111-1

111
£xferIor Wood !InIshes
111.1 Intioduction................................................................. 111-1
111.2 Exteiioi Substiates....................................................... 111-3
111.3 Exteiioi Finishes .......................................................... 111-7
111.4 Summaiy .................................................................... 111-11
Refeiences ................................................................................ 111-11
111.1 Intruductiun
Wood exposed outdoois undeigoes a numbei of physical and chemical phenomena mostly caused by
moistuie inßuences, sunlight, and tempeiatuie. The degiadation of wood by any biological oi physical
agent modifes some of the oiganic components of wood. These components aie piimaiily polysaccha-
small quantities, and theii concentiation deteimines coloi, odoi, and othei nonmechanical piopeities of
a wood species. A change in the oiganic components may be caused by an enzyme, a chemical, oi
electiomagnetic iadiation, but invaiiably the net iesult is a change in moleculai stiuctuie thiough some
chemical ieaction.
eiing - the combination of chemical, mechanical, and light eneigies. The weatheiing of wood is not to
be confused with wood decay (iot), which iesults fiom oiganisms (fungi) acting in the piesence of excess
moistuie and aii foi an extended peiiod. Undei conditions suitable foi decay, wood can deteiioiate
iapidly, and the iesult is fai diffeient fiom that obseived foi natuial outdooi weatheiing.
Weatheiing can be detiimental to the suifaces and appeaiance of wood. Thus, weatheiing must be
taken into account when consideiing the pieseivation and piotection of outdooi wood. Being a pioduct
of natuie, wood is also subject to biological attack by fungi and insects. Most of these stiessing factois,
The piimaiy functions of any wood fnish (e.g., paint, vainish, wax, stain, oil) aie to piotect the wood
suiface, help maintain appeaiance, and piovide cleanability. Unfnished wood can be used outdoois
without piotection. Howevei, wood suifaces exposed to the weathei without any fnish aie ioughened
by photodegiadation and suiface checking, change coloi, and slowly eiode.
Wood and wood-based pioducts in a vaiiety of species, giain patteins, textuies, and colois can be
effectively fnished by many diffeient methods. Selection of the fnish will depend on the appeaiance and
degiee of piotection desiied and on the substiates used. Also, diffeient fnishes give vaiying degiees of
piotection, so the type, the quality, the quantity, and the application method of the fnish must be
consideied when selecting and planning the fnishing oi iefnishing of wood and wood-based pioducts.
WIIIIam C. !eIsf
Con·u|ronr
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
Wood Piopeities and Weatheiing · Wood and Wood-Based
Natuial Weatheiing · Applied Finishes
Pioducts · Watei-Soluble Extiactives
The ielative effects of vaiious eneigy foims on wood indoois and outdoois aie compaied in Table
iides (cellulose and hemicelluloses) and polyphenolics (lignin). Extiactives aie also piesent in ielatively
111.1. The most seiious thieat to wood indoois comes fiom theimal eneigy, and outdoois, fiom weath-
inßuencing factois, and weatheiing effects inteiact and inßuence a fnished wood suiface (Figuie 111.1).
111-2 Cooríng· Tec|no|ogy Hondboo|, T|írd ídíríon
TABLE 111.1 Relative Effects of Vaiious Eneigy Foims on Wood
Foim of
Eneigy
Indoois Outdoois
Result
Degiee
of Effect Result
Degiee
of Effect
Theimal
Intense Fiie Seveie Fiie Seveie
Slight Daikening of coloi Slight Daikening of coloi Slight
Light
a
Coloi change Slight Extensive coloi changes Seveie
Chemical degiadation (especially lignin) Seveie
Mechanical Weai and teai Slight Weai and teai Slight
Wind eiosion Slight
Suiface ioughening Seveie
Defbeiization Seveie
Chemical Staining Slight Suiface ioughening Seveie
Discoloiation Slight Defbeiization Seveie
Coloi change Slight Selective leaching Seveie
Coloi change Seveie
Stiength loss Seveie
a
Both visible and ultiaviolet light.
FIGURE 111.1 Stiessing factois, inßuencing factois, and weatheiing effects that contiibute to wood-fnish
peifoimance.
Stressing eIements
Photo-
lrradiation
Thermal
radiation
Moisture
changes
Wind, rain
hall, dust,
pollution
Micro-
organisms
Wood performance
(finished of unfinished)
Photo-
chemical
degradation
Heating
Dimensional
changes,
deformation,
cracks,
leaching,
hydrolysis
Erosion Discoloration
InfIuencing Factors
Conditions of
weather exposure
Time
Wood properties
Quality of design
Properties and application
of finish
Maintenance
Weathering effects
Major elements and effects
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
íxreríor Wood ííní·|e· 111-3
Satisfactoiy peifoimance of wood fnishes is achieved when thoiough consideiation is given to the
many factois that affect these fnishes. These factois include the piopeities of the wood substiate,
chaiacteiistics of the fnishing mateiial, details of application, and seveiity of exposuie. Some of these
impoitant consideiations aie ieviewed in this chaptei. Additional souices of detailed infoimation aie
listed in the iefeiences at the end of this chaptei.
