Special Outdoor floors: care and maintenance

THE ‘HOLY TRINITY’ TAKES CARE OF OUTDOOR WOOD

OUTDOOR WOOD LASTS MUCH LONGER THAN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY

Photo – Rubio Monocoat

Indoor wooden floors are susceptible to numerous influences which cause wear and ageing e.g. the use, the fitting of furniture, moisture content, temperature, accidental threats, etc. No one doubts the fact that wooden floors need to be treated and maintained in a suitable manner. With outdoor floors we can go a step further. In this case the causes of that wear can be compared perfectly well with those of indoor floors, but there are some extra ones as well. The major threats stem from the climate and nature. Humankind and science are ‘on the alert’.

Misleading misunderstanding Wood is divided up into durability classes. These durability classes indicate the lifespan of the wood when it is left untreated in outdoor conditions. In other words, classes refer to the ‘natural lifespan’ of the wood. The natural lifespan of wood is the resistance which the wood puts up against the deterioration of organisms when it has not undergone any treatment to increase that resistance. Wood sorts are divided up into five categories. Class 1 has the longest lifespan and class 5 the lowest. Wood which is used for gardens, terraces, wall cladding, or other outdoor applications should obviously come from class I or II. Obviously, we need to take care that communication on the lifespan of wood does not lead to misunderstandings. The much talked about ‘quarter of a century’ is not the maximum! The information which we often find on the ‘durability classes’ of wood sometimes leads us to suppose that we can be well satisfied with 25 years. However, the durability class does not give the maximum lifespan of a wooden terrace. A professionally fitted wooden terrace does not come into contact with the ground, is regularly cleansed from the natural effects of the climate, and is given a treatment so that it can withstand the ravages of time. And so, a wooden terrace can certainly survive its proud owner.

Enemies of outdoor wood UV light, oxygen, and water together cause ageing and possible wood rot. In a photochemical process the sunlight breaks up the dark-coloured lignin, one of the main components of wood. The other component, the light-coloured cellulose, is left behind on its own. The fact that the colour of the cellulose is going to dominate can be seen from the ageing. What we visually perceive to be ‘ageing’ is actually a microscopically thin layer of wood which is decomposing. Wood worm, wood rot, and fungi also constitute a major threat to all outdoor wood. The wood worm is a larva of the furniture beetle. The designation ‘worm’ therefore refers to the larvae, since the wood worm is basically a beetle. The wood worm lives in the wild mainly in trees with hard wood, such as oak and fruit trees. Wood rot is a fungus which mainly affects wood exposed to (excessive) damp. In some cases that fungus is visible. Finally, the polypore is a mushroom-type fungus which can cause a lot of damage to woodwork. The most notorious polypore is the so called dry rot.

Protective products A number of mechanical achievements extend the lifespan of wood in outdoor applications. These include the use of floor supports (so that water from below can no longer cause problems), the use of clip fasteners (so there are no vulnerable ‘wounds’ in the wood), and the design of the planks which avoids the problem of residual water. Other weapons come from the chemical industry. Terrace oil, terrace anti-ageing, and terrace cleaner are the top products in this category. Terrace oil provides effective protection from the penetration of damp and dirt since the oil impregnates the pores and saturates them. To provide protection against UV light, it is necessary to use coloured oil. Terrace anti-ageing is designed either to counter the ageing process or eliminate the decomposing layer of wood which is the source of the ageing. Anti-ageing products remove the veil and restore the original colour of the wood. Finally, terrace cleaners effectively counteract

moss formation and dirt. They can be deployed for all sorts of tropical wood. Most cleaners are diluted with water and applied using a brush. The dosage can be adapted to the severity of the contamination.

What’s on the market ?

Blanchon

Blanchon suggests impregnation by saturation to protect outdoor floors. This means all fibres (pores) of the wood are saturated and only a small amount of product is left on top. You should clean the wood thoroughly before it is saturated. Blanchon has a full range of products for the preparation, finish, and maintenance. Firstly, there is Blanchon Wood Anti-ageing (‘Dégriseur Bois Blanchon’). This is a high grade gel specially recommended for cleaning outdoor wood exposed to the weather and the formation of fungi and moss. Blanchon Wood Saturator (‘Satureur Bois Blanchon’) is a saturator based on traditional compounds. For some years now, Blanchon has also offered Ecological Saturator (‘Saturateur Environnement’), which is in the Ecological Quality Line (‘Ligne Qualité Environnement’) and scores well on all points. It can also be applied to exotic wood immediately after the fitting. New for 2020 is Terrace Cladding Oil (‘Huile Terrasse Bardage’) which, with a unique composition, protects terrace wood effectively and sustainably and reduces the frequency of maintenance. There is Blanchon Terrace Cleaner (‘Nettoyant Terrasses Blanchon’) for periodic cleaning and Blanchon also has Blanchon Composite Terrace Renovator specially for composite wood.

Chimiver

LIOS Sundeck Wood Oil is an outdoor wood impregnator particularly recommended for the treatment of outdoor wooden floors (swimming pool edges, verandas, walkways), window and door frames, fences and canopies made of wood. It contains natural and synthetic oils, with the addition of UV ray absorbers and special anti-ageing ingredients against the wood decay. It doesn't crack. Also available in LIGHT version, which doesn't alterate the natural colour of wood, particularly indicated for the treatment of south-american species (i.e. IPÈ Lapacho, Tobaco etc.) and other similar types of outdoor woods painted in autoclave (usually green colour). Doesn't degrade rubbers and expansion joints. LIOS Sundeck Soap is a nourishing cleaner used to clean outdoor wooden floors. Used regularly, keeps a natural wood appearance, avoiding wood decay caused by adverse weather conditions. It efficiently removes dirt, traces of chlorine, salt etc.

