 | Art Bryan
is president and owner of Southwestern Remodeling Contractors, Inc. Art started Southwestern Remodeling Contractors in 1970. Southwestern is a fully-licensed residential and commercial licensed general contractor in Wichita and the surrounding counties. Art has been a member of the Wichita Area Home Builders Association and the National Remodel Council since 1974. In mid-2000 Southwestern received the distinction of being named one of the "Top 25 Most Diversified Remodeling Companies in the United States.” Southwestern is listed as the 84th Top Remodeler in the country by Qualified Remodeling Magazine. Art can be contacted at his office at (316) 263-1239, fax at (316) 263-6230, or you can e-mail him at ARTSWR@aol. Com |
Home Improvement
2002-06-01 14:07:00
Lots to know about wood
Question: Trees sometimes grow to be hundreds of years old. Why does wood need protection from weather? What causes wood to turn gray and is this harmful to wood? Is all wood susceptible to weather damage, ultraviolet rays and fungal attack? Does new lumber need to be cleaned before staining? How do you select a wood stain?
Answer: Without protection water is drawn into wood. This causes wood to swell and expand. As it dries out it shrinks and contracts. After many cycles of expansion and contraction, stress cracks and checks begin to appear. Over time these cracks will become larger and deeper. Water is able to penetrate deep into these cracks carrying fungi and wood rotting microorganisms that eventually destroy wood.Answer: All wood will turn gray as ultraviolet radiation causes cellular damage on the surface of wood. If these damaged wood cells are not removed they become a food source for microfungi. As the fungal growth progresses, the wood becomes darker and eventually begins to rot.Answer: Types of wood, part of tree wood is from, and age of tree, all affect the weathering of wood. A rule of thumb is that the older the tree and the closer the wood to the center of the tree, the more weather resistant. Older wood and heartwood are more difficult to treat with a wood finish because their grain patterns don't allow penetration. When dealing with older trees, heartwood, or certain types of cedar, the surface of the wood should be "roughed up" to help penetration of the stain.Answer: New lumber must be cleaned using the same method recommended for aged lumber. Mill glaze, which results from the processing of lumber, will effectively block wood pores and reduce penetration, causing the stain to fail. Answer: There are two basic types of wood stains: film formers and penetrants. Film forming coatings bond to a wood surface much like paint. They rely on a non-porous film to keep moisture out. Over time internal moisture trapped by the film, external weather conditions and fungal attack blisters and/or weaken the film. The lack of breathability is a major cause of product failure. Once film-forming products start to peel they must be completely removed, usually with caustic strippers, before reapplication. Penetrants soak into wood, block pores, and prevent water or other impurities from entering wood cells. Unlike film farmers, penetrants allow moisture in the form of water vapor, to pass through the wood. When properly applied, penetrants will not peel.