111.2 Exteriur Substrates
111.2.1 Wuud Pruperties and Weathering
Wood is a natuial biological mateiial and as such its piopeities vaiy not only fiom one species to anothei
but within the same species. Some diffeiences can even be expected in boaids cut fiom the same tiee.
The natuial and manufactuiing chaiacteiistics of wood aie impoitant inßuences on fnishing chaiactei-
istics and duiability.
The piopeities of wood that vaiy gieatly fiom species to species aie density, giain chaiacteiistics
(piesence of eailywood and latewood), textuie (haidwood oi softwood), piesence and amount of heait-
wood oi sapwood, and the piesence of extiactives, iesins, and oils. The density of wood is one of the
most impoitant factois that affect fnishing chaiacteiistics. Excessive dimensional change in wood con-
stantly stiesses a flm-foiming fnish such as paint and may iesult in eaily failuie of the fnish. Density
vaiies gieatly fiom species to species and is impoitant because high-density woods shiink and swell moie
than do low-density woods. The paintability of vaiious softwoods and haidwoods is ielated to natuial
such as iing oiientation.
Wood suifaces that shiink and swell the least aie best foi painting. Foi this ieason, veitical- oi edge-
giained suifaces (Figuie 111.2) aie fai bettei than ßat-giained suifaces of any species, especially foi
exteiioi use, wheie wide ianges of ielative humidity and peiiodic wetting can pioduce equally wide
and haidwoods.
FIGURE 111.2 Edge-giained (oi veitical-giained oi quaiteisawed) boaid A, and ßat-giained (oi slash-giained oi
plainsawed) boaid B, cut fiom a log.
A
B
A.
Edge-Grained
B.
Flat-Grained
Cross Section of Log
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
wood chaiacteiistics of density, piesence of latewood, and textuie, and to manufactuiing chaiacteiistics
ianges of swelling and shiinking. Table 111.2 lists the painting and weatheiing chaiacteiistics of softwoods
111-4 Cooríng· Tec|no|ogy Hondboo|, T|írd ídíríon
TABLE 111.2 Chaiacteiistics of Selected Solid Woods foi Painting and Finishing
Wood
Density (lb/ft
3
)
at 8% moistuie
content
a
Paint-Holding
Chaiacteiistic
(I, best; V, woist)
b
Weatheiing
Resistance to
cupping
(1, most; 4, least)
Conspicuousness
of checking
(1, least; 2, most)
Coloi of
Heaitwood
Oil-Based
Paint
Latex
Paint
Softwoods
Cedais
Alaska 30.4 I I 1 1 Yellow
Incense 24.2 I I - - Biown
Poit-Oifoid 28.9 I I - 1 Cieam
Westein ied 22.4 I I 1 1 Biown
White 20.8 I I - - Light biown
Cypiess 31.4 I I 1 1 Light biown
Douglas fi
c
31.0 IV II 2 2 Pale ied
Laich 38.2 IV - 2 2 Biown
Pine
Eastein white 24.2 II II 2 2 Cieam
Noiway 30.4 IV II 2 2 Light biown
Pondeiosa 27.5 III II 2 2 Cieam
Southein yellow
c
38.2 IV III 2 2 Light biown
Sugai 24.9 II II 2 2 Cieam
Westein white 27.1 II II 2 2 Cieam
Redwood 27.4 I I 1 1 Diak biown
Spiuce 26.8 III II 2 2 White
Tamaiack 36.3 IV - 2 2 Biown
White fi 25.8 III - 2 2 White
Westein hemlock 28.7 III II 2 2 Pale biown
Haidwoods
Aldei 28.0 III - - - Pale biown
Ameiican elm 35.5 V oi III - 4 2 Biown
Ash 41.5 V oi III - 4 2 Light biown
Aspen 26.3 III II 2 1 Pale biown
Basswood 25.5 III - 2 2 Cieam
Beech 43.2 IV - 4 2 Pale biown
Butteinut 26.4 V oi III - - - Light biown
Cheiiy 34.8 IV - - - Biown
Chestnut 29.5 V oi III - 3 2 Light biown
Eastein cottonwood 28.0 III II 4 2 White
Gum 35.5 IV III 4 2 Biown
Hickoiy 50.3 V oi IV - 4 2 Light biown
Lauan IV - 2 2 Biown
Magnolia 34.4 III - 2 - Pale biown
Maple, sugai 43.4 IV - 4 2 Light biown
Oak
White 45.6 V oi IV - 4 2 Biown
Noithein ied 42.5 V oi IV - 4 2 Biown
Yellow poplai 29.2 III II 2 1 Pale biown
Yellow biich 42.4 IV - 4 2 Light biown
Sycamoie 34.7 IV - - - Pale biown
Walnut 37.0 V oi III - 3 2 Daik biown
a
1 lb/ft
3
16.2 kg/m
3
.
b
Woods ianked in gioup V aie haidwoods with laige poies, which iequiie wood fllei foi duiable painting. When the
poies aie piopeily flled befoie painting, gioup II applies.
c
Lumbei and plywood.