DevoNatural®

Tropical hardwood ages relatively quickly. If you want to preserve the original colour, it’s best to protect the wood after it has been cleaned thoroughly. Just like terraces in other materials, wooden terraces can become contaminated or susceptible to moss formation and such like. To clean weathered and contaminated wood thoroughly, it is best to use DevoNatural® Outdoor Wood Cleaner, whilst for removing dirt and grease there’s DevoNatural® Intensive Cleaner! DevoNatural® Outdoor Wood Cleaner is a cleaner for outdoor wood which is easy to use and has a preventive effect. It tackles all outdoor contamination ecologically. A treatment afterwards with DevoNatural® High Solid Oil is recommended to protect outdoor wood. DevoNatural® Outdoor Wood Cleaner can be applied to all wood and composite wood. It is easy to use: If necessary, sandpaper lightly first and/or scrub with a brush + black pad, then apply DevoNatural® Outdoor Wood Cleaner before applying DevoNatural® High Solid Oil to aged/weathered garden furniture, terrace planks, parquet, etc., or apply DevoNatural® Intensive Cleaner before applying parquet oil or oil renovation. After drying, treat with DevoNatural® High Solid Oil ‘Colour and Protection’ in just one coat of parquet oil!

Osmo

To meet the specific needs of several softwoods and fine wood species, Osmo Decking-Oil was developed. It smoothens the wood surface and makes it water and dirt repellent. The oil is applied thinly and evenly with the wood grain; Osmo Decking Brush with a width of 150 mm is suitable for such applications. Resinous and oily hardwoods must weather off before the initial treatment, and then two coats are carried out on the raw wood. For renovations, one coat is sufficient, and spot repairs are possible for small damages. To clean decking regularly, Osmo offers Decking Cleaner. Depending on the amount of contamination, one litre of the concentrate cleans 30 – 100 m². Polymer composite surfaces are optimally cleaned with the Polymer Composite Cleaner from Osmo.

Pallmann

For finishing outdoor floors Pallmann recommends to clean the wooden surface thoroughly with a brush and a cleaner, e.g. Pallmann Turbo Scrubber in combination with Pallmann Wood Refresher. Afterwards the wooden surface is ready to be oiled with a suitable oil, e.g. Pallmann Outdoor Oil (available in four different colours) in combination with Pallmann Endgrain Protector. After the treatment with the finish the surface must be still open without a diffusion barrier, it should be UV-stable (e.g. through pigments) and the wood must be durable and fit for all weather conditions. To clean the outdoor surface we offer Pallmann Wood Refresher. The mentioned product range can be used also for the maintenance of composites (e.g. WPC). Exotic wood types need on rare occasions a special treatment. In normal cases a treatment with oil-based systems, like our Outdoor Oil, is sufficient if the surface is prepared well.

Rubio Monocoat Good preparation is crucial for an optimal end result, at Rubio Monocoat we are convinced of that fact. That is why we provide a complete range to prevent your wood from deteriorating. For an optimal end result, we recommend that you first carry out a thorough cleaning with an adapted product such as Rubio Monocoat Exterior Wood Cleaner. This cleaner thoroughly removes dirt, grease, and green deposits on all wood types. Once the wood has been cleaned, it is time to colour and protect it. With Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector, all this can be done in one single layer, which is also very easy to apply. Due to its innovative technology, this oil is suitable for colouring and protecting all wood types, even exotic woods. Moreover, it is an ecologically friendly product: it contains no solvents, no water, and no VOCs. For interim cleaning of your exterior wood, we have a mild soap, Rubio Monocoat Exterior Soap. And if a local repair or freshening up is needed, this is also possible with Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector in the original colour, without sanding!

RIGO Verffabriek

The master oil makers of RIGO Verffabriek have been making ROYL floor oils from 100% vegetable oils for almost 40 years. ROYL OUTDOOR was developed and added to the ROYL range for the protection of exterior wood. Just like ROYL OIL, Outdoor protects the wood from the inside out. Finishing your wood with ROYL OUTDOOR will enhance its durability and longevity by impregnating and nourishing the wood, seeping deep into its pores and polymerising into a tough, dense protective layer inside the wood. ROYL OUTDOOR gives wood a beautiful, highly water and dirt-resistant surface. ROYL OUTDOOR can be tinted with separate colour pigments. Besides, adding a colour pigment will also protect the wood against aging caused by sunlight. ROYL OUTDOOR comes in 23 authentic wood colours. Treat your wood regularly with ROYL OUTDOOR for long-lasting protection and to prevent weathering. ROYL OUTDOOR can be used for both horizontal

and vertical surfaces.

AVAILABLE IN 4 FINISHES

DECKING “DURO“

DURO Is a bRaND NEw matERIal spECIfICally DEsIGNED fOR OUtDOOR DECKING aND vENtIlatED walls. It Is thE REsUlt Of yEaRs Of REsEaRCh aND ExtENsIvE labORatORy tEstING. Its COmpOsItION Is tOp sECREt, bUt thE maIN INGREDIENt Is RICE hUsKs, a NatURal wastE pRODUCt Of thE aGRICUltURal INDUstRy, whICh Is COmbINED wIth vIRGIN pOlymERs. thE REsUlt Is a matERIal wIth INCREDIblE mEChaNICal pROpERtIEs, pERfORmaNCE aND wORKabIlIty.