Timber iQ October - November 2019 // Issue:46 | Page 45

FEATURES
FIND THE BEST TREATMENT OPTION
• Hardwoods and softwoods often require different
treatments. A reputable surface-treatment supplier
should be able to advise you in this regard.
• Keep to the supplier-recommended maintenance
schedule. This will ensure a longer-lasting, good-
looking product that will ultimately be less costly to
maintain.
• Naturally durable hardwoods should be used for
applications where the recommended maintenance
schedules cannot be met.
• For higher-exposure classes, such as protection
against insects and in-ground or water applications,
additional impregnation treatments are required.
• Timber is a natural product and therefore cannot be
used in all applications.
either within a certain timeframe (for example, within
24 months), or when the surface appears dry.
Penetrating treatments such as oil-based products are
similar, but with one key difference: they are far more
forgiving when not timeously maintained, and a fresh coat
can usually be applied without the need for any remedial
action. In such cases, though, the wood’s appearance might
have changed, depending on how long the surface remained
unmaintained.
Certain treatments were shown to provide very good
alternatives to regular oil or varnish products, with regard to
both penetration and maintenance requirements. Significant
advancements were demonstrated with penetrating sealers
and water-based treatments.
A very high-density tropical hardwood showing the importance
of matching surface treatments to the species being treated.
FILM-FORMING VS NON-FILM-FORMING
In addition to the maintenance requirements of different
surface treatments, users should be aware of the differing
effects of film-forming and non-forming treatments on wood.
A film-forming treatment can prevent moisture from
penetrating the timber and therefore help maintain its
original aesthetic appearance for as long as it is regularly
maintained. If the wood is not maintained, however, or
surface wear causes flaking, its appearance can very quickly
deteriorate.
Penetrating treatments may allow in some moisture, but,
because the wood is already penetrated by oils or waxes, the
effect on the wood’s properties is minimal. The surface might
discolour over time, but the structural condition of the wood
remains intact.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A
TREATMENT
Ease of application should be considered when considering
surface treatments, as some products are not easy to apply
with a brush or roller.
The initial treatment cost, in addition to maintenance costs,
should also be considered. In some test cases, the more
expensive treatments did not perform better in the long run.
The aesthetic appeal of a treatment should also be
considered. Gloss and matte-type finishes are available for
most product options and generally have similar protective
properties, but a glossy surface might not stay glossy in
certain applications.
www.timberiq.co.za
Merensky walkway after 18 months’ exposure and a fresh
maintenance coat.
// OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019
43