Post #541479 by AlohaStation on Fri, Jul 9, 2010 8:49 AM

Florida is very harsh to any type of wood left outside. First you have to let the wood dry. Then coat the palm in Spar Urethane. Its sits right next to regular Polyurethane on the shelf - just look for outdoor use. If you coat the palm while it is still wet, there's a good chance that mold will grow under the clear coat. The Spar urethane will make the wood water-resistant but not water-proof. It will extend the life of the tiki but will not prevent it from rotting. I have several tikis on the back deck that pushing 5 years and they still look good. Remind the new owners that the more water the tiki is exposed to the faster the tiki will decay. Also try to keep the tikis off exposed ground (thats how bugs get in) - mine sit on pavers.