Larch is a wood that is very well suited for outdoor wooden fittings such as wooden terraces. We frequently find larch terrace boards rather than slabs. With a yellow-orange to brown appearance, it will give your terrace an aesthetic and natural look. Here we explain the advantages and disadvantages of a larch terrace. Then you will see how to protect a larch terrace and in particular how to choose the right products.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF A LARCH TERRACE ?
Larch is a resinous wood that is native to the forests of northern Europe. Larch terraces are therefore an eco-responsible option, unlike terraces made of exotic woods (teak, ipe) where the wood is imported from a more distant region.
There are two types of larch: the Siberian larch and the French larch which is frequently found in the Alps. Depending on where it comes from, larch is a wood with good durability and resistance. Siberian larch is the most resistant because it is used to the cold and harsh climate. Larch is therefore an interesting alternative to autoclaved pine.
Larch is a wood which, in order to be resistant, should not be laid on the floor. This wood can have a tendency to crack when the weather conditions are not suitable. We do not recommend its use in regions where summers are very hot and dry, such as in the south of France. In these conditions, the larch will more easily warp and crack.
How to protect a larch terrace ?
WHY PROTECT A LARCH TERRACE ?
Like all wood species, larch will naturally take on a grey colour over time under the effect of UV light and weather conditions. The ageing of a larch terrace is only an aesthetic alteration of the wood, its physical and mechanical properties are preserved. If you wish to combat the greying of the wood, it is essential to maintain a larch terrace with appropriate protection.
WHICH PRODUCT TO PROTECT A LARCH TERRACE ?
Saturator is the product par excellence to protect larch terraces. It impregnates the wood to saturation point to make it resistant to UV and weather conditions that eventually cause the wood to turn grey. We recommend the Terrace Wood Saturator ST600. Larch wood saturator is very easy to apply in layers. Before application, remember to degrease or denature your wooden terrace.
In addition to fighting against the greying of the wood, protecting a larch terrace will help you avoid splinters or cracks in your wood. The saturator is a product that impregnates and nourishes the wood to avoid these inconveniences. If you wish to increase the UV protection, especially if you choose a colourless saturator for larch, you can use a primer that acts against UV rays, such as Anti-UV Wood Primer PUV400.
We do not recommend applying linseed oil to a larch terrace. Indeed, this product does not hold well outdoors. After only a few months of application, larch terraces quickly turn black. As for oils, they may be suitable if you are looking for an oiled (or wet effect) finish. However, we would like to warn you that the main disadvantage of oils is that they darken the wood.
MAINTAIN A LARCH TERRACE
After applying larch saturator, the maintenance of a larch terrace consists of applying a new coat of saturator, directly on the wood, without sanding, as soon as you find that the colour of the larch becomes dull.
