Wood bleaching agent is necessary for high-quality processing tree from various pests. When working with wood, obvious defects in the material may be detected. If stored improperly, fungus and mold may develop, so it is recommended to treat the material with bleaching agents.
Wood bleaching agent: how to bleach it yourself?
Wood is organic material, which is susceptible to the influence of many active pests. In case of improper storage, high humidity, non-compliance temperature regime air, wood can be susceptible to fungi, mold, moss, lichen and many other insects.
The damage that the owner of the material receives is enormous. This situation leads to rotting of the material, a decrease in its strength and the impossibility of further storage. Thus, it becomes impossible to restore the basic properties of wood.
The first sign of rotting wooden material- This appearance of blue. Thus, small blue spots can be seen on the surface of the material, which will increase over time. Next, moldy mushrooms appear, with black, green and other shades. Such mushrooms only cause harm appearance material. But over time, they can lead to the development of serious biological agents that are quite difficult to deal with.
The use of bleaches allows you to return the color to wood and eliminate external signs her life activity. They can be active oxidizing agents and destroy all fungi that are on the surface.
Wood bleach: drug options
All preparations for lightening pine and other tree species can be characterized by double action.
- They can discolor the wood, since depending on the type of wood, it acquires a different color during storage. It may turn yellow or gray. At the same time, ultraviolet light, humidity and temperature can contribute to this. During use, wood also has its own color.
- Bleach effectively eliminates the development of fungus. As a rule, fungus develops due to a large amount of moisture. The advantages include non-compliance special requirements on organizing storage. In addition, lumber may not be allowed into in full for production. Therefore, they subsequently need to be varnished. That is, it is advisable to use such means.
Which bleach is ideal for wood?
The manufacturer divides all wood bleaches into two groups.
- chlorine-containing;
- based on hydrogen peroxide.
Regardless of what the manufacturer says on the packaging, all clarifiers are highly hazardous. Therefore, when choosing a particular drug, you need to pay attention to the effectiveness, and not to the chemical composition or its cost. The performance of the bleach will depend on a number of factors.
It is worth noting that drugs that are released under the same brand can be presented in various modifications. Therefore, the characteristics and application specifications of the bleach should be noted on the packaging.
Neomid for lightening wood
Neomid is today one of the most popular wood bleaches. It is diluted in the form of a solution. This can be a small concentration at the rate of one hundred and fifty grams per square meter, or concentrated in a ratio of one to two with water.
Features of its use include air temperatures above five degrees. And also with effective extraction if the wood is located outdoors. During the wood processing process, salt deposits appear and can be easily washed off with water. Treatment coniferous species can be carried out after the wood has been de-resined. Otherwise, it will be difficult to achieve efficiency. The price of neomid is three hundred and sixty rubles per kilogram.
This is not the first year they have been using neomid. Excellent tool, quickly eliminates fungus and brightens the wood well.
Other wood bleaches
Finnish product - Homeenpoisto is the best of bleaches. It can be used to remove stains on already painted wood. It can remain on the surface for up to half an hour, after which it will be washed off. If the damage to the lumber is deeper, then the time increases. The issue price is three hundred and forty-nine rubles per liter.
Another clarifier option is our product called. Bleach is made from water based and no worse than foreign material. One of the peculiarities of using this material is that before carrying out the bleaching procedure, you will need to clean the treated area. Thus, you will need to remove any existing fluff. The effectiveness of the drug can be increased by reducing its consumption. The bleach exposure is designed for two and a half hours, after which the drug is washed off. The price for it is eight hundred rubles per ten liters.
Sagus is an effective wood bleach. I have been using this product for a long time and am pleased with the results. I don’t trust solutions prepared by myself at home.
Another popular French-made product is Fongifluid Alpa. It has similar properties to other drugs. Bleach is effective not only for wood, but also for any materials used in construction. it could be natural stone, tiles, ceramics or screeds. The drug has a good preventive effect. The drug can protect the base from fungal infection in less than two years. Before the material is applied, adhesion will be increased. With further processing, the consumption of paint and varnish composition will be reduced. For two liters of this product it costs more than seven hundred rubles.
There are many other options brands for bleaching wood:
- Senezh.
- Frost.
- Doctor 4.
- Whiteness and many others.
