itauba wood is an exotic wood species used mainly for outdoor use and especially for the construction of wooden terraces. In this article we will explain the advantages of maintaining an itauba wooden terrace. We will also talk about the maintenance method we find most suitable.
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ITAUBA WOOD ?
The exotic wood itauba comes from South America and is characterised by a golden brown colour with small black markings that make it stand out. It is a very dense, rot-proof wood that naturally resists attacks such as water (chlorinated or salty), humidity, insects, etc...
Due to its high water resistance, we often find itauba wooden swimming pool decks.
Despite all these qualities, the itauba wood species is still less well known than ipé or cumaru.
IS IT NECESSARY TO PROTECT AN ITAUBA WOODEN TERRACE ?
Since itauba wood is naturally rot-proof, you are not obliged to treat it, it will not physically alter your wood.
However, like all exotic woods, under the repeated effect of UV light and weathering, itauba wooden decks will gradually become grey. This phenomenon is completely normal, it is the natural greying of the wood. To prevent this ageing of itauba wooden decks and to preserve the natural colour of the substrate, we recommend that you maintain your itauba wooden deck.
WHICH PRODUCT TO PROTECT AN ITAUBA WOODEN DECK ?
Within our range you will find the Exotic Wood Saturator SBE600. The teak tint is very well suited to itauba wood. Saturators are products that can be applied very easily in layers in the direction of the wood fibres. Itauba wood saturators and other exotic woods can be applied to wood that is not greyed or blackened :
If your wood is intact, you can directly apply the saturator after having thoroughly dusted your wood.
If your itauba wood is greyed, (like a grey veil on the surface of the wood due to UV radiation), you must first degrease the itauba wooden deck. You can use the Wood Degreaser DG105.
If your itauba wooden deck is blackened all or part of the way (presence of traces, marks or black dots that go away when you scratch with your nails). These are non-lignivorous surface moulds. There is no aesthetic alteration of the wood. To remove the blackening, you need to clean your itauba wooden deck. You can use Wood Cleaner N100 or its concentrated version Concentrated Wood Cleaner N140. After cleaning, the blackening must be removed. If the wood is still dull, the use of the Wood Degreaser DG105 may be necessary.
The ideal time to maintain your itauba wooden terrace is in spring when temperatures are ideal.
As far as maintenance is concerned, you will need to apply a new coat of itauba saturator when the wood colour tarnishes again, on average every one to two years. The maintenance of an itauba wood deck with saturator is carried out without sanding.