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
íxreríor Wood ííní·|e· 111-5
Because the swelling of wood is diiectly piopoitional to density, low-density species aie piefeiied ovei
high-density species foi painting. Howevei, even high-swelling and dense wood suifaces with a ßat giain
can be stabilized with a iesin-tieated papei oveilay (oveilaid exteiioi plywood and lumbei) to piovide
excellent suifaces foi painting. Medium-density, stabilized fbeiboaid pioducts with a unifoim, low-
density suiface oi papei oveilay aie also good substiates foi exteiioi use. Howevei, edge-giained heait-
wood of westein ied cedai and iedwood aie the woods most widely used foi exteiioi siding and tiim
when painting is desiied. These species aie classifed in gioup I, those woods easiest to keep painted
aie available only as ßat-giained lumbei.
Species classifed in gioups II thiough V (Table 111.2) aie noimally cut as ßat-giained lumbei, aie
high in density and swelling, oi have defects such as knots oi pitch. The specifc classifcation depends
upon the paint-holding chaiacteiistics of each species. Many species in gioups II thiough IV aie com-
monly painted, paiticulaily the pines, Douglas fi, and spiuce, but these species usually iequiie moie
caie and attention than the edge-giained suifaces of gioup I. Exteiioi paint will be moie duiable on
edge-giained boaids than on ßat-giained.
111.2.2 Wuud and Wuud-Based Pruducts
Thiee geneial categoiies of wood pioducts aie commonly used in exteiioi constiuction: (1) lumbei, (2)
plywood, and (3) ieconstituted wood pioducts, such as haidboaid (a fbeiboaid) and paiticleboaid. Each
has chaiacteiistics that will affect the duiability of any fnish applied to it.
111.2.2.1 Lumber
Lumbei, oi solid wood, is being used less and less as an exteiioi siding, but it was once the most common
wood mateiial used in constiuction. Many oldei homes have solid wood siding. The ability of lumbei
to absoib and ietain a fnish is affected by species, by iing diiection with iespect to the suiface (oi how
the piece was sawn fiom the log), and by smoothness.
Ring diiection affects paint-holding chaiacteiistics and is deteimined at the time lumbei is cut fiom
used foi boaid and batten siding, diop siding, oi shiplap is fiequently ßat-giained. Bevel siding is
commonly pioduced in seveial giades. In some cases, the highest giade of lumbei is iequiied to be edge-
giained and all heaitwood ovei most of the width foi gieatei paint duiability. Othei giades may be ßat-
giained, edge-giained, oi mixed-giain and without iequiiements as to heaitwood.
latewood aie chaiacteiistic of southein pine and most Douglas fi, and paint will not hold well on these
species (Table 111.2). In contiast, slow giown iedwood and cedai do not have wide latewood bands, and
these species aie piefeiied when paint will be used.
111.2.2.2 P!yvuud
Exteiioi plywood with a iough-sawn suiface is commonly used foi siding. Smooth-sanded plywood is
not iecommended foi siding, but it is often used in soffts and othei piotected aieas. Both sanded and
iough-sawn plywood will develop suiface checks (often desciibed as face checking), especially when
exposed to moistuie and sunlight. These suiface checks can lead to eaily paint failuie when using oil oi
alkyd paints. Quality stain-blocking aciylic latex piimeis and topcoat paints geneially peifoim bettei.
The ßat-giained pattein piesent in neaily all plywood can also contiibute to eaily paint failuie. Theiefoie,
if smooth oi iough-sawn plywood is to be painted, special piecautions should be exeicised. Penetiating
stains aie often moie appiopiiate foi iough-sawn exteiioi plywood suifaces, but quality aciylic latex
paints also peifoim veiy well.
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
(Table 111.2). Edge-giained suifaces of all species aie consideied excellent foi painting, but most species
a log (Figuie 111.2). Most standaid giades of lumbei contain a high peicentage of ßat giain. Lumbei
Some species have wide bands of eailywood and latewood (Figuie 111.3). Wide, piominent bands of
111-6 Cooríng· Tec|no|ogy Hondboo|, T|írd ídíríon
111.2.2.3 Recunstituted Wuud Pruducts
Reconstituted wood pioducts aie made by foiming small pieces of wood into laige sheets, usually 4 by
8 feet oi as iequiied foi a specialized use, such as beveled siding. These pioducts may be classifed as
fbeiboaid oi paiticleboaid, depending upon the natuie of the basic wood component.
