Best Finish For Outdoor Cedar Furniture. Western Red Cedar has a reputation for holding finish exceptionally well, and for good reason too. Outdoor finishes have one thing in common; they all require maintenance.
I wanted the lowest-maintenance option to finish the chairs, while extending their life as long as possible and preventing "splintering".
I used a spar varnish on my outdoor cedar stuff two years ago, and it is only now beginning to "silver," but only on the bottom, where snow touched it.
Furniture that lives outdoors must take a beating from heat, cold, and rain and also be able to withstand rot and pests. This is a sealer that focuses on one thing, and that one thing is rain resistance. Wood or metal outdoor furniture requires a protective finish to prevent damage from moisture and ultraviolet light, or UV.