Rotting wood on fencing, decking, furniture and a wide range of other timber surfaces is a common sight, especially with the conditions here in the UK. But what causes this and how do you Prevent wood from rotting? Our experts have put together this handy guide on the best way to prevent wood from Rotting so you can ensure your timber surfaces stay protected long-term from damage.

What Is Rotting And What Causes It?

Rotting is something we are all familiar with, however we aren't all familiar exactly what causes it. Rotting is caused by a fungus that feeds off wood until it begins to weaken and breakdown. This fungus thrives in highly saturated conditions, meaning it is primarily a result of wood being exposed to wet conditions for extended periods of time. Once the rotting sets in, it will only worsen until the source of the moisture is prevented. The resulting wood after the rot has attacked the material can often need substantial repair work, which is why the best form of treatment for rotting is to prevent the water ingress in the first instance.

You may be wondering, is wood not waterproof to begin with? The fact is, almost all mineral surfaces are porous, meaning they absorb moisture. The more porous the material, the more moisture it can absorb and hold in its pores. Wood is a highly porous material, meaning if left Natural and untreated, it will absorb any rainfall and become extremely damp. This moisture not only leads to rotting, but also causes the wood the shrink, crack and leads to organic growth such as algae, moss and lichens that all cause the wood to discolour. 

How Do You Prevent Wood Rotting?

Whether you have wood that is currently suffering from rotting or you are looking to protect new wood, if you want to prevent any future rotting it is crucial to applying a waterproofing treatment to the timber in order to reduce water absorption. By keeping the wood dry, you prevent the conditions required for the fungus that leads to rotting to develop. 

There are a wide variety of wood treatments available, which can make finding the right one for you very difficult. These treatments include wood paints, wood stains, wood oils, wood waterproofer & wood sealers, which all vary in a number of ways.

• Wood paint - an opaque coloured finish that completely covers the grain of the wood with a uniform finish. Available in matt, satin & gloss finishes. 
  
• Wood stain - a woodstain is a coloured transparent finish that adds added pigment to the wood while maintaining the visibility of the grain.
• Wood oil - a wood oil enhances the natural look of the wood and are often made on natural ingredients, although they can be less durable than other products.
• Wood sealer - a wood sealer is a clear, invisible sealer that creates a water repellent film on the surface of wood.
• Wood waterproofer - a wood waterproofer is a clear, invisible water repellent treatment that protects bare, natural wood from weathering by preventing water absorption. These chemically bond to exterior wood to provide the wood with water repellent properties rather than forming a water repellent surface on the timber.
• Wood wax - often made of a natural beeswax that nourishes wood in the same way a moisturiser would, although generally for interior use due to their tendancy to need regular maintenance and re-application.