Fibeiboaids aie pioduced fiom mechanical pulps. Haidboaid is a ielatively heavy type of fbeiboaid,
and its tempeied oi tieated foim, designed foi outdooi exposuie, is used foi exteiioi siding. It is often
sold in 4- by 8-foot sheets as a substitute foi solid wood beveled siding.
Paiticleboaids aie manufactuied fiom whole wood in the foim of splinteis, chips, ßakes, stiands, oi
shavings. Wafeiboaid, oiiented stiandboaid, and ßakeboaid aie thiee types of paiticleboaid made fiom
ielatively laige ßakes oi shavings.
Some fbeiboaids and paiticleboaids aie manufactuied foi exteiioi use. Film-foiming fnishes, such
as paints and solid-coloi stains, will give the most piotection to these ieconstituted wood pioducts. Some
ieconstituted wood pioducts may be factoiy-piimed with paint, and some may even have a factoiy-
applied topcoat. Also, some may be oveilaid with a iesin-tieated cellulose fbei sheet to piovide a supeiioi
suiface foi paint.
111.2.3 Water-Su!ub!e Extractives
Watei-soluble extiactives aie extianeous mateiials that aie natuially deposited in the lumens, oi cavities,
of cells in the heaitwood of both softwoods and haidwoods. They aie paiticulaily abundant in those
woods commonly used foi exteiioi applications, such as westein ied cedai, iedwood, and cypiess, and
aie also found in lessei amounts in Douglas fi and southein yellow pine heaitwood. The attiactive coloi,
good dimensional stability, and natuial decay iesistance of many species aie due to the piesence of
extiactives. Howevei, these same extiactives can cause seiious fnishing defects both at the time of fnish
application and latei. Because the extiactives aie watei soluble, they can be dissolved when fiee watei is
piesent and subsequently tianspoited to the wood suiface. When this solution of extiactives ieaches the
painted suiface, the watei evapoiates, and the extiactives iemain as ieddish-biown maiks.
Pitch in most pines and Douglas fi can be exuded fiom eithei sapwood oi heaitwood. Pitch is usually
a mixtuie of iosin and tuipentine; this mixtuie is called iosin. Rosin is biittle and iemains solid at most
noimal tempeiatuies. Tuipentine, on the othei hand, is volatile even at ielatively low tempeiatuies. By
use of the piopei kiln-diying techniques, tuipentine can geneially be diiven fiom the wood, leaving
behind only the solid iosin. Howevei, foi gieen (wet) lumbei oi even diied lumbei maiketed foi geneial
constiuction, diffeient kiln schedules may be used, and the tuipentine iemains in the wood, mixed with
FIGURE 111.3 Eailywood and latewood bands in southein pine. These distinct bands often lead to eaily paint
failuie.
Earlywood
Latewood
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
íxreríor Wood ííní·|e· 111-7
the iosin. The iesultant iosin melts at a much lowei tempeiatuie than does puie iosin, and consequently
the mixtuie can move to the suiface. If the suiface is fnished, the iosin may exude thiough the coating
oi cause it to discoloi oi blistei.
In some species of wood the heaitwood contains watei-soluble extiactives, while sapwood does not.
These extiactives can occui in both haidwoods and softwoods. Westein ied cedai and iedwood aie two
common softwood species used in constiuction that contain laige quantities of extiactives. The extiactives
give these species theii attiactive coloi, good stability, and natuial decay iesistance, but they can also
discoloi paint. Woods such as Douglas fi and southein yellow pine also contain extiactives that can
cause occasional extiactive staining pioblems.
111.3 Exteriur Finishes
The vaiious dimensions of wood and wood-based building mateiials aie constantly changing because of
changes in moistuie content, which in tuin aie caused by ßuctuations in the atmospheiic ielative
humidity as well as the peiiodic piesence of fiee moistuie such as iain oi dew. Watei iepellents piovide
piotection against liquid watei but aie ineffective against watei vapoi (humidity). Film-foiming fnishes
such as paint and vainish aie effective against watei vapoi piovided the flms aie thick enough. Because
flm-foiming wood fnishes like paint will last longei on stable wood, it is desiiable to stabilize the wood
by fnishing it with a paintable watei-iepellent pieseivative as the fist step in the fnish system.
The piotection of wood fiom moistuie thiough applying a fnish oi coating depends on many vaiiables.
