Sealing Timber to Prevent Failure

Sealing Timber to Prevent Failure

Have you ever wondered why your external timber that is not in contact with the ground is rotting? It’s most likely due to the end grain of the timbers not being sealed during the carpentry or construction installation stage.

Timbers cellular structure is similar to a bunch of drinking straws. The walls of the straws absorb moisture relatively slowly however the end grains allow water and moisture to enter very easily. It is therefore very important to seal end grains and allow for separation at the bottom of timber cladding to prevent wicking of moisture.

If you are building or renovating you should insist that any external timber is sealed at the end grain during installation to prevent costly maintenance and failing building materials in the future.