Wood Facts
While PRIDE no longer offers wood refinishing and restoration as one of our core services, we'd love to share the knowledge and expertise we've accumulated.
All exterior unprotected wood is open to various types of erosion. Natural weathering will result in the wood altering its original appearance to various muted colors. If new exterior wood is left unprotected, the durability, beauty and natural color is subject to change. The wood also oxidizes, seriously limiting its life.
Common Causes of Wood Erosion
Degradation by Ultraviolet Light - Sunlight
Solar radiation is the most damaging component of the outdoor environment affecting exposed wood surfaces. Sunlight also affects woods changing color which is actually the decomposition of lignin (substance that allows the wood stay together); as exposure continues, the wood color darkens.
Water Causes Swelling and Shrinking
Weather cycles cause moisture to penetrate the wood. If the water and the wood freeze, it expands and destroys further deterioration of the surface, allowing more water to penetrate. This over time will totally damage the wood.
Decay, Activating Microorganisms
As the wood's natural protection decreases, it can become a colony backed with microorganisms. Harsh climate conditions, allow these microorganisms to create a devastating effect on your wood, causing it to become soft, stringy, pitted, cracked or even to crumble.
Use of Young Timber less than 25 Years Old
A majority of today's cedar and redwood lumber is being processed from younger, less decay resistant trees. These young redwood and cedars harvested today do need protection earlier than the premium hart woods that were once widely available.
Special Factors
Slope
The more horizontal wood is, the more likely it is to suffer decay from fungi, mold and damage from pooling water. Verticals and horizontals will reach different shades as they are exposed to different levels of sun, dirt and moisture.
Direction
South-facing wood suffers because it experiences the greatest swings in temperature and humidity, leading to more splits and other degradation.
Shading
Wood shaded by trees is more likely to develop mold, mildew, and decay than unshaded wood.
How to Protect Exterior Wood
To keep your exterior wood looking like new you must apply water and UV resistant coatings that will protect your wood from water, UV sunlight, leaching, and decay.
PRIDE has spent thousands of dollars on discovering the most effective products for the Colorado and Wyoming climates. TWP and Messmer's, with the proper application and the proper cleaning of these products may give you 5 years on the horizontal and 10 years on the vertical. They out perform 5-6 times any surface film applications such as paint. Redwood, cedar and fur all expand and contract at a different rate than the film applications, causing the product to peel and crack.
The performance of exterior wood penetrating-stains is a direct result of how much product is absorbed into the wood. For this reason we apply 2 coats, wet on wet. It is best to allow wood fibers to open as a result of the natural aging process before applying the coating. This usually takes two months in the Colorado and Wyoming climates. Once this aging process is complete the wood must be cleaned and finished.
Click the appropriate links for a more complete description of the process and well as of the products we recommend.
  
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