The Best Materials to Protect Wood
What are the best materials that can be used to protect wood?
Apply a solution – Chemical-based solutions are effective in protecting the wood from pests, fungi, and the elements.
Give your wood a treatment – Varnish is the simplest and most effective solution to protect your wood from termites.
Decay and rot-resistant woods – There are different kinds of wood that are highly resistant against the elements, which make them good building material.
Amongst all of the building materials, wood has been one of the most common material to use. In fact, it has become the go-to material when it comes to building structures, especially in countries where forests are abundant. Despite the many advantages of wood, it is a building material that is very vulnerable to pests like termites.
To keep the pests away, people have developed various forms of pest and termite control methods to make sure that their wooden structures are kept safe and remain standing. They have also created new materials that can help protect wood from pests and from other natural elements as well. To give you a few examples, here are some of the best materials you could use to help protect your wood:
Apply a solution
With the increasing demand for wood protection materials, various companies have created chemical-based solutions that help protect wooden structures and furniture. Using it is similar to painting a wall, which means it will give the wood a light coat that will help protect it from insects and fungi that can ultimately damage it.
There are also different kinds of solutions that cover up all the small holes in the wood so that it will not absorb any form of liquid, which can soften up the wood. It is important to keep in mind that these solutions must only be placed after the initial coat of paint has already been applied. If you are looking for a more affordable option, buying a wood protection solution is one of them.
Give your wood a treatment
While applying chemical based solutions are effective in smaller structures and furniture, you will need a different method when it comes to larger structures. For those kind of structures, you may use treated wood, or give your building a treatment to protect your wood from the elements.
Treated wood would help make it last longer and make it safe against wood damage, fungi, moisture, and insects. Despite its effectiveness, its main drawback is that applying the treatment takes time, can be quite expensive, and requires a few good coats of sealer so that it would be safe for people to come into contact and breathe in the vicinity.
These treatments and solutions come in liquid and powdered form. For decay-resistant wood, solutions may not be applied anymore. It is always important to keep in mind to follow the procedures carefully to make sure the application of the treatment would be a safe process.
Apply some varnish (on your furniture)
One of the most efficient and cost-effective solutions to protect your furniture from pests and fungi is by giving your furniture a few coats of varnish. Varnish is a solution that gives your furniture some shine, while also applying a protective layer over the wood that will protect it from pests and liquids.
You can also apply it on your other wooden items in your home, like musical instruments (light coats only, as it may alter the sound of the instrument), and house decorations. Varnish is also readily available in hardware stores, and cost less than chemical-based wood sealing solutions. If you are looking for a quick and effective solution, getting some varnish would keep your furniture safe.
Use decay and rot-resistant woods
When building a wooden structure, it is best to keep in mind that there are kinds of wood that are highly resistant to decay and rotting, allowing them to last longer and withstand the elements better. Hardwoods fall under this group. They are very sturdy and highly durable.
Examples of highly resistant wood include cedar, redwood, chestnut, white oak, bald cypress, Pacific yew, black locust, juniper, post oak, burr oak, mesquite, catalpa, and red mulberry. For the Philippines, highly resistant types of wood include narra, mahogany, molave, kamagong, yakal, tanguile, and mangkono – which is being considered to be the hardest type of wood in the country.
Keep in mind of these types of wood, especially when you are intending to have a structure built, as these are strong and sturdy enough to withstand various natural elements and certain kinds of pests. For a more complete protection, you can apply protective solutions to make sure that they would be completely protected.
Key Takeaway
Wood protection is essential to keep pests away from your wooden possessions. As you can see, you can ensure your home (or building) to remain safe and sturdy by using the right materials.