Warm and sunny spring days mobilize us to carry out cleaning works in home gardens and allotments. Many people will refresh or build wooden gazebos, fences, terraces and maintenance of garden furniture. During these works, the wood must be properly impregnated so that it does not deteriorate. What should bepreservation and protection of wood outsideexplains an expert from Altax, a company that produces wood protection products.
Conservation and protection of wood with stain varnish
The most important thing is to choose the right product forprotection and maintenance of woodIt should be adapted to the type of surface and our needs.- We should use a hard varnish for garden furniture , which is resistant to scratches and scratches - advises Andrzej Wójcik, Altax technical advisor. - The wooden façade is best painted with a flexible wax varnish, while wood oil is recommended to protect the terrace or elements made of exotic wood. Each producer should place information on the places of use on the packaging. - Be careful with universal agents - intended for impregnation of all wooden elements or suitable for both interior and exterior. They may not work on our surface - the expert warns.
When reaching for the product forwood preservation outside , let's make sure that it will protect our wood comprehensively.Many preparations, such as varnishes, wood oils, varnishes or glazes, do not contain biocides that protect against mold, fungi or insects. They are therefore not suitable for outdoor use without priming. In order to additionally protect the boards against bio-corrosion, use priming wood impregnations on the outside. They should not create any coating and affect the final visual effect, e.g. by changing the color.
- Applying too thick layers of wood preservatives to the outside is one of the most common mistakes - notes Andrzej Wójcik. - This makes the surface more prone to peeling and cracking. Moreover, too thick a layer significantly extends the drying time of the preparation and spoils the decorative effect, because instead of emphasizing the wood pattern, it covers it completely. Before using any preparation, read its label and follow the instructions for use.If the stain varnish manufacturer specifies its efficiency at 20 m² / liter and recommends applying the thinnest possible layers, trust his recommendation.
Proper maintenance extends the durability of wooden garden furniture
Efficiencypreservation and protection of the wood outsidedepends largely on how deeply the impregnating agent penetrates the structure of the board, so always impregnate dry wood. The wetter the material, the worse it will absorb and the less protection it will be. The created protective coatings will be unstable and will quickly deteriorate. In this case, rush is not a good adviser - it is better to wait a few days for the wood to dry well. If we protect them badly this year, we will have to repeat the impregnation next spring.
Beforeoutdoor wood preservationis done, let's also pay attention to what type of wood we have. The manufacturer's stencils are painted on one species - most often on a pine tree.In products such as impregnations, varnishes or oils, pigments are used that color the wood, but are also transparent. As a result, in addition to the product's coating, we can also see the color and structure of the wood itself. That is why painted pine wood will look different than oak wood. For those who really want to obtain the exact color presented by the manufacturer, we recommend that you make a color test in an invisible place. This will allow you to choose the right color and thus avoid disappointment with the end result.
When tidying up the garden, let's also think about refreshing and securing wooden elements of garden architecture, such as pergolas, fences and gazebos
Wood used in the garden must be well protected against UV radiation, which accelerates its graying and deterioration. In the versions of colored preparations, pigments play a protective function, while most colorless products do not have adequate protection.Therefore, when reaching for them, pay attention to whether the manufacturer declaresprotection of the wood outsideagainst UV radiation on the packaging. Such markings can be found, for example, on the colorless packages of the Altax versions of Wood Oil or Wax Altax - facade stain varnish.
- Following the above-mentioned simple, but key rules, will help, first of all, to achieve the desired effect, and secondly, to avoid problems with wood in the next season, concludes the Altax expert. - Properly impregnated wooden elements are resistant to pests, rain and sun, thanks to which we will be able to enjoy their beauty for longer. As a result, next year, instead of renovation works, we will start the season immediately by resting in our garden and enjoying the first rays of the spring sun.