The best way to prevent wood rot

Rotting of wood is accompanied by the loss of its strength and other properties that are of value in construction and carpentry. The process is provoked by the activity of fungi and microorganisms that feed on wood. The most dangerous variety is house mushrooms, affecting log cabins and saw cuts.

Decay factors are air temperature from zero to fifty degrees, air humidity above 80% and wood 20%, as well as oxygen access. All this together creates a favorable habitat for mushrooms. The process is accompanied by a change in the color of the tree, the appearance of a characteristic odor and moist areas, as well as the deformation of structures.

The way to prevent rot

Rotting wood is better to prevent than to fix during the operation of the building. Preventive measures begin at the stage of preparation of lumber: first, the tree is carefully dried, and then impregnated.

Natural drying is the first step in the preparation of wood. Log trunks after cutting are placed in a large and dry room with good ventilation and air circulation. In this condition, the material should be aged for about a year. At the timber harvesting enterprises, accelerated drying methods using high temperatures are used. This method is good in that it kills all microorganisms and spores of fungi that may be present in the wood.

After drying, the obligatory step of treating the tree with antiseptics follows. For this, there are many solutions and products on the construction market: stains, pastes, impregnations. Paste compositions are used on hidden parts of the structure, as they cause a color change, and impregnation on the outside.

Liquid solutions penetrate deeper and carry out more thorough disinfection. To process the lumber use brushes, sprayers, the method of cold-hot baths or autoclaves. The last two methods give the best effect due to complete processing.

After drying and processing with an antiseptic, the installation of the construction of the future building begins. Its correctness also affects the possibility of decay in the future, so certain conditions must be met.

Log houses are covered with a good and high-quality waterproof roof with sloping sides. They also use waterproofing, make a groundwater drainage system. Wooden supports during installation are always located above the ground level. During operation, air should circulate freely inside the box of the future building. It is advisable to shear the ends of the beams with boards, which will create additional protection.