FEATURES
“Factors such as changing air moisture and rain may cause the wood to
expand and contract,” says Lawson. He advises that wood should be
regularly maintained to expand its lifespan by applying maintenance coats.
“Some coatings (such as varnishes) need re-coating after a year or two and
some coatings (penetrating oils and wax sealers) need re-coating twice
a year.”
THE FINISH
It is often said that to enjoy the material longer, preparation plays a huge
contributing factor. There are many products on the market that clients and
contractors can choose. You are indeed spoilt for choice. With a good oil, wax
or sealer and proper maintenance you can never go wrong.
TOOLS FOR THE JOB
1. Sandpaper in various grades, from course to fine grit
2. Paint stripper
3. A scraper
4. Something to neutralise the paint stripper after use
5. A paint tray
6. Good quality paint brushes in various sizes (widths)
7. Mineral turpentine to wipe the wood after sanding (and to clean
the brushes, if working with a turpentine-based sealer / varnish)
8. Rubber gloves to protect your hands
9. A painter’s apron or overalls
10. Old newspaper to place under the item being worked on, to make
cleaning up a bit easier
11. A sturdy ladder, if necessary
Source: Woodoc
TIMBER TREATMENTS
Varnish A product that merely sits on the surface of the wood, achieving
minimal penetration. The old practice of diluting the first coat
of a varnish to achieve ‘penetration’ does not work. The particle
size of the varnish remains the same after dilution and only the
solvent will penetrate the wood. Hence, varnish is a pure surface
coating. When varnish is subject to weathering or damage, it
will delaminate and ‘bubble’, peel or flake off wood. To re-coat
the old surface, the coating must be completely removed.
Oils /
waxes Product does not form a surface coating to protect wood against
mechanical damage / weather but penetrates the wood. It is
excellent for stabilising wood in the short to medium term but
offers no real protection to the wood surface. Thus, it must be
re-applied regularly but generally no stripping or sanding is
required before re-application.
Sealers A sealer combines the best characteristics of a varnish and an
oil by penetrating wood to stabilise the wood and then builds
up on the surface to offer surface protection and finish. Woodoc
sealers all fall into this category. It is not necessary to strip
or sand a Woodoc sealer off the wood before applying a new
coat. In exterior conditions the surface will need a clean with a
stiff brush (or fine steel wool) and turpentine to get rid of any
pollution before application. In indoor conditions, a light sanding
on and around the area to be repaired followed by a wipe-down
with mineral turpentine is all that is required before application.
Source: Woodoc
// APRIL / MAY 2018 45