Wooden cladding maintenance

Wooden cladding is particularly vulnerable to external attack. It is therefore important to take good care of this flooring so that it does not deteriorate over time. That’s why Groupe Berkem offers professionals a wide range of solutions for protecting and decorating wood cladding materials over the long term.

What causes wooden cladding to deteriorate?

Wooden cladding is a living building material that can easily become tarnished, grey and even rotten if it is not properly protected from the elements. There are a number of factors that can lead to structural and aesthetic damage:

• The sun: the sun’s ultraviolet rays break down the lignin in the wood, turning the cladding grey.
• Water: moisture from water will cause the wood to swell, leading to structural damage such as micro-cracks. Water is a formidable enemy that accelerates the ageing of wooden cladding.
• Existing finishes : Most wooden cladding has a finish, but these paints or varnishes eventually crack, damaging the aesthetics of the wood.

Maintain wooden cladding with the XLIX Expert network

Groupe Berkem has developed the XILIX Expert network to protect and maintain wooden cladding against external aggression. This is the first national network specialising in the renovation and maintenance of wooden cladding.

What services does the XILIX Expert professional network offer?

The XILIX Expert network offers a comprehensive service that combines the know-how of experts with the use of high-performance products. This service guarantees :

• A made-to-measure diagnosis
• The use of high-performance techniques and tools exclusively adapted to wood
•  A thorough treatment and cleaning of the wooden cladding
• The application of exclusive, high-performance products to ensure optimum protection

Through these steps, the XILIX Expert network ensures high-quality renovation and maintenance of wooden cladding.

Effective products to protect wooden cladding

The products used by the professionals in the XILIX Expert network fall into 3 categories:

• It is important to apply all finishing products to a sound surface. Xilix Degreaser is used to restore the shine of greying wood.
• Products to protect surfaces: once the wooden cladding has been cleaned and degreased, you need to apply a treatment to protect the wood against biological agents and fungi: Xilix Treatment.
• Products to finish the cladding: once the wood surface has been cleaned and treated, an attractive, protective finish must be applied to protect it from the elements. (Xilix Saturateur Hydro B-HD and Xilix Lasure)