Among them aie the thickness of the coating flm, absence of defects and voids in the flm, type of
pigment (if any), chemical composition of the vehicle oi iesin, volume iatio of pigment to vehicle, vapoi
piessuie giadient acioss the flm, and length of exposuie peiiod. Regaidless of the numbei of coatings
used, the coating can nevei be entiiely moistuie pioof. In the absence of wetting by liquid watei, the
moistuie content of the wood depends on the ambient ielative humidity. How quickly the wood achieves
equilibiium with the ambient ielative humidity depends on the piopeities of the coating. Theie is no
way to eliminate completely the changing moistuie content of wood in iesponse to changing ielative
humidities. The coating simply slows down the iate at which the wood changes moistuie content.
Film-foiming fnishes slow both the absoiption of watei vapoi and the diying of the wood. In fact,
the iate of diying is slowed moie by the coating, and in cyclic high and low ielative humidities, the
moistuie content of the wood incieases with time. This ietaidation of diying can have a diastic effect
on the duiability of painted wood fully exposed to the weathei. Paint coatings usually ciack at the joint
between two pieces of wood, paiticulaily if they have diffeient giain oiientations (i.e., diffeient dimen-
sional stabilities). Watei enteis the wood thiough these ciacks and is tiapped by the coating. The wood
moistuie content can quickly ieach the iange at which decay fungi can piospei.
Foi a coating to be effective in minimizing moistuie content changes of the wood, it must be applied
to all wood suifaces, particularly the end grain. The end giain of wood absoibs moistuie much fastei
than does the face giain, and fnishes geneially fail in this aiea fist. Coatings having good moistuie
excluding effectiveness that aie applied to only one side, will cause unequal soiption of moistuie,
incieasing the likelihood of wood cupping.
111.3.1 Natura! Weathering
The simplest fnish foi wood is cieated by the natuial weatheiing piocess. Without paint oi tieatment
of any kind, wood suifaces giadually change in coloi and textuie and then stay almost unalteied foi a
long time if the wood does not decay. Geneially, the daik-coloied woods become lightei and the light-
coloied woods become daikei. As weatheiing continues, all woods become giay, accompanied by pho-
todegiadation and giadual loss of wood cells at the suiface. As a iesult, exposed unfnished wood will
The weatheiing piocess is a suiface phenomenon and is so slow that most softwoods eiode at an
aveiage iate of about 1/4 inch pei centuiy. Dense haidwoods eiode at a iate of only 1/8 inch pei centuiy.
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
slowly weai away in a piocess called eiosion (Figuie 111.4).
111-S Cooríng· Tec|no|ogy Hondboo|, T|írd ídíríon
Veiy low density softwoods, such as westein ied cedai, may eiode at a iate as high as 1/2 inch pei centuiy.
In cold noithein climates, eiosion iates as low as 1/32 inch pei centuiy have been iepoited.
The physical loss of wood substance fiom the wood suiface (eiosion) duiing weatheiing depends not
only on wood species and density, but also on giowth iate, iing oiientation, amount of iiiadiation, iain
action, wind, and degiee of exposuie. Eiosion also occuis most iapidly in thin-walled fbeis of eailywood
in softwoods and, at a slowei iate, in dense latewood. Accompanying this loss of wood substance aie the
swelling and shiinking stiesses caused by ßuctuations in moistuie content. All this iesults in suiface
ioughening, giain iaising, diffeiential swelling of eailywood and latewood bands, and the foimation of
many small paiallel checks and ciacks. Laigei and deepei ciacks may also develop, and waiping fiequently
occuis (Figuie 111.4).
The weatheiing piocess is usually accompanied by the giowth of daik-coloied spoies and mycelia of
fungi oi mildew on the suiface, which gives the wood a daik giay, uneven, and unsightly appeaiance. In
addition, highly coloied wood extiactives in such species as westein ied cedai and iedwood add to the
vaiiable coloi of weatheied wood. The daik biown coloi of extiactives may peisist foi a long time in
aieas not exposed to the sun and wheie the extiactives aie not iemoved by the washing action of iain.
111.3.2 App!ied Finishes
Finishes oi coatings aie applied to exteiioi wood suifaces foi a vaiiety of ieasons. The paiticulai ieason
will deteimine the type of fnish selected and subsequently the amount of piotection piovided to the
wood suiface as well as the life expectancy foi the fnish. Two basic types of fnishes (oi tieatments) aie
used to piotect wood suifaces duiing outdooi weatheiing: (1) those that foim a flm, layei, oi coating
on the wood suiface (flm-foiming) and (2) those that penetiate the wood suiface, leaving no distinct
layei oi coating (non-flm-foiming). Film-foiming fnishes include paints of all desciiptions, vainishes,
vainish stains, and solid-coloi stains as well as oveilays bonded to the wood suiface. Penetiating fnishes,
which do not foim a flm ovei the wood, include oils, watei iepellents, solvent-boine stains, pieseivatives,
and suiface tieatments.
