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Wooden buildings can last long enough if they are properly looked after and protected from the harmful effects of external factors. One of the most important activities in the operation of timber buildings is preparation for the winter period.
Why is it important to prepare wooden buildings for the autumn-winter period
The worst enemy for wooden buildings is moisture. If its level is too high, then decay processes begin in the wood, which leads to cracking and fungal damage. Such structures not only lose their appearance, their service life is reduced, and rapidly multiplying mold spores pose a threat to the health of humans and animals living in these buildings.
In the autumn-winter time, the level of precipitation increases, temperature drops give an additional load on the material, therefore it is very important to start preparing all wooden buildings on your site even before the onset of cold weather and the rainy season.
- The very first step should be to check the tightness of the roof. Even a slight violation of its integrity, subject to temperature differences and under the weight of snow, can lead to serious leaks. Wooden structures and wood trim are excellent breeding grounds for microorganisms and decay.
- Further, it is important to check all the life support systems of buildings, if any: water supply, sewerage, heating pipes are also checked for leaks, if necessary, to protect wooden building it must insulated with good home insulation material.
- The walls of wooden buildings should “go into winter” without cracks and gaps. They are carefully sealed, and all the wood from the outside is treated with special compounds and antiseptics, or painted.
What coatings to choose for the processing of wooden buildings
Let us consider in more detail how to protect wooden buildings from the harmful effects of the vagaries of nature using special coatings for wood, especially in winter. So, there are many options for wood processing compounds, here are the most popular ones.
Impregnation for wood. The compositions have two different directions: preparation for painting or as an independent tool. There are three types of impregnations:
- waterproof,
- antibacterial,
- fire protection.
When choosing impregnations as a topcoat, it is important to remember that it will have to be renewed at least once every 2 years.
Such wood treatment products have translucent colors, most often natural shades, which allows you to emphasize the naturalness and special structure of wood.
Wood paints. Facade paints are not only protective but also decorative. They have important functions:
- resistance to temperature fluctuations,
- moisture protection,
- color fastness to fading and abrasion,
- coating strength,
- environmental friendliness and safety,
- the material covered with paint must “breathe”,
- fire safety.
Antiseptics for wood. Antiseptics penetrate deeply into wood fibers and protect against pest, rotting and reproduction of microorganisms. Among such products are waxes, varnishes, and protective oils.
Wood primers. Special preservative solutions – primers and oils – form a film on the wood surface that prevents cracks and moisture ingress, but at the same time, air exchange is not disturbed.
Fire protection for wood. Fire retardants are refractory compounds that, when exposed to fire, are brought to the surface and do not allow the wood to ignite for up to several hours.
As practice shows, one means of protecting wooden buildings is indispensable. If the manufacturers promise a generic tool, then most likely one or more of its functions are not working. Therefore, in order to effectively build the protection of your house or other wooden structure, it is better to carry out stepwise processing with several means.
How to properly handle wooden buildings
The processing of timber buildings is divided into three stages:
- Primary processing – is carried out even before the construction of the building by the manufacturer or builders before starting work. Particular attention is paid to the processing of joints, contact with the ground, as well as when installing buildings in places of high humidity.
- Preventive treatment is a very important stage of treatment that will allow you to preserve the original appearance and performance properties of wood for many years.
- Medical treatment is carried out when the tree has already been subjected to the destructive effects of moisture and microorganisms.
We will focus on the prevention carried out to prepare building for the winter period. So it is important to observe the following steps:
- Treatment with special antiseptic compounds for deep penetration. This step will protect the timber structure from rot, mold, mildew, and insect pests.
- It is important to process the ends separately, with a product with good moisture-proof properties. Moisture exchange will work in such a way that will not allow the wood to retain excess moisture, but will also prevent over drying, and, therefore, will prevent cracking.
- A rough primer is able to close micro-cracks in wood and increase adhesion.
- Next, a topcoat is applied, most often paint and varnish, which will provide maximum protection of the material and emphasize the design of the house or outbuilding. With the help of colored paints, you can achieve any color and shade, choose matte or glossy options. To preserve the natural beauty of the tree, you can use transparent paints and varnishes.
In order for the processing of wooden buildings at home to be of high quality, be sure to maintain the necessary time for each layer to completely dry out at every stage.
For processing, it is better to use different, convenient for each tool, tools. So, paint can be applied with a roller, and in hard-to-reach places (corners and ends) with a brush. In some versions, it is possible to use a spray gun.
Proper preparation of timber buildings for the autumn-winter period is a rather laborious and non-budgetary process, but ignoring it can become even more expensive. Prevention can prolong the life of wood for a long time, so it is important to take it with great responsibility.