Applied clear Osmo Oil to wooden garden office - can i paint over with coloured version?

united4ever

Painted with this: https://osmouk.com/product/uv-protection-oil/

Thinking it would look better in grey now.

Can I add a second coat in a different colour and if so which product to use? Osmo have so many different products it's hard to know.

Thanks

Bendy_House

Do Osmo make a coloured 'oil' - ie a product in the same range?

Oil is great, but the 'problem' with it is that it isn't designed to take a normal finish over it. Ie, you cannot 'paint' over it - it'll almost certainly be repelled.

So, do they make a coloured 'oil'?

Mind you, I don't see a coloured oil being able to obliterate the natural weathered grey finish of timber; that likely will require a top-coat, so I suspect you are stuffed. At least until the oil has weathered.

Best thing to do is to email Osmo themselves. Tell them the product you've used, what it's been used on, and what you now wish to do. They will advise, I'm sure.

united4ever

Thanks, yes, I will contact them. Didn't realise the decision may be irreversible. 

Bendy_House

Some 'oils' aren't 'oils'. But in any case they will weather, and can be tackled then in a number of ways.

I just don't see it being easy for a while - oil repels most stuff, which is the whole point.

But Osmo will advise, I'm sure. Could you let us know what they say, please?

united4ever

Yeah, I emailed them. Will share the response when it comes.

united4ever

Email response below:

"Putting a colour over a clear oil is one of our most asked questions. Unfortunately the pigments in the coloured products are grounded down to an extremely fine state (similar to talcum powder in texture) to allow easy absorption into the grain. If however you have a clear already on the surface and it is occupying the grain the pigments in the coloured oils have nowhere to go, this will result them sitting ununiformed on the surface leaving a cloudy of patchy finish.

 

This is our official stance on this, however as a belt and braces approach you can try and apply a colour to the surface as only one coat has been done you may still have enough room in the grain to allow the coloured oil to adhere. We always recommend to trial a small discreet area. If this does not give the desired finish then I am afraid it will be a case of sanding back"

 

Bendy_House

Thanks, U4E. 
I was actually expecting issues with the oil REPELLING a top coat, but it may be that they were referring to a coloured OIL? In which case it wouldn't be 'repelled', but it would affect how well it soaks in evenly and stains the wood grain. 
That makes sense.
I guess you have a few options. One is to try a test area and see how it goes. Or, just let this clear first coat weather for a good few months and then try it?
Keep us posted - as they said, you won't have been the first, nor will be the last

Bendy_House

Do they make a grey coloured oil? Or what product were you thinking of?

united4ever

I asked which oil they recommend. They said:

"The best options here are the Decking Oils or the Natural Oil Wood Stain ranges. Here are the links:

 

Decking Oils: https://osmouk.com/product/decking-oils/

Natural Oil Wood Stain: https://osmouk.com/product/natural-oil-woodstain/ "

It's raining on and off until the weekend here so going to sleep on it and hope to go for a second coat either way at the weekend.

I have applied one coat but because I went for the 'clear' osmo it still looks the same, hence people keep asking me 'are you going to paint it' and warning me it will need protecting. I guess a second coat of the clear will mean this will be the finished look. Go on then, I'll ask - do you think it would look better in a grey?

Bendy_House

Nice hoosie

Don't rush to a decision - keep looking at Google images/Pinterest.

You may decide to go for a combo of dark grey and orangey stained timber - perhaps the grey on the window frames and other highlights. Wood and dark grey look great together.

There - I've just made it more complicated for you...