Wood, like many centuries ago, is one of the most common building materials. It is used for the construction of private houses, summer cottages. Despite its excellent decorative properties, a tree is exposed to various factors that contribute to its destruction, such as moisture, rot, fire and insects. The article talks about what should be the protection of wooden structures from moisture and decay.
Protecting wooden buildings from moisture
Wood, being the least durable and soft material (compared, for example, with stone, concrete or metal), is more susceptible to the damaging effects of the environment. For example, humidity resulting from atmospheric effects, which causes mold and fungus to quickly develop on wood.
Chemical products are used as protection for wooden structures and adhere to the rules for the operation of structures made of this natural material. To prevent the development of fungi and mold, in a wooden building, it is necessary to maintain humidity not lower than twenty percent. In the underground part of structures, for example, in cellars, humidity will exceed seventy percent, which also corresponds to the norm.
Chemical protection of wood from moisture is the use of antiseptics. Specialists recommend using these funds as preventive measures and impregnating wood with them, reaching the maximum depth of the material. Widely used are antiseptics soluble in water, turpentine, or white spirit. The last two options have an unpleasant, pungent odor and are not suitable for use in suburban construction. Antiseptic, as the protection of wooden structures, it is better to choose water. Although it is more expensive in price, it has excellent quality: it dries in 2 hours. Then it becomes possible to apply it in a second layer. For comparison: water-insoluble antiseptics dry for at least twelve hours.
Protecting wooden structures from decay
Wood of different species differs in resistance to decay. The most resistant are larch, ash, pine and oak core. To fairly persistent include fir, cedar, spruce, beech core. In contrast, alder, aspen, and the birch core quickly rot. They need special protection.
Even at the stage of production of lumber, the wood is dried to avoid rotting, which occurs from an excess of moisture. Then, comprehensive measures are taken to eliminate the harmful effects of the environment: temperature changes, moisture condensation, freezing of wooden structures. Coating wood with paint and varnish materials with waterproof characteristics prevents atmospheric moisture. So that the protection of wooden structures can protect from capillary moisture, a heat-insulating layer is placed closer to the outer surface, and a vapor-insulating one is placed to the inside.
It is necessary to divert groundwater and ensure good air circulation so that the wood dries naturally. This will increase the resistance of the material to the appearance of mushrooms. For the same reason, shading areas near wooden houses are undesirable. With the help of cladding walls with boards, additional protection of the tree from rotting can be provided.
If the mushrooms began their destructive effect, then a characteristic smell appears, the structures are deformed, the density of the wood changes . Due to the rotting process, window and door openings warp. When foci of decay are identified, either local protection of wooden structures or their complete replacement is necessary.
To localize the affected area, the facing material is removed from the structure and damaged wood is removed with special tools. Then antiseptics are applied: this is either a paste coating, or spraying with a solution of a surface that needs protection.