How to protect wooden surfaces from moisture and UV radiation: a review of products

No matter how trivial it may sound, but wood was, is and will remain one of the most demanded building materials. Despite the abundance of high-quality composite and a variety of imitations, natural wood has no equal. But this material needs mandatory protection from external factors. What compounds are needed to protect wood - let's look at it.

What you need to protect wood from

The tree has two main enemies - ultraviolet and moisture. Under the influence of sunlight, lignin, a substance responsible for density and strength, is destroyed. Consequently:

• the permeability of wood increases;
• under the influence of UV radiation, the natural color fades;
• a dirty gray tint appears;
• moisture penetrates into deep layers;
• the tree swells, it "leads";
• mold and other biological damage appears;
• the life of the wood is reduced.

Paints and varnishes for wood

Special materials have been developed for wood, taking into account its high permeability and ability to absorb and release moisture.

Impregnations

These are coatings with a complex action, which are at the same time an antiseptic, a water repellent, and an ultraviolet barrier. Colorless impregnations with a glazing effect reveal the original texture and shade, making it brighter and more expressive. And with the help of tinted ones, you can imitate valuable species, for example: by painting pine in a shade of golden oak or teak.

Impregnations are easy to apply, penetrate deeply and dry quickly. The covering ability of impregnations is lower than that of paints and they are not intended to hide base defects, albeit insignificant. Usually they are used on fresh wood when it is necessary to protect the surface.

Paints

In fact, paint for wood differs from impregnations in a greater covering ability - after painting, only the surface relief is preserved. On the one hand, the texture of the wood turns out to be under a dense layer of paint, on the other hand, this allows you to hide minor errors, which is often important.

The properties of the paint and the durability of the coating formed depend on its type. Basically, alkyd and acrylic compounds are used for wood.

Alkyd paints - as a binder in these products, alkyd resins, in combination with fillers and solvents. The solvent in alkyd paints is mainly white spirit and similar organic substances, which is why they have a characteristic odor and are considered moderately toxic.

Acrylic paints - water-soluble dispersions or emulsions based on acrylic resins, fillers and additives (wax, marble chips, etc.). They do not contain organic solvents, due to which they do not emit chemicals into the air during application, they are classified as environmentally friendly materials.

Oils

The oils are environmentally friendly, protecting wood from biological damage, moisture and ultraviolet radiation, as well as pests. Penetrating deep into the wood, they make it more elastic, regulate moisture, prevent it from drying out and extend its service life.

Linseed and tung oils are widely used.

• Tung oil forms a tough, wear-resistant coating that is resistant to high temperatures.
• Flaxseed oil has the ability to be fully absorbed into the wood, penetrating into the deepest layers.

For interior decoration, oils are used both in pure form and with the addition of wax or turpentine. Wax enhances the water-repellent effect, and turpentine has antiseptic properties.

Lucky

The varnish forms a durable coating on the wood, which protects it from decay, abrasion, and also emphasizes the beautiful structure of the wood. Unlike the previous generation varnishes, modern ones, based on acrylic resins, polyurethane and silicone, create a durable, but elastic and vapor-permeable coating on the wood surface.

Varnishes are made on different bases and are of the following types.

• Acrylic.
• Polyurethane.
• Alcohol (varnish).
• Oil.
• Resin.
• Alkyd.
• Nitrolac.
• Acrylic urethane.

Covering the wood with paint or varnish depends primarily on the quality of the substrate. A transparent varnish will add expressiveness to a beautiful texture and reliably protect, and tinted, like paint, will both protect and hide, and will help to play in contrast if necessary.

How do you extend the durability of wood? Write in the comments!

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