[help] I want to preserve my new Redwood Pergola. Solutions?

Hi DIY,

First post here asking for help. I hired some friends to build a redwood pergola on my back patio last October before my regions rainy season. We get rain maybe one-two months out of the year in central California.

My question is: What is the best way to preserve the color and integrity of my new structure to protect it. I know that redwood will eventually turn grey and can then be stained but I would like to preserve the natural color as long as possible. I don't really have any concern about protecting it from frost and heavy rain as that isn't a factor where I live.

Here is a photo of the current color: http://ift.tt/1608jDG

And a photo of the full structure: http://ift.tt/1608kri

It has been through one rainy season already and the wood looks beautiful.

What are some of my options here?

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  UV Protection some how?

  
  


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  Cover it with a thick clear paint?

  
  


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  Water seal with some kind of UV protection?

  
  


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  Leave it be natural for as long as possible and then stain it once it starts to fade?

  
  


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  Oil based sealer?

  
  


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  Polyurithane?

  
  

I was going to use Behr waterproofing on it but then read that it only lasts 2 years and could flake off down the line and that just sounds bad and like something I should avoid.

Thanks for any advice /r/diy

I'm in the middle of hanging string lights on the structure today

Submitted January 30, 2015 at 12:58AM by Trexid http://ift.tt/1z9bJz9