Wood can be a great addition to your home’s aesthetic but, this being said, it requires a lot of maintenance. Without the proper maintenance, wood can obtain damp and rot, and ultimately deteriorate. This does not look appealing, nor is it very helpful to the structural integrity of your home. So, how can you ensure that the wood in your home is well looked after?
Use Good-Quality Timber
The more that you invest in your timber, the less maintenance it will require. This will actually save you money in the long run as you will not have to pay for constant repairs. Typically, you should use hardwood within your home as you will want as much strength as possible. Examples of hardwoods include walnut, mahogany, cherry, maple, and oak. Not only are hardwoods typically stronger, but they often have beautiful grain patterns that are ideal for home embellishment.
Get It Professionally Treated
Wood is very delicate in the sense that when taken into the wrong hands, it can be quite easily damaged. Therefore, regardless of where you are, you should get your wood treated by a professional. You can contact a timber and damp specialist from Kent to Queensland; it’s common practice and rightfully so for such an important task. The right specialist will have knowledge on what treatments work best for what wood types, meaning that your timber will be in the most capable hands.
Protect It Against Insects
Insects are particularly damaging to wood as they can consume it and scratch away at it. Fortunately, there are products and chemicals that you can apply to your wood to deter insects. Sodium silicate is one of the best chemicals for achieving this and also has flame retardant properties. Not only do insects damage wood by eating it but, due to its warmth, they often burrow within it to build their homes. This can cause significant damage to timber, resulting in breakage and rot.
Waterproof It
As well as fireproofing and insect proofing, wood in your home will need to be waterproofed. When it rains, water can seep into your property; wood is particularly vulnerable when this happens. This is because condensation on wood can result in the timber rotting away. If wood is a key component of supporting your home, this could cause serious issues as your house gradually deteriorates.
Coat It
Typically speaking, you will not want to leave your wood bare as this just makes it more vulnerable to damage. You could either stain or varnish your wood so that its natural grain remains, but the wood has a layer of protection. Alternatively, you might paint it to inject some color into the space, though this will often mask its natural beauty.
Clean Frequently
Once the timber has been fitted and protected within your home, you will want to regularly clean it to retain its appearance. You shouldn’t use harsh chemicals to do this as it can strip the wood of its natural color, making it appear patchy and unfinished. There are plenty of wood cleaning and polishing products on the market that will simultaneously clean and protect your wood. Similarly, you should use a cloth with soft fibers so that you don’t scratch the wood with abrasive materials. Ultimately, wood is delicate and should be nurtured in order to keep it fresh.
Conclusion
Incorporating wood into your home’s makeup and caring for it couldn’t be easier with these simple steps. The key is deftness as wood can easily incur damage when too harshly handled. Finally, wood specialists are on hand to assist you with all your timber needs.
