Wood is a building material that combines unique properties. It can be easily obtained directly in nature. As a result, it is one of the most widely distributed materials. Thanks to its use in the field of construction, designers have a lot of new solutions, due to the beautiful appearance of the tree, as well as its environmental cleanliness. However, wood is characterized by some specific features. Each of them must be taken into account when starting the construction of a wooden house.
The pros and cons of wood
Of course, wood is a very beautiful material. Products from it look expensive and solid. In addition, they have a beautiful natural smell that will fill any room with freshness. However, compared with stone and brick, this material has several disadvantages. So, for example, it begins to decompose very quickly if external irritants act on it. Protection of wood from moisture and rot in this case is simply necessary. Indeed, otherwise the building will take an ugly appearance, and subsequently it can be completely destroyed.
Features of wood material
As noted above, wood combines a number of features. Each of them has certain disadvantages. Let's consider them in more detail:
- It is a flammable material. Therefore, it is undesirable for the wiring to pass along its surface. If the house is completely wooden, a quality fire system should be installed.
- The tree is afraid of moisture. Under its influence, it can swell, so it is desirable that the rooms have a minimum of dampness.
- Various microorganisms also adversely affect the tree. These include fungi, mold, and bacteria. Under their influence, the destruction of the initial structure of the material begins. Protecting wood from rotting occurs in various ways. Often, special tools are used that temporarily slow down this process. But if decay has already spread to a large territory, then reconstruction is necessary.
Biological protection
One of the main enemies of wood material is various microorganisms. And these are not only mushrooms, but also algae, as well as some insects. Most often, mushrooms take root in a humid environment, where they have enough nutrients. In order for them to fully gain a foothold here, just a few hours are enough. That is, almost no one succeeds in noticing and destroying such a pest in time. Although the first signs of the presence of such microorganisms are noticeable: black or gray spots appear on the wood, blue, it becomes wet.
But the worst enemy for a wooden dwelling is a mushroom house. If the room has favorable conditions for its development, then it can destroy floorboards in just a month. And getting rid of such a pest is very difficult. Previously, it was customary to burn houses where such a guest lived so that he would not settle with neighbors.
The biological protection of wood from moisture and decay is a warning of the moisture of wood materials during their use. To make this possible, you should try to reduce the amount of evaporating water in the bathroom and in the kitchen. After all, if the air humidity at least slightly increases, the humidity of the wood itself will change. As a result, it will begin to swell, crack, rot. Moisture protection is a very important process that all owners of wooden houses should pay attention to.
The main causes of decay
Wood is very vulnerable, therefore, it easily undergoes decay. Therefore, any wooden object must be carefully treated with special tools. Consider several of the main causes of rotting wood:
- Humidity. This is the worst enemy of any item made of wood. Many have repeatedly observed that the interior doors in the bathroom and kitchen often increase in volume. This is due to swelling. To get rid of such trouble, you should take out a door damaged by moisture in a warm place. Over time, it should return to its previous size. If you don’t feel like waiting, you can use a jigsaw and cut the edges of the door a bit. That is why the protection of wood from moisture is so important.
- Due to frequent temperature changes, the tree narrows and expands. As a result, its structure is broken, it becomes friable.
- A large amount of moisture accumulates in the wood, which does not come out of it. This leads to the fact that it swells greatly.
- Freezing in the winter.
- Contact with the ground, so there is always increased dampness in the room.
Rot protection
A fungus that completely damages wood tissue is considered a formidable pest. It can not only damage the structure of the material, but also hit the whole log house, bathhouse or even a gazebo. Therefore, the protection of wood from moisture and decay is an important and indispensable stage in the process of building a house. As a rule, such a microorganism more strongly affects that wood, which was cut down relatively recently. To determine the degree of damage, just look at the boards or bars. If they have brownish spots, porous dips or depressions, then the process of decay has already begun. And the faster the rehabilitation of the material begins, the greater the chances of its salvation.
Protecting wood from decay involves the use of special impregnations based on chemical components. One of the most effective coatings are those that were made on a silicone basis. They are characterized by high biological resistance.
How to choose the right tool?
When choosing a protective coating, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the object. For example, if it is located in a humid region, then it is better to look for a tool that will protect the tree from constant temperature changes. Typically, such drugs remain effective for 12 years. There are also multifunctional substances. They are intended not only to protect the building from decay, but also protect against spontaneous combustion. Street constructions (terraces, gazebos) are best treated with such means that are difficult to wash off. They are much more expensive, but their effectiveness has been maintained for 35 years. For some buildings (especially residential houses and baths), high-quality protection of wood from moisture and decay is necessary. Senezh is one of the best options, because it copes with all pests very well, and its validity is maintained for 20 years.
Processing technology
If you do not know how to protect the wood, then it is better to use the instructions below:
- Thoroughly clean the material from dust and dirt, which will interfere with the penetration of a special composition.
- To remove all excess gaps, you can use sandpaper. It is desirable that it be shallow, since with its help it will be much faster.
- Rinse the boards carefully with warm water. For this, you can use detergents. It is advisable that they do not foam too much.
- Leave the tree to dry completely.
- Apply protective agent.
Processing Features
The tool for decaying wood must be applied very carefully. Handle it very carefully, ensuring safety. It is important that the substance does not get into the eyes, mouth, and even on any area of the skin. If this still happened, then the damaged area should be washed with water. If the means of protecting wood from moisture and decay are applied by spraying, then full respiratory protection should be ensured. At the moment, there is a wide variety of different tools and preparations used against rotting wood. Therefore, starting the construction of a house, one need not be afraid that it will soon collapse.
Increased water resistance of plywood
Of course, the most suitable way to improve the water resistance of plywood is to stop the ingress of moisture on it. If the walls of the house are covered with sheets of plywood, then to protect them, make the overhangs of the roof large. Upholstering it with a room, it is necessary to fasten it so that the outer fibers are vertical. Plywood will be well protected from moisture if thoroughly soaked with drying oil. Before applying it should be heated a little, so that it is better absorbed. Repeat the procedure until plywood stops absorbing drying oil.
How to stop the process of decay?
If decay has already begun, then damaged areas cannot be repaired. But you can still stop the spread of this process. To do this, the affected area is cut down with an ax or a chisel. It is advisable to capture a part of healthy wood, in which spores of a harmful fungus can appear. A metal rod is installed in the resulting hole, and then everything is thoroughly putty.
Why paint wooden structures?
Protecting wood from moisture and decay involves not only the use of special compounds, but also paints. Painting is a rather time-consuming process, as it takes a long period of time. Before starting it is necessary to remove the previous coat of paint. To do this, a weak solution of sodium hydroxide (or water with soda) is applied to it. After some time, the paint will become softer, so it can easily be removed with a scraper. You can also find on sale special solutions that will help remove old paint of various types.
Wood is a living material, so you need to paint it, adhering to special requirements. Otherwise, after some time, the paint will begin to peel off and completely recede. It is imperative that the wood to be painted be as dry as possible. Therefore, it is advisable to paint only in the summer when the weather is dry. Before painting, the surface can be primed. It is better to use only oil paints that form a waterproof film.
There are also Swedish and Finnish colors. They are durable, cheaper, do not require removal of the old coating. But they can not be applied to old oil paint. That is, they are only suitable for covering fresh, dry wood. In addition, it is advisable to completely tar the tree before starting work. To do this, just wipe the problem areas with acetone or alcohol.