Installation of a high-quality and cozy terrace

Installation of a high-quality and cozy terrace

This process can be a pleasant and at the same time a responsible task. It is not enough just to install a terrace, you need to take care of it right away so that it serves and pleases you for as long as possible. The owners know that all wooden parts of outdoor terraces (especially the floor) must be properly protected from negative environmental factors – moisture, UV rays and microorganisms (fungus or mold) or wood-boring insects. The two main aspects of the durability of terraces are high-quality wood and its high-quality protective layer.

Wood is as durable as possible

Impregnated pine boards are most often used for terraces – the cheapest option that maintains a good price-quality ratio, but not the most durable. The optimal combination of durability, price and quality is Siberian larch. Thermally treated wood and wood composite successfully compete with larch – a combination of wood, plastic and certain chemical elements, extremely resistant to weathering, maintaining its color and shape in any conditions.

It would also be good to match the frame of the terrace itself to the covering: for example, if it is assembled sparingly from ordinary pine wood, and the terrace itself is covered with thermal wood, you may inadvertently miss the moment when the pine starts to decay, and one day the fallen beds will simply break under the weight of a person. Therefore, it is worth choosing the same (or even more durable) wood for the frame as for the covering.

The terrace is the most popular to oil

Traditionally, terrace wood is covered with natural oils. The oil layer protects the surface of the board from moisture and dirt, UV rays, and helps prevent the wood from splitting. It is ideal when the product is specially designed for the floor: such protective layers are more resistant to friction caused by walking.

WOCA, a Danish concern that produces wood protection products, claims that good terrace wood is already strong and durable enough by itself, so it does not need to be changed from the inside – neither by heat treatment nor by adding composite. WOCA products simply preserve those excellent properties that natural quality wood has by nature.

It’s easy to update

WOCA’s decking renovation concept reflects the simplicity of the technology: “Back to basics”, back to the belief that the wood just needs to be clean enough to absorb the oil. Basically, there are only two steps, sometimes three for very picky customers. First, the patio needs to be thoroughly washed, then oiled and finally, if you want the RollsRoys solution, polished.

The initial flush just needs lots and lots of water straight from the garden hose. For secondary washing, WOCA terrace wood cleaner can be used diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2 and rubbed with a brush in the direction of the grain of the wood until it is clean.

The terrace is washed with clean water, and the wood is left to dry for about a day. Soft, untreated wood should be additionally primed with “WOCA Exterior Wood Primer” before oiling.

When oiling, the wood must be completely dry, covered from direct sunlight . The boards are oiled by spreading the product in a thin layer with a WOCA applicator or a brush/brush. WOCA terrace oils have a creamy shade while the layer is still wet. Later, after the product has absorbed into the wood and the residual water has evaporated, the surface acquires a luxurious, incomparable natural matte glow.

Within 5 minutes after oiling, it is still possible to wipe off the excess oil on the surface, especially carefully removing it from the joints and grooves. And if the wood does not seem sufficiently saturated with oil, the oiling process can be repeated. Depending on the ambient temperature and weather conditions, it may take 24 to 48 hours for the oil to fully absorb into the wood.

The oiled terrace can still be polished. Polishing gives the surface of oiled wood additional smoothness and resistance. Fully dried wood is polished using a specialized polishing machine or brush.

The last, most enjoyable step in patio wood care can last a lifetime. It is a daily enjoyment of the natural beauty and quality of wood – the most beautiful building material created by nature.