Finishes can be also be divided into two othei geneial categoiies: (1) opaque coatings, such as paints
and solid-coloi stains, and (2) natuial fnishes, such as watei iepellents, watei-iepellent pieseivatives,
penetiating oils, and semitianspaient penetiating stains. Foi convenience, vainishes and vainish stains
FIGURE 111.4 The weatheiing piocess of iound and squaie timbeis. Cutaway shows that inteiioi wood below the
suiface is ielatively unchanged, even though suiface wood is weatheied and eioded.
Original Size
Terminal Size
years
100
75
50
25
10
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
íxreríor Wood ííní·|e· 111-9
(flm-foimeis) aie also included in the natuial fnishes. Wood pieseivatives and fie-ietaidant coatings
might also be called °fnishes" in some iespects.
The outdooi fnishes desciibed in this section iepiesent the iange of fnish types that aie often used
outdoois. Souices of infoimation on the piopeities, tieatment, and maintenance of exteiioi wood fnishes
aie listed in the iefeiences at the end of this chaptei, as is infoimation on the suitability and expected
life of the most commonly used fnishes.
111.3.2.1 Paints
Paints aie coatings commonly used on wood and piovide the most piotection of all the fnishes because
they block the damaging ultiaviolet (UV) light iays fiom the sun. They aie available in a wide iange of
colois and can be eithei oil- oi latex-based. Paints aie used foi aesthetic puiposes, to piotect the wood
suiface fiom weatheiing, and to conceal ceitain defects.
Paints aie applied to the wood suiface and do not penetiate it deeply. The wood giain is completely
obscuied, and a suiface flm is foimed. Paints peifoim best on smooth, edge-giained lumbei of light-
weight species. This suiface flm can blistei oi peel if the wood becomes wet oi if inside watei vapoi
moves thiough the house wall and into the wood siding because of the absence of a vapoi-ietaiding
mateiial. Latex paints aie poious and thus will allow some moistuie movement. Some oil-based paints
aie iesistant to moistuie movement, but often they become moie biittle with age and do not last as long
as do aciylic latex paints.
Oil-based paint flms usually piovide the best shield fiom liquid watei and watei vapoi. Howevei, they
aie not necessaiily the most duiable, because they become biittle ovei time. No mattei how well sealed,
wood still moves with seasonal humidity, thus stiessing and eventually ciacking the biittle paint. On the
othei hand, latex paints, paiticulaily the aciylic paints, iemain moie ßexible with age. Even though latex
paints allow moie watei vapoi to pass thiough, they hold up bettei by stietching and shiinking with the
wood. Most iecent paint studies indicate that the aciylic and vinyl-aciylic latex paints piovide the longest
life of the exteiioi wood paints.
Of all the fnishes, paints piovide the most piotection foi wood against suiface eiosion and offei the
widest selection of colois. A nonpoious paint flm ietaids penetiation of moistuie and ieduces the
pioblem of discoloiation by wood extiactives, paint peeling, and checking and waiping of the wood. It
is impoitant to note that paint is not a pieseivative. It will not pievent decay if conditions aie favoiable
foi fungal giowth. Oiiginal and maintenance costs aie often highei foi a paint fnish than foi a watei-
iepellent pieseivative oi a penetiating stain fnish.
111.3.2.2 Su!id-Cu!ur Stains
Solid-coloi stains aie opaque fnishes (also called hiding oi heavy bodied). They aie available in a wide
iange of colois and aie made with a much highei concentiation of pigment than the semitianspaient
penetiating stains. Solid-coloi stains will totally obscuie the natuial coloi and giain of wood. Oil-based
solid-coloi stains foim a flm much like paint and as a result can peel loose from the substrate. Latex-
based solid-color stains are also available and form a flm, as do the oil-based solid-color stains. Both
these stains are similar to thinned paints and can usually be applied over old paint or stains if the old
fnish is securely bonded to the wood.
3.2.3 Semitransparent Penetrating Stains
Semitianspaient penetiating stains aie only modeiately pigmented and thus do not totally hide the wood
giain. These stains penetiate the wood suiface to a degiee, aie poious to watei vapoi, and do not foim
a suiface flm like paints. As a iesult, they will not blistei oi peel even if moistuie moves thiough the
wood. Penetiating stains aie alkyd- oi oil-based, and some may contain a fungicide (pieseivative oi
mildewcide) as well as a watei iepellent. Modeiately pigmented latex-based (wateiboine) stains aie also
available, but they do not penetiate the wood suiface as do the oil-based stains.
The semitianspaient stains aie most effective on iough lumbei, weatheied lumbei, oi iough-sawn
plywood suifaces, but they also piovide satisfactoiy peifoimance on smooth suifaces. They aie available
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
111-10 Cooríng· Tec|no|ogy Hondboo|, T|írd ídíríon
in a vaiiety of colois and aie especially populai in the biown oi ied eaith tones because they give a
natuial oi iustic appeaiance. They aie an excellent fnish foi weatheied wood. Semitianspaient pene-
tiating, oil-based stains aie not effective when applied ovei a solid-coloi stain oi ovei old paint. They
aie not iecommended foi use on haidboaid and oiiented stiandboaid.
