How to care for exterior timber

Janice Anderssen

How to care for exterior timber

If you have ever heard me on the radio, at an exhibition, or attended a www.DIY-Divas.co.za workshop, you will know that I never recommend using varnish on exterior surfaces. Why?

Even after wood is cut and dried it still expands and contracts as a result of heat, cold, humidity.

I am sure that many of you have at one time or another experienced a door that has swelled as a result of excess rain. This swelling is caused by moisture being absorbed into the wood.  Now imagine that door with a coat of varnish on the top.   Varnish is not absorbed into the wood but rather sits on the surface and forms a hard layer.  All it takes is a small pinhole in the varnish and moisture then has access to the wood underneath, resulting in cracking and peeling of the varnish coat. And most homeowners forget that the bottom (underside) of the door also needs to be varnished, which allows even more moisture to be absorbed into the wood.

I always recommend treating and protecting exterior wood and timber with Woodoc products. These products are sealers, and unlike varnish, penetrate into the wood itself - protecting from the inside out. Woodoc sealers expand and contract with the wood, which means that  there is nothing to crack or peel off.  Furthermore, Woodoc sealers biodegrade over time, which makes maintaining wood so much easier - no sanding is required. Regular maintenance is performed every 18 months and all that is required is to rub down the surface with Woodoc SteelWool and mineral turps, and then reapply the product.

Janice Anderssen
www.Home-Dzine.co.za