is appreciated on a dilemma. I need to build 2 overhead garage doors out of red oak to match other features on the house. Standard red oak plywood obviously is not ideal for weather exposure, or is multiple applications of a linseed oil product sufficient to protect from the wet weather? OR apply red oak veneer to a marine plywood, then linseed oil? I will be routing a decorative pattern into the face of the doors. I am curious which process would last longer and where the greatest long term concern might be. Is it the veneer glue? Or non marine plywood delamination? Peeling veneer edges at routed groove? Any suggestion appreciated.
I was thinking about 3/8″ plywood (to keep the weight down).
Thanks
Glenn
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The oak plywood would be my choice of the 2. The marine plywood is almost incidental since it's the veneer that will take all the wear and abuse. Routing a design into either will create lots of edges to dry and curl and they will no matter what finish you apply. Oil is a poor finish and would have to be reapplied yearly. My choice would be 3 or 4 coats of an epoxy finish. Make sure your wood is bone dry and seal it everywhere with 3 coats. White oak is more durable than red oak but you could stain it to match.
How are you making the doors? Frame and panel? Swinging or roll ups?
Good thoughts !!! The doors will be a typical overhead sectional. The look I am going for is a 6" vertical plank. The "planks" will be a V groove route to appear champfered. A couple of horizontal solid oak boards for accent to match the existing house feature and partially conceal the saw kerf joint at the door panel hinge point. Then add some decorative "rivet" buttons. What type of epoxy would you recommend for the finish? Thanks for your great comments.
Glenn
I have build a couple exterior doors using MLCampbell Polarion finish. It seems to hold up well, but the oldest is only 4 years old at this point.
Only use linseed oil if you want to reapply it every 6 months.
Thanks for your suggestion. I will check out the Polarian finish. Several people have told me about the linseed re-application, that sounded like a good idea at first but I'm convinced not to use it now.
Thanks for your help
Glenn
Linseed is old school It needs to be re-applied often. Marine varnish will take a beating but when the finish degrades it will need to be totally stripped. Take a look at the cetol products they are very easy to reapply but not everyone like the finish.
If you are going the high build finish route check out- Total Boat Halcyon you can apply multiple coats per day and it gets good reviews from the Florida boating crowd (high UV exposure)
Marine ply will help if you have exposed end grain (which you will have at the edge of each panel).
If it were me I'd go with the marine plywood; you are going to be putting a lot of labor into these doors. the cost of material is almost incidental.