Can I refinish a butcher block table and chairs to use on decking in humiditiy of Florida weather?

Question

I have a wood-butcher block table and chairs that I would like to use on our covered patio deck. Where is would be place is under deep covering, so it should not get rain unless a severe storm, as in high winds type. But, in Florida it is very humid, so I am wondering if I could do this. Like I said, it is solid wood. It is the butcher block table style. It is finished already. Do I sand it and then repaint/treat it? I have never treated inside furniture to go outside, so I am wondering if I could do this.

Thank you,

Brenda - Orlando Florida

Answer 1

I'm not a professional but I am a hobbyist in woodworking.  I've never used butcher block either so consider my similar experience.  I live in Florida on the Panhandle.  I usually use exterior plywood or sometimes even interior wood for tables and benches that go inside my open sided carport.  Yeah, that humidity will get ya.  Whatever wood I use, I sand it to my satisfaction, then I coat it with Velspar Interior/exterior eurothane.  This brings out the fibers of the wood and makes it rough again, but it seals it somewhat.  Then I use a fine or medium sand paper and sand and coat again.  Now it's looking pretty good.  One more very light sanding and another coat of eurothane.  By now it's sealed very well and feels and looks like a sheet of glass laying over the wood.  I made my benches five years ago  Just this summer I re-coated the bench tops by sanding again and sealing again only once.  If not for all the leaks in my carport roof, I probably wouldn't have had to do this.  Hope it helps.  Good luck.  Almost forgot.  Eurothane will give a very slight yellowish tint, but you may not even notice it.  I'm a female too.  Power to women woodworkers!

You can e-mail me if I can help further.