Special wood

Soak yourself, finishes and take care of your own wood it may seem easier said than done.

Often many do not know the difference between one product compared to another, their best use and the precautions that make the difference for a Good work.

Protecting, restoring and enhancing wood optimally takes practice, but from Brichome our expert Mirko will be able to guide you step by step towards choosing the most appropriate product and its use!

Products for the treatment of exposed wood can be divided into two types:

IMPREGNANTS

They penetrate the wood, leaving the pores free without creating any surface film, and for this reason they do not flake. They require simple periodic maintenance as the surfaces do not require preparation.

FINISHES

They are products that form a hard and elastic film on the support that follows the natural movements of the wood, closing the pores and leaving the wood grain visible.

There are various levels of film gloss determined by the type and content of resin.

They require infrequent maintenance.

DIFFERENCE: SOLVENT AND WATER-BASED IMPREGNATIONS AND FINISHES

The impregnating agent is a product designed to get inside the wood, impregnating it and making it water-repellent from the inside. In this way it is protected from the aggression of atmospheric agents but also receives a "restructuring" treatment, which colors it in a natural way, without covering the grain of the wood.

The finish is a more resistant and unassailable barrier.

Water or solvent based?

First of all you need to understand where the wood in question is, or where it will be placed.

A water-based product is odorless and dries quickly and is usually the best solution for indoor environments, this does not mean that it is ineffective in outdoor ones.

If there is a need to have the maximum protection for external wood, the optimal choice is a solvent-based product, which guarantees greater protection.

THE APPLICATION OF WOOD PRODUCTS

1. These things are always to be done:

• Before use, mix the products well
• Never dilute them except in the cases indicated on the packaging
• To sand the wood, use abrasive paper, never iron straw because the residues left by the iron stain the wood.
• Carry out preliminary tests on samples of the wood to be treated, in order to be certain of the result you want to obtain.

2. If possible, it is always a good idea to paint the wooden product placed in a horizontal position.

3. A covering exposed to the elements must never be treated only with the "colorless dye". The surface of the wood would not be protected by any pigment and the UV rays would quickly turn the wood grey. To make sure it doesn't go grey, you need to apply at least two coats of the chosen finish, but always coloured.

4. When applying the paint, always use a flat brush. Apply the product on the wood, spreading it and pulling it as evenly as possible, going over the same point several times with the brush. For porous woods it is necessary, after having applied the first coat, to let it dry for a few minutes and then go over with a dry brush to redistribute the color that may have accumulated in some parts. For hardwoods this operation is not necessary.

COSMETIC ALTERATIONS

SOLAR RADIATION

They tend to turn exposed surfaces grey, due to the oxidation process of the wood caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays.

TO PREVENT: it is recommended to use products that contain ANTI UV filters, which are able to "filter" the rays that damage the wood.

TO RESTORE: it is recommended to use regenerating products.

THE HIGH DEGREE OF HUMIDITYTO

Combined with insufficient breathability of the wood, it creates the ideal condition for the proliferation of mold and fungi which cause premature deterioration of the wood with the related aesthetic alterations.

TO PREVENT: alterations caused by humidity, it is recommended to use products that allow the wood to breathe naturally.

TO RESTORE: it is recommended to use anti-mold products specific for wood

STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS

MICROCRACKING, CRACKS AND CRACKS

They put the integrity of the wood at risk. This phenomenon is generated by the penetration of rainwater into the support in combination with the action of solar rays.

The proliferation of fungi that attack the organic matter of the wood, breaking it down, also causes structural damage.

TO PREVENT: for structural alterations, it is recommended to use water-repellent film-forming finishes or water-repellent wax-based impregnators.

TO RESTORE: micro-cracks and cracks proceed by carefully cleaning the inside of them with a brush or rag. Subsequently you can proceed with the application of the product suitable for filling micro-cracks and preparing the base

TARLI

A real enemy of wood as they form cavities and tunnels that compromise the structure. The woodworm feeds by eating the woody fibers of both furniture and trunks or rough timber.

TO PREVENT: and to treat the alterations caused by woodworms it is recommended to use an insecticide for xylophagous insects.

TO RESTORE: on wood already affected by woodworms, it is preferable to proceed with the treatment in spring and autumn, because it is in these periods that the butterflies come out of the furniture and are found near the exit.

RETURN THE PAINTED WOOD TO ITS ORIGINAL STATE

To renew a wooden product previously painted with enamel and bring it back to its original appearance, before any treatment with products, it is necessary to proceed with paint stripping, i.e. the complete removal of the old paint. This can be done by using a paint remover.

HOW TO PROCEED

1. Remove all non-wooden elements from the product (e.g. screws, hinges, etc.) to prevent them from being damaged by the paint remover.
2. Apply and leave the paint remover product to act as indicated on the package.
3. Once the necessary time has elapsed, remove the paint remover using a spatula or, in the most difficult areas in correspondence with reliefs or recesses, steel wool or a metal or synthetic fiber brush. The paint will also come off with the paint stripper.
4. Once the removal is complete, clean the wood of paint stripper residues with a brush and hot soapy water.

GLAZING THE WOOD

Leaving the grain and knots of the wood visible, treating it with stains or finishes, or deciding to enamel it is simply a matter of taste. Obviously the two solutions involve the use of different products, but it is possible to combine the two finishes on different surfaces in the same environment, creating aesthetic effects between exposed wood and a covering colour.

The only useful element to define which application cycle to use, in addition to an aesthetic evaluation, is knowing the essences of the wood, which, in a treatment with visible grain, influence the appearance of the finish, while by applying a glaze you are sure to cover the grain and knots of the wood, obtaining the color chosen in the color chart or card.

HOW YOU DO IT

1. The surface to be treated must be dry, seasoned and clean. If it has already been painted, remove any previously treated parts that are detaching.
2. Fill imperfections and sand.
3. Dust and apply one or two coats of "wood primer", depending on the imperfections of the surface, interspersed with light sanding
4. Once drying is complete, apply the desired nail polish

IMPREGNANTS

FINISHES

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