The choice of wood brightener can be selected individually and will depend on a number of significant factors.
There are many options for antiseptics, which are also called transport. After treatment with them, it is possible to protect the lumber for at least two weeks. In the event that there are blanks on your site, it is best to use them immediately. During storage of the tree, a blue tint will appear, which will not be so pronounced. Whitening, if necessary, can be carried out according to simplified version. This will save time, save money and reduce the process of rejecting lumber to select a specific design.
In the event that you temporarily store wood on the site, you should pay attention energy efficiency of stack ventilation. While reducing the risk of moisture absorption. It is worth choosing the driest area for placement. It is best to protect lumber from rain with film, but the sides should not be covered.
When using bleach, wood defects are not eliminated. In any such situation, specialists can use any of the techniques.
- Try to dry the sample thoroughly.
- Wait for good, sunny weather and wait a few days.
- Impregnate wood as a preservative antiseptic.
- Treat the wood with bleach. In most cases, you will need to remove any stains from the surface and get rid of any mildew present.
- To eliminate pronounced lesions, it is not always necessary to use store-bought bleach. In this case, tips on how to bleach wood at home may come in handy.
Wood bleach at home
As I write reviews, many are even expensive and effective products do not cope with wood bleaching at the proper level. There are several options folk remedies, which effectively eliminate stains on wood and restore its basic characteristics.
The result will be visible in fifteen minutes. In that case, if the surface is dark, then the procedure must be repeated. Soaking the material is done in the prepared solution for forty minutes. If you plan to paint the wood in the future, then wash off the remaining solution using hydrochloric acid, which is diluted in a consistency of one gram per thirty million of water. The last thing is to wash the surfaces with water and soap solution. In order to remove resinous substances and tannins from the material, you can use ordinary soda or potassium carbonate.
Which bleach is better: conclusion
There is no perfect wood bleach. But you still have to decide which option is better to choose.
- Read reviews or ask your friends, perhaps someone has dealt with this issue.
- Based on the information collected, it is worth purchasing the necessary effective drug. As a first test, it is recommended to purchase a drug weighing no more than one kilogram. This amount will be enough for you to try it on your wood.
- Contact a specialist if all of the above options do not help you solve the problem.
Important: It is worth paying attention to the fact that many mushroom-like ones give the wood not only dullness, but also originality. The color of the tree can be brown or pink. At the same time, even many people may like it. In some cases, this adds creativity and uniqueness to the interior. But despite this, you need to understand that along with a beautiful shade you acquire an environment for the development of microorganisms. If bleaching is not carried out in time, the tree, regardless of its type, will quickly collapse.
Wood is one of the most popular materials in construction. And there are a number of reasons for this demand. Wood is environmentally friendly pure material, which has high strength, relatively light weight and other characteristics.
But, unfortunately, there are no eternal materials. Wood is subject to various types of changes under the influence environment. Over time, wooden buildings, if they are not treated in a timely manner with special antiseptics, begin to lose their natural color, turn yellow and fade under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Another trouble that threatens everyone wooden buildings, is a fungus.
On the market building materials Today you can find many drugs that will help cope with these negative phenomena and prevent their occurrence. Wood bleach is considered one of the most effective products. This preparation not only allows you to “whiten” wood and rid it of gray or yellow tint, but, in addition, this remedy is very effective in combating fungus.
Composition of wood bleach
Many companies today offer products designed to whiten wood buildings, but not all of them are the same. Let's talk about what wood bleach consists of.
It should be immediately noted that wood bleaching itself is a process of wood oxidation, which discolors the pigment colors of lignin. In addition, this drug allows you to discolor and destroy fungal cells that have infected the wood.
Today there are two conventional types of bleaches on the market:
- bleaches containing chlorine - products that may contain potassium or sodium hypochlorites, chlorine dioxide, bleach;
- preparations without chlorine - bleaches that are produced on the basis of hydrogen peroxide. Such products also contain ammonia or alkali, oxalic acid etc.
To select a bleach for your type of wood, it is best to consult a specialist. After all, an incorrectly chosen product can lead to many problems: poor discoloration of dark spots, rolling when applied to the surface of wood, etc.
It is also worth noting that not every tree can be given its original or similar appearance. The fact is that only those damages that are on the surface of the wood are bleached well. Experts say that today the penetration depth of any bleaching agent is no more than three millimeters. It is clear that such a remedy will not completely cope with damage that is deeper.
