A wooden chalet, with mountain air, is constantly exposed to climatic changes. As wood is a living material, it requires regular and rigorous maintenance to stay in shape and keep its original appearance. Your chalet needs regular treatment against humidity, fungi, and termites.
We offer some advice to help you prevent potential deterioration of your property and organize your approach.
First, the planning of maintenance works should be done when the wood's humidity is below 20%.
It is therefore preferable to do it during the summer or spring season. Carefully monitor the weather to have several days without bad weather and follow all the steps without interruptions.
Step 1: Cleaning
Before starting sanding or applying various products, it is important that your chalet is rigorously cleaned. You can use high-pressure cleaning or aerogommage to remove dirt, stains, mold, and act in depth. Make sure to obtain a clean and smooth surface before starting the following steps, by using fine-grit sandpaper (180) for example. Finish the operation by removing or vacuuming the dust, then seal the cracks present on the wood surface.
You can use sanding to effectively clean the frameworks. Make sure to sand in the direction of the grain to optimize adhesion.
Step 2: Treatment with wood stain
A finishing product based on resin or fatty material, to protect the wood from the outside. Wood stain is an excellent way to counter external aggressions, it protects against the negative effects of light, humidity, fungi, and insects. It colors porous materials and preserves their true appearance without leaving a protective film, which prevents it from peeling.
Start by applying a wood impregnation stain as an undercoat. You will find two types of wood stain, water-based or solvent-based. Water-based wood stain dries more quickly, however, it is less effective against UV rays and you will need to reapply it every 3 years on average.
It is therefore more sensible to use it for interior surfaces. More ecological, its composition is suitable for exotic woods.
For exterior wood, you can use solvent-based wood stain, more resistant to weather conditions. 12 hours of drying will be necessary between two coats and 24 hours for complete drying. Unlike water-based wood stain, it will be effective for 8 to 10 years.
To apply it, use a brush, a roller, or a spray gun.
Make sure to do a “test” on a small part to ensure the desired result.
Once the drying time is completed and if you like the appearance, apply the rest of the wood stain (in the direction of the grain) without overloading your tool to avoid drips.
Apply two to three coats of wood stain over the entire wood surface.
Step 3: Monitoring
Depending on the choice of your products, the renewal of your chalet's maintenance can vary. It is therefore important to closely monitor the evolution and health of the wood to best anticipate and protect your property from early deterioration.
Service providers around Megève
- Murielle Services
- Adéquat Habitat (Wood treatment Viuz en Sallaz, Morzine, and Megève)
- MPI Habitat
