The Art Of Preservative Woodcare: Tips & Techniques By Treatex
Wood is one of the longest standing building materials in existence, and we have been using it for our fires, structures and furniture for thousands of years. While wood use was common in the past, they didn’t have the preservative care methods that we have today. These preservative treatments are crucial to maintaining your wood’s strength and aesthetic. If you are new to woodcare treatments, or simply want to learn more, we have created a guide to help you understand everything you need to know. To find out more about woodcare treatments and techniques, keep on reading!
What Is Preservative Woodcare & Why Is It Important?
It’s vital to look after your wooden items, whether they are exterior, such as fences and gates, or interior, like furniture and laminate flooring. By using a wood protector, it prevents these items from peeling or becoming damaged after exposure to general wear and tear or the natural elements. Caring for your wooden items is important for a range of reasons, including:
● Protection from decay - If your wooden items are primarily exterior structures, then they are susceptible to weathering from sunlight, moisture, insects and types of fungi. Any type of wood will naturally decay over time, however preservative treatments help to slow down this process.
● Mould & Mildew - When wood is exposed to moisture or any damp conditions, it can easily develop types of mould and mildew. These problems can lead to rot and decay of your wood, especially if you don’t use any preservative measures.
● Longevity - By preserving your wooden items, including flooring and your furniture, you can extend the life of your products and minimise the need to buy new wooden items or have them treated. Properly preserved wood can actually last far longer than untreated wood, which is important for these items to remain structurally sound.
● Cost Savings - Following on from extending the lifespan of your wooden items, in doing this, you reduce the need for replacement furniture and outdoor structures. By caring for your wood, you are less likely to have to repair or replace items, which is more cost effective for you.
The Most Common Wood Types
We’ve picked out some of the most common wood types to help you identify what kinds of wood you may have around your home. If you’re unsure, your products should have details you can look at, or you can reach out to the supplier you bought it from to find out more.
Oak
Oak woods are often strong, hard, heavy and dense materials that have a high tannin content. It often has a light colour, with an obvious grain. The high tannin content of oak wood makes it extremely resistant to insect and fungal infections. Oak is commonly used for furniture, flooring, panelling and decking.
Walnut
Walnut wood is widely recognised for its dark colour and prominent grain pattern. It is highly sought after in carpentry and for furniture items because of its density and strength. Walnut wood is often used for furniture, to create musical instruments and for carvings.
Ash
Ash is one of the strongest hardwoods available, with shock absorbing qualities and also being a flexible, versatile material. It’s also dense, with a lighter colour than oak wood, and is smooth to the touch. Ash wood is a good middle ground material for a range of projects and furniture items.
Teak
Teak is a close-grained hardwood, with a golden colour and smooth texture. This type of wood originates from southeast Asia, making it a more expensive choice. However, it’s very resistant to light and heat, and it is used for a range of kitchen and bathroom utensils.
Care Tips For Your Wooden Items
Some general care tips will help you to extend the lifespan of your wooden items, and we’ve outlined some of our top tips and techniques to protect your wood over time.
General Wood Care
● For furniture items, try to keep them out of heat or away from radiators, as this can cause the items to expand and warp, or contract. Either way, your items can become significantly damaged from overexposure to extreme temperatures.
● Sunlight is also a threat to your wooden items if they are left in the sun for too long. Sun-bleaching can distort the colour of your wood, leaving it visually damaged.
● Moisture on your indoor items, such as spillages and moisture from cleaning products should be wiped away immediately, so that it doesn’t penetrate the wood and cause any internal problems. For outdoor wood, moisture is inevitable, so you should consider investing in a linseed or tung oil treatment to protect it.
● Regular dusting and wiping with a damp cloth will help to keep items clean and prevent damage from occurring. To avoid scratches and a build up of dirt, a weekly dusting and wiping is healthy for your wood.
● For marks or stains on your wood, you can try a wood polish or wood enhancement product to help with stubborn marks. Test out the polish on a small area before using it on larger portions of your furniture.
Lacquered Wood Care
If your wooden items have a lacquered finish, this is typically a lacquer that is sprayed onto the wood, forming a highly resistant seal on the surface of the item, giving it a subtle luxury finish. Lacquer provides a good level of protection from heat and water, however, if your lacquered item is an outdoor structure, exposure to the elements can cause damage over time.
When it comes to maintaining your lacquered wood, typically flooring or other indoor features, there are some key things to remember.
● If it’s your floor that you are maintaining, be careful to not wash it more than once a month, and wring out your mop so it isn’t soaking wet. While lacquer can sustain some moisture, over-exposure can cause damage.
● Try to hoover or dust your item before mopping or using a damp cloth, as this will stop gritty particles from scratching your wood.
● If you want to improve the appearance of your lacquered wood, trying out a gloss polish is a good way to brighten the product. Oils will not be absorbed by lacquered items, but you could use a wax to improve the look of your lacquer too.
Oiled Wood Care
Oiled wood products have a slightly more natural, matted look to them, and a smooth oil finish is great for your wood as it protects from within. Oil treatments such as tung oil penetrate at a deeper level, providing an extra barrier to moisture and sun damage. You can use your oil treatment to touch up your wood as well, if you’re looking to give it a new lease of life.
Caring for your oiled wood will require a little more care than a lacquered wood product. You should still carefully dust and hoover the floor, to get rid of small particles, however cleaning oiled wood is a dry cleaning operation. You should not use moisture to clean your oiled wood products. A dry mop with a microfibre pad is great for cleaning your oiled floors, and you should research oil cleaning products so that you can find the right treatments.
Painted Wood Care
Some woods have a painted finish, which should be cleaned with a damp cloth once a week. It’s important to be mindful of cleaning products, as some chemicals can strip the paint off of your product.
Outdoor decking and fencing is often painted, so if you have painted outdoor furniture, sealing these structures is essential to ensuring that the paint doesn’t come off from weathering and other natural causes.
Treatments By Treatex
Here at Treatex, we offer a range of woodcare solutions that have been crafted specially to help protect your wood. We understand the importance of looking after your items no matter how big or small, which is why we offer an extensive range of products to accommodate all of our customers.
To find out more information about what we do, or to browse our range of products, you can visit our website to read more. We offer a vast range of both interior and exterior wood care options. Alternatively, you can contact us today to speak to our team directly.