Caution when working with wood bleaches
Above we looked at the standard set of substances that are included in wood bleaches. It is clear that both chlorine and ammonia require special care when working with products that contain them. Therefore, we will name the basic safety rules when using wood bleaches:
- Bleach should only be kept in plastic containers.
- Bleach treatment can only be done with brushes made from synthetic materials.
- When working with bleach, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment such as gloves, glasses, protective clothing and a respirator.
- After the bleach has completely dried on the wood (about 24 hours), the surface must be rinsed with water.
Treating wood with bleach
There are many ways to treat wood with bleach and they depend on the product you use.
For example, the whitening preparation “Iney” includes two compositions. The first of them is applied to a dry, unpainted wood surface, previously cleaned of mold and fungi. After the composition has dried (about 12 hours) apply to the surface wooden structure apply composition No. 2.
Other drugs, for example, NEOMID, Zelest Blikta and others, have a simplified technology of use. To bleach wood, the products are simply applied with a synthetic brush to a dry surface that has been previously prepared (cleaned of dirt, mold, etc.). After the bleach has dried (about 24 hours), it is advisable to rinse the treated wood with water. If necessary, the bleaching procedure is repeated.
Which composition you choose depends on your capabilities and the condition of the wood. We only note that after using wood bleach, it is recommended to cover the structure with special antiseptics that will help prevent reappearance fungus and mold, fading of wood, etc. Properly carried out bleaching and protection from further damage will extend the life of a wooden building by more than a dozen years.
With the help of bleaching, you can not only soften the natural tone of the wood, but also remove unwanted stains. There are several ways to do this.
Tools and materials:
- bleaching powder
- crystal soda
- sodium hydroxide
- perhydrol (30 percent aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide)
Attention! This work should be performed with gloves.
Process:
We choose a bleaching method and prepare a special solution.
1. Mix 8 parts of bleach with 1 part of salt, and then add 35 parts of water to this. Mix. Let the solution brew. We process wood.
2. Make a sodium hydroxide solution by mixing 48 g of this chemical with 100 g of water. Apply sodium hydroxide solution to the surface of the wood. Dry it.
3. Treat the wood with perhydrol. Dry it. If whitening seems insufficient, repeat the procedure. To neutralize this area, wash it with a 4% solution of acetic acid. Dry it.
4. Add hydrogen peroxide to a 15 percent aqueous solution ammonia- in such an amount that the composition has a strong smell of ammonia. We wet the wood with this solution and leave it for several days. In this case, the tree will become completely white.
How to bleach wood? Wood bleach (video):
In the warm season, from May to October, wood is easily affected by wood-staining fungi. They do not cause any particular damage to the tree, but the presentation is lost because the wood turns blue and black. In addition, blue color creates a breeding ground for wood-decaying fungi. The color of wood exposed to open space also changes under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, first acquiring a yellowish tint, gradually turning into a dirty gray. The problem of mushroom stains can arise in sawmilling, during the storage of sawlogs and lumber, during the construction process, as well as in a constructed wooden house.
It is especially offensive to the owner of a newly built house - a black log house is not at all pleasing to the eye. You can combat this sad fact in several ways: paint, sheathe it with other material (for example, siding), sand or trim off unsightly stains and, finally, use chemical bleaching, which will be discussed. Bleaching can be used both during primary woodworking and in wooden house construction, carpentry and furniture production, as well as in the pulp and paper industry. The natural color of the wood is restored, and the structure is completely preserved. However, it should be noted that lumber that will subsequently be subjected to further processing, can only be bleached superficially; when planing and profiling, the colors may again appear on its surface. Another thing - wooden house. It will look like new. In furniture production, bleaching is used to make the wood surface more light color, evening out the color of the core and sapwood and removing stains. Pulp bleaching is a complex chemical process carried out using a variety of chemicals and technological equipment in conditions high temperatures and pressure.
What types of wood bleaches are there?
Conditionally chemical substances for bleaching can be divided into two groups: those containing chlorine and those not containing it. The first include sodium and potassium hypochlorite, bleach, chlorine dioxide. The second includes various salts and alkalis in combination with hydrogen peroxide, oxalic acid, acetic acid, ammonia, ozone.
