You've heard of wood saturators and wondered: "What is a wood saturator ? ". In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using a saturator to protect exterior wood. Then we'll give you some tips on application.
WHY USE A SATURATOR ON YOUR EXTERIOR WOOD ?
Protecting exterior wood with a saturator
Wood saturator is used to protect exterior wood from climatic aggression (UV, weathering, frost, etc.). Without protection, outdoor wood can suffer many alterations. From an aesthetic point of view, unprotected wood will turn grey over time. This is a natural phenomenon due to UV rays. The saturator helps to avoid these problems. It waterproofs the wood and protects it from UV.
There are different saturators: solvent-based saturators and water-based saturators. Anova Bois only offers water-based saturators for a better respect of the environment and the applicator.
THE AESTHETIC EFFECT OF A WOOD SATURATOR
The saturator is a non-film-forming product which will preserve the natural feel of the wood.
Moreover, it is not an opaque product. Even when tinted, the saturator leaves the natural grain of the wood visible.
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE CORRECT APPLICATION OF A SATURATOR ?
THE IDEAL TEMPERATURES FOR THE APPLICATION
We recommend that you apply a saturator when the outside temperature is between 10 (50 F) and 35°C (95F). It is important to apply the saturator to dry wood, which is why spring is the ideal time. If you wish to apply the product in summer, this can be done in the early morning or late afternoon. The important thing is not to apply the product on hot wood and in full sun. In the middle of summer and in full sun, the product can dry too quickly, which will make it difficult to spread. The risk is to make an overcoat.
Allow 48 hours without rain after applying the saturator. This period will avoid any inconvenience (leached product) due to bad weather on a newly applied product.
THE CONDITION OF THE WOOD BEFORE APPLYING A SATURATOR
The saturator for exterior wood is applied to non-greyed, non-blackened wood (black marks, black spots, non-lignivorous moulds, etc.) and without any old finish :
If your wood is greyed (grey haze on the surface due to UV rays), you will need to apply a woodstain remover such as Wood Degreaser DG105 to reduce the grey appearance.
If your wood is blackened, we advise you to clean it thoroughly with a cleaner such as Wood Cleaner N100 or the concentrated version of the Concentrated Wood Cleaner N140.
If your wood has an old film-forming finish, you will need to sand or strip it.
If your wood has an old, non-film forming finish such as oil or another brand of saturator, cleaning with a cleaner such as Wood Cleaner N100 or the concentrated version of the Concentrated Wood Cleaner N140 should remove the previous product. We always advise you to do a test to check the effectiveness on your product.
On new wood, we advise you to wait a few weeks of exposure before applying a wood saturator. This allows the pores of your wood to open and facilitates the impregnation of the product. This is particularly important for exotic woods which are not easily impregnated (especially for the use of the Exotic Wood Saturator SBE600 on new wood).
THE APPLICATION OF A WOOD SATURATOR
The saturator is easily applied in layers and maintenance is done by applying a new layer when the wood becomes dull, without sanding. Ideally, it should be applied with a brush, roller or spalter. For large surfaces (large terraces, large cladding), you can apply a saturator with a sprayer. Ideally, the product should be smoothed with a brush afterwards to ensure a good spread and an even finish. The risk with a sprayer is to apply too much product in places, which is why we recommend smoothing the product afterwards.
One of the reasons why saturators differ from stains and oils is that they are easy to apply and maintain. For more information, please read this article on the differences between saturators, glazes and oils.
