Oak is one of the most favoured types of wood in the UK and other parts of the world, and it has a long and varied history dating back centuries. As a hardwood, Quercus, as it is referred to in Latin, has around 400 species. Today, oak is still used for construction purposes, and you can often see it used internally as fixtures in various buildings and structures. So if you are fortunate enough to have oak fixtures or elements in your home, be it oak beams, oak furniture, and more, you may be thinking about treating it so you can restore its natural and inherent beauty. But you should take great care when doing this because oak, especially ancient oak, can be damaged if not treated correctly. Here, then, is your best and most detailed guide to the proper treatment of oak.
The considerations for treatment
Many people who own oak fixtures or elements have one common question: how can they treat the exterior of oak wood, so it looks more natural? Unfortunately, the answer to this isn’t as simple as you may realise because even if there are various possibilities for treatment, you have to follow specific requirements.
Consider that once oak absorbs water, it can react with the oak’s high tannin content, resulting in a blackening condition. The sun’s rays will also affect oak over time, turning the wood’s colour to a silvery tone or hue. And even if you use a treatment product deemed ‘clear,’ it will not usually be 100% clear, so it tends to make oak appear warmer and darker. Here’s another consideration: the level of wind, sun, and rain on oak will affect how quickly its colour will change.More info for visit the site tamilmv
Your treatment options
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To enhance the natural appearance
If you want your oak elements, such as oak beams, to look more natural and enhance their innate appearance whilst also ensuring you can prevent silvering or blackening, use a single coat of wood preservative (clear) and follow this treatment with two coats of UV protective oil. A protective oil can offer resistance to UV rays, but choose one which has biocide. Biocide is vital for external oak because it prevents oak from getting diseased due to dry or wet rot. The protective oil can also prevent water absorption, so the wood doesn’t turn black, as confirmed by oak beam restoration specialists such as Bespokebeams.co.uk.
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To protect the wood and maintain its silvery tone
If you want to protect the wood whilst maintaining its silvery sheen, you can use one clear coat of wood preservative and then apply three to five coatings of Tung oil. Tung oil is known for being distinctly clear, but it doesn’t offer resistance to UV rays.
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To colour the wood
If you want to colour the wood, you can use one coating of a clear preservative followed by one coating of your preferred colour of wood stain. Afterwards, you can apply a single coating of UV protective oil.
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To remove blackening
You can scrub the wood using a fungicidal cleaning wash or mould and mildew cleaner to remove blackening.
If you feel that your oak elements or fixtures need more extensive treatment, turn to a restoration specialist who will know exactly what to do for proper treatment.
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