The easiest and most cost-effective way to sustainably preserve softwood outdoors is ‘silvering’, a natural leaching process caused by the sun and rain, whereby the wood remains uncoated. The soft hygroscopic wood components (wood sugar, proteins, starch and lignin) are washed out, leaving the tough weather-resistant components in the wood. This removes sources of food for fungi, algae and insects.
The speed of the silvering process directly depends on weather conditions. Surfaces that are exposed to sun and rain often silver after 1-2 years. Surfaces protected from the elements will need many years longer. Wood that is subject to virtually no sunlight and rain sometimes retains its original colour for decades. This gives a characteristic vivid patina, which gives each side of the home a different look over time.
KREIDEZEIT Coniferous Wood Leach is a cost-effective, traditional and biocide-free surface treatment for softwood, especially outdoors. It accelerates the natural silvering process, helping the rain to wash out the soft wood components. But do remember that the surface needs to be exposed to sun and rain.
Coniferous Wood Leach can also be used later on for maintenance as a biocide-free treatment for algae growth. The alkalinity kills algae in a non-toxic way and the rain washes away the remains.
The wood will become darker immediately after leaching. This effect will vary according to the type and origin of the wood, and should be tested on surfaces first.
This effect can be used indoors to achieve an artificial aging (leached wood) look. The patinated surface can then be protected with soap.
Suitable only for clean, untreated softwood such as larch, spruce and pine.
Properties
- Ready-to-use, transparent liquid
- pH value: 14
- No preservatives or organic solvents
- Odourless
- Accelerates the natural silvering process
- Brings out the natural structure of the wood
- Biocide-free
- Vegan
Full Declaration
Water, sodium hydroxide, vegetable soap and lime soap