An effective stain of the semitianspaient penetiating type is the Foiest Pioducts Laboiatoiy natuial
fnish developed in the 1950s. This fnish has a linseed oil vehicle, a fungicide to piotect the oil and wood
fiom mildew, and a watei iepellent that piotects the wood fiom an excessive penetiation of watei. It is
available in duiable ied and biown iion oxide pigments that simulate the natuial colois of iedwood and
cedai. A vaiiety of othei colois can also be achieved with this fnish.
111.3.2.4 Water-Repe!!ent Preservatives and Water Repe!!ents
A watei-iepellent pieseivative may be used as a natuial fnish. It contains a fungicide oi mildewcide (the
pieseivative), a small amount of wax foi watei iepellency, a iesin oi diying oil, and a solvent, such as
tuipentine oi mineial spiiits. Watei-iepellent pieseivatives do not contain coloiing pigments. Theiefoie,
the iesulting fnish will vaiy in coloi depending upon the species of wood. The mildewcide also pievents
wood fiom daikening (giaying).
The initial application of the watei-iepellent pieseivative to smooth wood suifaces is usually shoit-
lived. Duiing the fist few yeais, the fnish may have to be applied eveiy yeai. Aftei the wood has giadually
weatheied to a unifoim coloi, the tieatments aie moie duiable and the wood needs iefnishing only
when the suiface staits to become unevenly coloied by fungi.
Inoiganic pigments can be added to the watei-iepellent pieseivative solutions to piovide special coloi
effects, and the mixtuie is then similai to the semitianspaient pigmented penetiating stains. Colois that
match the natuial coloi of the wood and extiactives aie usually piefeiied. As with semitianspaient stains,
the addition of pigment to the fnish helps stabilize the coloi and inciease the duiability of the fnish.
Some watei-iepellent pieseivatives may also be used as a tieatment foi baie wood befoie piiming and
painting oi in aieas wheie old paint has peeled, exposing baie wood, paiticulaily aiound butt joints oi
in coineis. This tieatment keeps iain oi dew fiom penetiating into the wood, especially at joints and
end giain, and thus decieases the shiinking and swelling of wood. As a iesult, less stiess is placed on the
paint flm, and its seivice life is extended. This stability is achieved by the small amount of wax piesent
in watei-iepellent pieseivatives. The wax decieases the capillaiy movement oi wicking of watei up the
back side of lap oi diop siding. The fungicide inhibits suiface decay. Watei-iepellent pieseivatives aie
also used as edge tieatments foi panel pioducts like plywood.
Watei iepellents aie also available. These aie watei-iepellent pieseivatives with the fungicide, mildew-
cide, oi pieseivative left out. Watei iepellents aie not effective natuial fnishes by themselves but can be
used as a stabilizing tieatment befoie piiming and painting.
111.3.2.5 Oi!s and Yarnishes
Many oil oi oil-based natuial wood fnish foimulations aie available foi fnishing exteiioi wood. The
most common oils aie linseed and tung. Howevei, these oils may seive as a food souice foi mildew if
applied to wood in the absence of a mildewcide. The oils will also peifoim bettei if a watei iepellent and
a UV stabilizei aie included in the foimulation. Alkyd iesin and ielated iesin commeicial foimulas aie
also available. All these oil systems will piotect wood exposed outdoois, but theii aveiage lifetime may
be only as long as that desciibed foi the watei-iepellent pieseivatives.
Cleai coatings of conventional spai oi maiine vainishes, which aie flm-foiming fnishes, aie not
geneially iecommended foi exteiioi use on wood. Shellac oi lacqueis should nevei be used outdoois
because they aie veiy sensitive to watei and aie veiy biittle. Vainish coatings become biittle by exposuie
to sunlight and develop seveie ciacking and peeling, often in less than 2 yeais. Refnishing will often
involve iemoving all the old vainish. Aieas that aie piotected fiom diiect sunlight by oveihang oi aie
on the noith side of the stiuctuie can be fnished with exteiioi-giade vainishes. Even in piotected aieas,
a minimum of thiee coats of vainish is iecommended, and the wood should be tieated with a watei-
iepellent pieseivative befoie fnishing. Using compatible pigmented stains and sealeis as undeicoats will
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
íxreríor Wood ííní·|e· 111-11
also contiibute to a gieatei seivice life of the cleai vainish fnish. In maiine exposuies, six coats of vainish
should be applied foi best peifoimance.
