Outdoor wood: when and how should it be maintained?

More and more people are opting for cladding on their facades or decking around their swimming pools. Wood is warm, easy to install and durable. On the other hand, it is a material that is sensitive to the vagaries of the weather. To avoid any deterioration,  outdoor wood requires regular maintenance.

What type of wood should be maintained?

Wood is a living material. Whatever its essence, it can undergo natural changes:

• Over time, the sun will even out the colour of the wood towards grey. This is known as “greying”. This is a natural consequence of the action of UV on lignin, a biomolecule present in wood.
• Rainwater can cause wood to swell. When it dries, the opposite effect occurs: as it shrinks, larger or smaller cracks may appear.
• Materials that turn green are the result of fungus spores that can develop on the surface depending on climatic conditions (rain, sun, etc.). Apart from the fact that it doesn’t look very good, wood decking that is turning green can become dangerous: the surface becomes more slippery and can cause people to fall.
• Finally, water, heat and biological agents can damage the finish, which loses its protective role as it gradually crumbles.

To improve the durability of cladding and deck boards, it’s important to maintain them regularly.

When is the best time of year to maintain outdoor wood?

As soon as greying or greening appears on exterior wood, it should be renovated. Climate and exposure to the elements and sunlight will speed up or slow down the weathering process.

As far as the season is concerned, spring is the ideal time to renovate and maintain outdoor wood. For best results, wait until after the pollen falls and the bad weather, which can cause fungus to develop and accelerate greening.

What products should I use to renovate and maintain exterior wood?

Before recommending a particular product to your customer, it is important to carry out a diagnosis to assess the condition of the materials to be renovated. Then, we always advise our expert partners to proceed as follows, using professional products, and depending on the result of the diagnosis depending on the results of the diagnosis:

• Clean : then trim if necessary;
• Treat against wood-eating insects and fungi with a fungicide and insecticide product;
• Protect and recreate a high-quality finish with a saturator or woodstain. They delay greying and protect against the vagaries of the weather. They are available in a range of shades to recreate the original look of decking or cladding.

The effectiveness of the Groupe Berkem’s XILIX EXPERT range has been proven by laboratory tests in accordance with European standard EN 927-6. If the finish is applied in two coats and the application recommendations are followed, the results are as follows:

• light colours last between 3 and 5 years in normal outdoor conditions
• the darkest colours last for more than 6 years under normal outdoor conditions.