Active oxygen-based bleaches work great on aged wood, but are less effective against staining fungi. They do not have unpleasant odor(if they do not contain ammonia) do not require thorough rinsing with water after treatment, but their working solution is viable for a short period of time.
In addition to the main components, the bleach contains substances such as stabilizers that slow down the decomposition of bleaching components, fungicidal additives, agents that improve the penetration of the solution into wood, catalysts, thickeners and surfactants ( detergents). Fungicidal additives serve to protect against fungi and mold after bleaching; agents and catalysts do not themselves participate in bleaching, but help the bleaching agent penetrate the pigments. Thickeners allow you to apply a larger layer of bleaching composition to the surface of the affected wood, and surfactants help wash away contaminants.
How is wood bleached?
When wood is treated with bleaches, the pigment bonds of lignin become discolored due to the destruction of chromophore groups and discoloration of the cells of wood-staining fungi.
When is wood bleaching necessary?
In wooden house construction, the need for bleaching may arise as a result of improper storage of the material, in warm and humid weather, or in conditions of unventilated timber.
It is impossible to plan damage to wood; it can occur at any time during construction. It is advisable to carry out bleaching immediately after detecting that the wood has been painted in an uncharacteristic color.
The need to bleach lumber usually arises for two reasons: damage to the lumber stock and damage to the lumber.
In the first case, it is possible to determine the need for bleach, but in the case of lumber, it is impossible to plan for such a need; it arises as the problem is identified.
Both builders and lumber manufacturers are among the most common users of bleach. This is sometimes explained by purely economic considerations, because the cost of blue-stained lumber is $80 per 1 m, and the cost quality lumber reaches 250 euros per 1 m. However, in the case of processing lumber, it must be remembered that after planing the fact of bleaching will be obvious, since the effect of chemicals is not so deep as to bleach the tree over its entire thickness, and is about 2 mm.
Another thing is the treatment of finished products with bleach, for example, rounded logs or joinery. The need for bleaching arises if you need to cover them with transparent compounds, lighten the overall background or remove stains. The requirements for the surface of joinery products are high, therefore the bleaching composition should not destroy the structure of the wood or impair adhesion, and the action of the composition should be gentle in order to preserve the natural pattern.
What is required from wood bleaches?
Bleaching agents used in sawmilling, house building and carpentry production, must have some necessary properties. The composition should not destroy wood. Should be easy to prepare and apply.
Of course, the natural color of the wood must be preserved. Necessary properties also include maintaining the possibility of applying tinting coatings, adhesives and transport, as well as preservative antiseptics after bleaching. The bleach must be safe.
It should be taken into account that bleaching is not a protective measure and the affected wood, after restoration of its natural color, can be again affected by wood-staining fungi.
Regina BUDARINA
Wood bleach is a preparation that allows you to “whiten” a wooden surface, regardless of its purpose and type of use, and also protect it from fungal damage.
The need for bleaching arises when a wooden product (log house, furniture, finishing elements) loses its natural color, it appears yellow or gray shade, which is caused by external factors (atmospheric phenomena, exposure to high temperatures, etc.).
The principle of operation of the bleach is based on the oxidation of wood, during which the discoloration of lignin occurs, which is a substance that holds together the cellulose fibers of wood and is located in the walls of plant cells and the intercellular space.
Composition of wood bleach
Currently, the industry produces a large number of different brands of wood bleaches. They can be classified into two categories, these are:
- Contains chlorine.
This group of drugs includes bleaches made using potassium or sodium hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide or bleach.
- Without chlorine containing components.
This group contains drugs that contain hydrogen peroxide, as well as ammonia, alkali and oxalic acid.
The best wood bleaches
There is a wide range of bleaches on the market for wood processing products. different brands, domestic and foreign manufacturers.
Different brands of drugs differ in chemical composition and cost, packaging and options for use.
Neomid 500 is chemical composition, used for bleaching and disinfection of wood. Used for treating wooden surfaces indoors and outdoors.
When bleaching with Neomid 500, the wood returns its natural color, thereby increasing its grade, the structure of the wood does not change, and its properties are preserved.
In addition, this bleach destroys fungal formations that destroy the structure and color of wood.