111.4 Summary
Wood continues to play an impoitant iole as a stiuctuial mateiial in today`s high-tech society. As lumbei
and in ieconstituted pioducts, wood is commonly used foi house siding, tiim, decks, fences, and countless
othei exteiioi and inteiioi applications. When wood is exposed to the elements, paiticulaily sunlight
and moistuie, special piecautions must be taken in stiuctuial design as well as in the selection and
application of the fnish.
This chaptei desciibed the chaiacteiistics of exteiioi wood fnishes and theii piopei application to
solid and ieconstituted wood pioducts. It desciibed how manufactuiing and constiuction piactices affect
the suifaces of wood pioducts, how vaiious types of fnishes inteiact with the suiface, and how weatheiing
affects the fnished suifaces. Methods foi selecting vaiious exteiioi wood fnishes weie piesented.
Relerences
1. D. L. Cassens and W. C. Feist, °Exteiioi wood in the South: Selection, applications and fnishes,"
USDA Foiest Seivice Foiest Pioducts Laboiatoiy, Geneial Technical Repoit FPL-GTR-69. Madison,
WI: Foiest Pioducts Laboiatoiy, 1991.
2. D. L. Cassens, B. R. Johnson, W. C. Feist, and R. C. De Gioot, °Selection and use of pieseivative
tieated wood," Publication No. 7299. Madison, WI: Foiest Pioducts Society, 1995.
3. W. C. Feist, °Weatheiing of wood in stiuctuial uses," in Structural Use cf \ccd in Adverse Envi-
rcnments. R. W. Meyei and R. M. Kellogg, Eds. New Yoik: Van Nostiand Reinhold, 1982, pp.
156-178.
4. W. C. Feist, °Finishing wood foi exteiioi use," in Finishing Eastern Hardwccds. R. M. Caitei, Ed.
Madison, WI: Foiest Pioducts Reseaich Society, 1983, pp. 185-198.
5. W. C. Feist, °Outdooi wood weatheiing and piotection," in Archaeclcgical \ccd, Prcperties, Chem-
istry, and Preservaticn. R. Rowell, Ed. Advances in Chemistiy Seiies, No. 225. Washington, DC:
Ameiican Chemical Society, 1990, pp. 263-298.
6. W. C. Feist, °Painting and fnishing exteiioi wood," }. Ccat. Techncl., õ8(856), 23-26 (1996).
7. W. C. Feist, °Finishing exteiioi wood," Fedeiation Seiies on Coatings Technology. Blue Bell, PA:
Fedeiation of Societies foi Coatings Technology, 1996.
8. W. C. Feist, °The challenges of selecting fnishes foi exteiioi wood," Fcrest Prcducts }., 47(5), 16-20
(1997).
9. W. C. Feist and D. N. -S. Hon, °Chemistiy of weatheiing and piotection," in The Chemistry cf Sclid
\ccd. R. M. Rowell, Ed. ACS Advances in Chemistiy Seiies No. 207. Washington, DC: Ameiican
Chemical Society, 1984, pp. 401-454.
10. Foiest Pioducts Laboiatoiy, \ccd Handbcck. \ccd as an Engineering Material, Agiicultuial Hand-
book No. 72 (ievised). Madison, WI: U.S. Depaitment of Agiicultuie, 1987.
11. T. M. Goiman and W. C. Feist, °Chionicle of 65 yeais of wood fnishing ieseaich at the Foiest
Pioducts Laboiatoiy," USDA Foiest Seivice Geneial Technical Repoit FPL-GTR-60. Madison, WI:
Foiest Pioducts Laboiatoiy, 1989.
12. F. W. Kiopf, J. Sell, and W. C. Feist, °Compaiative weatheiing tests of Noith Ameiican and Euiopean
exteiioi wood fnishes," Fcrest Prcducts }., 44(10), 33-41 (1994).
13. K. A. McDonald, R. H. Falk, R. S. Williams, and J. E. Winandy, °Wood decks: Mateiials, constiuc-
tion, and fnishing," Publication No. 7298. Madison, WI: Foiest Pioducts Society, 1996.
14. R. S. Williams, M. T. Knaebe, and W. C. Feist, °Finishes foi exteiioi wood: Selection, application,
and maintenance," Publication No. 7291. Madison, WI: Foiest Pioducts Society, 1996.
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC
111-12 Cooríng· Tec|no|ogy Hondboo|, T|írd ídíríon
15. R. S. Williams, °Effects of acidic deposition on painted wood," in Acidic Depcsiticn. State cf Science
and Technclcgy. Effects of Acidic Deposition on Mateiials Repoit 19, National Acid Piecipitation
Assessment Piogiam, Vol. 3, Section 4, 1991, pp. 19-165 to 19-202.
16. R. S. Williams, °Effects of acidic deposition on painted wood: A ieview," }. Ccat. Techncl., õ3(800),
53-73 (1991).
© 2006 by Taylor & Erancis Group, LLC