Wood is widely used in construction and everyday life. This durable material retains its decorative effect until mold and other pests appear. To prevent spoilage, the surface is treated with various compositions of natural, industrial origin.
Why does mold appear on wood
Mushrooms are the main enemy of wood. Conditions conducive to their appearance:
- High humidity.
- Standing air without ventilation.
- Sudden changes in temperature, condensation on the surface of products.
- Freezing of wet wood, which leads to deep penetration of spores.
Mold:
- Located on the bark of a tree, during its life does not develop.
- Appears when the product comes into contact with the ground.
- It comes from the air.
Preliminary protection that reduces the risk of infection:
- Ventilation
- Waterproofing with materials that do not allow water to pass through, but are able to remove steam outside.
- Gradual long-term drying of freshly cut trees without stress heating.
Species of parasites
There are several varieties:
- Black mold has many strains that are impossible to distinguish with the naked eye. General characteristics - excessive activity, the ability to quickly destroy, damage to the material.
It poses a serious danger to humans: disputes in the respiratory tract cause allergic reactions, irritations, poisoning. The variety is resistant to the effects used to combat it.
- White mold is less resistant to aggressive agents. It affects wooden objects, products, food. Colonial whiteness is not a serious danger to humans, but can cause allergies.
- Fungi blue stain wood, lead to its decay. Dangerous for load-bearing structures: when they rot, their ability to withstand loads and maintain rigidity decreases.
- Actinomycetes - a cross between fungi and algae. They prefer to appear in conditions of high humidity, soften the wood structure.
Methods of struggle
There are many methods, natural and synthetic.
Folk remedies
Alternative methods against wood damage are gentle, effective, but protect the material for a short time.
Remedy 1: resin
The resin heated before application helps against fungal spores.
Pros:
- effective
- safe
- cheap.
Minuses:
- The surface remains sticky.
- The resin is viscous, it is difficult to apply, it needs to be stretched.
Means 2: silicate glue
Silicate glue diluted to medium ductility is used. He processes the surfaces of wooden products, coatings 1-2 times.
It is a safe hypoallergenic composition. It has a short-term effect, not suitable for some types of mold.
Means 3: potassium dichromate, sulfuric acid
A 5% potassium dichromate solution and a 5% sulfuric acid concentrate are mixed in equal proportions.
The resulting solution processes the boards adjacent to the soil structures. The method is effective, but dangerous for the soil.
Remedy 4: vinegar and soda
To get rid of the existing hearth, the place is sprinkled with soda, sprayed with 9 or 6% acetic acid.
Means 5: salt, acid, boiling water
Prepare a solution of 5 l of hot boiled water, 1 kg of table salt, 50 g of boric acid. Thoroughly mix, process the tree.
Remedy 6: copper sulfate
Take 100 g of dry matter, diluted in 10 liters of water. Boards are treated with a solution, then they are dried, used for construction.
Remedy 7: white
Chlorine bleach cleans the fungus well, but it should be borne in mind that the liquid brightens the wood.
In baths, saunas, it is possible to remove mushrooms only with folk remedies. To cure the affected area, they clean the boards with soda, pour vinegar, wait for the end of the reaction. Then the reagents are washed off with water, the zone is covered with tea tree oil diluted in warm water.
Folk remedies are not always effective and safe. They are used when there are no special drugs at hand, and the problem needs to be solved quickly.
Modern compositions
The drugs are divided into 3 groups according to the method of application and action:
- paints with opaque or translucent effect;
- varnishes;
- antiseptics.
Paints, varnishes perform 2 functions: they help to remove mold, participate in the decoration. They create a water-repellent coating that protects the tree for a long time.
Antiseptic treatment is the main way to combat. May be superficial, deep:
- Surface treatment of boards is carried out in the house during construction or repair. Sometimes lumber suppliers provide material already processed in this way.
- Deep impregnation by conservation method allows you to remove all spores from the surface of the product and to a depth. The penetration of chemical compounds occurs in an autoclave with a change in temperature.
Varieties of antiseptics
Synthetic agents against wood fungus are distinguished by composition, effect:
- Water soluble. Sold in the form of dry powders, aqueous solutions. Treatment with such substances is safe for humans, animals, harmful to parasitic spores.
- In conditions of high humidity, an antiseptic is used. water repellent deep penetration. Its peculiarity is a strong smell. It is applied in a ventilated area.
- Oil solutions suitable for processing dry wooden products at the production stage, preparation for installation. Form a protective film.
- Solvent based. They have an aggressive chemical composition..
- Combination drugs. Universal, must be used according to the instructions.
The choice
To prevent the appearance, to get rid of the fungus in the house, it is necessary to choose the composition of an antiseptic or a protective coating. It is worth considering:
- room humidity;
- contact with the ground;
- air temperature
- operating conditions of the product, surface.
The home climate is well tolerated by soluble or water-repellent solutions, in dry rooms you can limit yourself to coatings. For the street should choose more stringent means.
Work
The appearance of the fungus on the tree can be prevented. Another option is to remove existing mold.
Advance protection
To create a protective layer on a new product, during production or before construction, a wooden object is coated with varnishes, paints, antiseptics. Application is carried out on a dry, clean surface. Wait to dry. If necessary, repeat the operation. Apply:
- tassels
- rollers
- spray guns.
Wood treatment
To destroy an existing fungus, it is not necessary to dismantle the product. If the mold has not grown, has not had time to spoil the structure of the wood, it is enough to carry out a set of medical works:
- Clean the affected area with a spatula, brush. In this case, be sure to wear gloves.
- Primer the surface with deep penetration compounds or saturate it with an antiseptic.
- Apply topcoat.
After using synthetic products, the lesion does not resume. As a rule, chemicals kill all pests on the surface of a tree.