Neomid 500 is used as an antiseptic for processing pellets (fuel granules), which increases their shelf life.
Advantages of the drug:
- environmental Safety;
- high quality of goods;
- optimal price-quality ratio;
- ease of use;
- versatility of use depending on the type of wood being processed.
The product is certified and sold in cans of different packaging - 1.0/5.0/24.0/35.0 kg.
Manufacturer: EXPERTECOLOGY-NEOHIM group of companies, Russia.
Senezh Effo
This bleach is used to lighten wooden surfaces that have lost their natural color when exposed to atmospheric conditions and fungal infections due to prolonged use and exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Senezh Effo is used to disinfect fungal lesions of various stages on the surface wooden products and finishing materials.
This drug is used when processing planed and chopped lumber that has not previously been treated paints and varnishes. Bleach can be used indoors and outdoors and should not be used to remove blue stains from inside wood grain.
Advantages of the drug:
- does not contain chlorine, based on an oxygen-transfer agent;
- provides deep whitening;
- does not lose its characteristics when long-term storage and freezing;
- does not form chemical burns on the treated surface;
- capable of removing all types of organic damage;
- safe for humans and animals when used as directed;
- has a pleasant lemon smell;
- is an explosion and fire safe substance.
Sold in various containers and packaging.
Manufacturer: Senezh-preparaty company, Russia.
Homeenpoisto
Homeenpoisto is a hypochloride solution designed to remove mold from wooden surfaces. This product is used to clean painted and unpainted surfaces.
This is a jelly-like solution that contains sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide, which are aggressive substances that require special care when working with them.
Sold in canisters of 1.0 and 5.0 liters.
Manufacturer: Tikkurila, Finland.
Sagus
This drug is effective means for bleaching wood both indoors and outdoors. Sagus is used when processing chopped, sawn and planed wooden surfaces.
The solution removes darkening on the surface of wood of various origins (from external influences, under the influence of time), and also serves as a disinfectant that removes biological lesions (microorganisms, insect larvae).
The advantages of this drug are:
- possibility of bleaching inside the wood surface (deep penetration);
- high efficiency;
- retains its positive properties during long-term storage and freezing;
- does not cause chemical burns to the treated wood;
- capable of removing all possible types of damage to wooden surfaces;
- fire safe.
Sold in cans, packaged in 5.0 and 10.0 liters.
Manufacturer: Sagus group of companies, Russia.
Fongifluid Alpa
Fongifluid Alpa is an aqueous solution based on fungicidal (antifungal and anti-mold) substances. The drug is intended to destroy various types moss and lichen, as well as mold and microorganisms.
Used for outdoor and interior work as a preventive and therapeutic agent.
Sold in cans of 0.5/2.0/5.0/20.0 liters.
Manufacturer – ALPA COATINGS Company, Russia – representative of the SOMEFOR® concern, France.
Caution when working with wood bleaches
Working with wood bleaches requires care and caution; in addition, the following rules must be observed to ensure the safety of work:
- Work should be performed by trained personnel who are familiar with the hazards of working with the specific type of bleach.
- Personnel must be provided with special clothing and personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, and for some types of materials - a respirator).
- Bleach should be stored and prepared only in special plastic containers.
- When applying, use a serviceable tool (brushes, rollers, etc.) made from synthetic materials.
- All work on further processing of wood is carried out only after the bleach has completely dried and the surface has been cleaned of its residues (rinsing).
Treating wood with bleach
Treatment of wooden surfaces with one or another type of bleach is carried out in accordance with the operating instructions that come with the specific type of preparation.
The instructions describe what needs to be done before application, how to apply the product and how long it will take for it to dry.
Besides this, there is general recommendations that can be used when treating wooden surfaces with bleaching agents are:
- When performing work, do not mix various brands bleach.
- After the preparation has dried, the surface should be washed with clean water.
- In case of severe damage to any area wooden surface, it is necessary to treat this area with a more concentrated solution of the drug.
- The work must be carried out under conditions corresponding to the mode of use recommended by the product manufacturer.
- When working with bleaches, you must read the instructions for use and follow safety precautions for working with substances of this kind. This applies to use individual funds protection, as well as providing ventilation, when performing work indoors.
Wood bleaches are effective drugs, allowing you to extend the life of wooden products and give them a beautiful and natural appearance.
