Wood is a common and durable material for houses and furniture, kitchen appliances, and more. But one problem is that wood catches wood rotting fungi and other insects, which causes wood decay at a faster pace than usual.
There are many reasons why wood rots. High humidity induces fungus, molds, rot, and insects like termites, beetles, etc. In this article, we are going to elaborate on some different methods of how to stop wood rotting outside.
One should use the kind of wood that is rot-resistant in the first place itself. Some examples are:
- Oak, which on meeting water, becomes stronger and darker. The more it ages, the stronger it gets. Oak is unsusceptible to ground rotting as well.
- Spruce is another wood that is highly resistant to ground rotting even without any treatment.
- Cedar, also known as cedar pine is decay resistant, and therefore rot resistant. It also does not crack easily. It is mostly used in doors, fences, decks, etc.
- Pine, a yellowish-white wood that doesn’t crack much and has high resin content, therefore making it resistant to ground rotting. It is a great choice for doors and decks.
- Larch, a wood with a high quantity of resin, has antiseptic properties and prevents the wood from fungi and insects. The wood is dark brown in color and decay-resistant.
That was a whole list of different kinds of woods one can use, now let’s talk about other ways how wood can be stopped from rotting.
Use of woods treated under pressure includes Alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and Copper naphthenate-treated woods.
- ACQ repels rot and insects. It is an alkaline wood preservative. Although ACQ contains mild levels of toxicity when inhaled but can also cause eye irritation.
- Copper naphthenate has been classified by the EPA as a general-purpose pesticide. It is also a great choice for exterior work. Copper naphthenate treatment in woods prevents its decay and kills termites. It is water-proof and can be used in engineering poles, greenhouses, docks, etc.
Some more solutions to prevent the wood from rotting outside are:
- Copper Sulfate: The solution penetrates deep into the wood pores, preventing insects and ground from rotting.
- Tarnishing: It is a green way to stop wood from rotting in the soil.
- Use Of Silicate Glue: It is used to add strength to wood in basements and indoors in areas with high humidity.
- Drying oil with the Manganese Addition: It’s an antiseptic treatment that forms an airtight barrier to wood, stopping the formation of cracks.
- Oak Bark Concentrate: Helps stop the decaying of wood over a long period.
- A mixture of Linseed Oil Hemp, Linseed Oil, and Tung oils: They create a film over the surface of the wood, and once it comes in the air, the polymerization process begins.
- Use Of Beeswax: Chemical impurities are absent in this option and, therefore, can be used in bedrooms and children’s rooms. This option is expensive but is quite effective, which justifies its cost.
Rotten wood can be fixed using wood fillers to strip away the rot, wooden patches on the rotten stains, etc.
To conclude, rotten wood can be fixed, and wood can be prevented from rotting in many ways, but one has to choose what’s most suitable for the situation he is dealing with.
Out of our various solutions, one must find the most effective and safe rot-resistant to protect their lumber from wood decay fungus, moisture, insects, and everything harmful to the wood.
