COVER STORY
and enhance the lustre and grain by nourishing it. How soon the
wood should be treated after felling depends on the type of
treatment and the purpose of the wood.
TREATING EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WOOD
Greeff says that if interior wood is treated with the correct
product, and according to the manufacturer’s specifications, it
should not be necessary to treat the wood again. He cautions,
however, that a notable exception to this rule is a timber floor.
“Depending on how often a floor is used and for what, and how
well it is maintained, it may become necessary to sand and
re-seal the floor,” he says.
Greeff advises that exterior wood should be maintained at least
once a year to keep it in top form. “This is especially true for
timber decks, as these are subject to deterioration both from the
effects of the weather as well as from use,” he says.
An exterior sealer is formulated to be able to withstand extreme
challenges like hot and cold weather, expansion and contraction,
high- and low humidity and UV-radiation. Consequently, an
exterior sealer must be formulated to be as flexible as possible
and to remain flexible for as long as possible, it must be UVstabilised
and like Woodoc Sealers, it must be biodegradable to
make maintenance as easy as possible.
Interior sealers are formulated to be able to cope with bumps,
scratches and spills associated with an interior environment.
Consequently, an interior sealer must dry quickly and hard. It
need not be UV-stabilised nor be biodegradable. It has to,
however, be resistant to water, alcohol, and acidic substances.
Deck Sealers take a middle course by having all the
characteristics of an exterior sealer and as many of the
characteristics of an interior sealer as possible. From the above it
is clear that one should never apply an interior sealer on exterior
wood, nor should an exterior sealer be applied to interior wood.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SEALERS
The importance of the correct sealers cannot be
overemphasised. Sealers are made from resins derived from
plant oils, like linseed or sunflower oil. Greeff warns that there
could be products on the market that are not always the best
option, although they might be more cost-effective. Products
containing harmful chemicals should be avoided. The greatest
culprits are heavy metals such as lead, copper and chrome, toxic
substances, products containing carcinogens, products emitting
toxic fumes (like formaldehyde) and especially N-Methyl-2-
pyrrolidone (NMP).
To avoid these products, consumers should make informed
choices and only purchase products from trusted manufacturers.
“It is important to read the product label carefully to note any
health- and safety warnings. Avoid products with little or no
health- and safety information on the label. Do not be hesitant to
contact the manufacturer to obtain information regarding the
safety of the product and most importantly, if no information is
forthcoming from the manufacturer or you cannot get hold of
them, avoid their products like the plague,” Greeff advises.
South Africa does not have a specific standard for wood surface
coatings. This means that the market can police itself; if a
manufacturer’s products are not up to scratch, the product will
disappear off the shelves. Therefore, it is so important to stick to
a known and trusted brand.
By being able to penetrate wood, bind with it and build up on
the surface, Woodoc Sealers create a microporous layer of
sealed wood. The sealer is therefore part of the wood, can
move with the wood and allows controlled moisture exchange
with the environment.
A WOOD PROPONENT
Greeff says that if a wooden item is treated correctly and cared for,
it has the potential to become an heirloom and increase
dramatically in value. “This is especially true of items made of
scarce hardwood types. Woodoc is a proven market leader in the
wood-coatings and -protection market and can be trusted to
supply only the best products and after-sales service,” says Greeff.
Having lived in a timber-framed home for more than 27 years,
Greeff is a proponent of timber houses and -buildings. “Timber is
a wonderful medium for construction and in many ways superior
to traditional brick-and-mortar,” says Greeff. But despite a
growing number of people favouring timber above traditional
brick-and-mortar around the world, South Africans have been
hesitant to construct timber buildings, often citing safety and
longevity as the major reasons why they will not live in a timber
home. Greeff says there is an unfortunate knowledge gap about
the use of timber for primary construction. “Building in brick and
mortar was relatively affordable in the days of low labour costs.
Moreover, South Africa is not blessed with an over-abundance of
indigenous timber suitable for construction. Consequently,
timber- and timber-frame construction never became the norm,
resulting in a substantial lack of knowledge about the use of
timber for primary construction,” he says, but adds that the
timber and wood industry in South Africa has a bright future if
managed properly. “This means that land owners must have
security of tenure to develop their plantations to the fullest, timber
millers must follow best practices with milling and treating and
the industry must do what is necessary to promote the use of
wood as a renewable resource, Greeff concludes.
WOODOC: A FAMILY AFFAIR
Woodoc is a family business, started by Frikkie Greeff's
father as a hobby many years ago. Greeff took over the
company in 1988, coming from a background in law and with
an MBA. The factory was originally on one of the family farms
in the Fort Beaufort district, but soon outgrew that. Currently
the factory is still in Fort Beaufort, a little country town in the
Eastern Cape. The third generation of the family is currently
involved in the company, together with a highly competent
management- and staff complement. They are an ISO
9001:2015 -accredited company with sophisticated
manufacturing- and management systems, well able to
compete in the world markets but keeping firmly in touch
with their rural roots and family values.
Woodoc sells its products mostly to the consumer market
(hardware, DIY) and export to 17 countries namely Australia,
New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion,
Maldives, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique,
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenia and Nigeria.
8 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 // www.timberiq.co.za