Naturalpaint, the natural solution for outdoor wood

Do you remember the oil paints of the old days that were used to paint everything inside and outside? Linseed oil sat on top and had to be incorporated into the paint before use. It took longer to dry, but was the right solution for everything: old stools, windows, garden tables or fences. At the time, we didn't know that having that natural oil on top was precisely the guarantee of a product that didn't harm us, that we could paint without getting intoxicated, without getting stains or other allergies. But this is what those who today produce natural materials for finishing exterior wood have come up with. Such materials can be found at Naturalpaint.

To be effective outdoors, wood finishing products need to meet several conditions:

• penetrate as deeply as possible into the wood for better and longer-lasting protection
• be resilient, so that they do not crack when the wood changes dimension due to changes in humidity
•  allow moisture exchange between the wood and the outside environment, allow the wood to breathe
• be resistant to UV radiation
• withstand negative temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw cycles

Products based on natural oils meet all these conditions and are often even more effective than synthetics. For example, natural oils can penetrate much deeper into the wood, providing very good protection, because their molecular structure allows this. The oil's molecules are also 50 times smaller than those of synthetic products. It penetrates easily into the wood, unlike the resins in ordinary paints, which remain on the surface, forming a film.

Lazura and oil-based paints are very elastic and therefore do not crack or peel over time. Their ageing is manifested by matting and the appearance of a crusty appearance. This is basically a signal that the finish needs to be refreshed. The reason for the mat and chalky appearance is the removal of the oil from the surface by rain and weathering, leaving the pigments without a binder. It is not necessary to remove the dull coat to refinish the finish, only to clean it to remove impurities deposited over time and apply a new coat of paint.

The absence of synthetic resins in exterior oil-based paints and varnishes allows better moisture exchange between wood and the outside. Wood should not be totally insulated, like a bag, without the possibility to exchange moisture with the environment, and oil paints allow this. Products which do not allow the wood to "breathe" are either very rigid and there is a risk that they will crack when the movements of the wood due to variations in humidity become very strong, or they can lead to molding or even wood rotting due to excess water.

Resistance to UV radiation is due to the presence of pigments inside the paint or varnish. A totally transparent product has very little outdoor resistance and is never recommended for the protection of wood outdoors. UV radiation is responsible for the ageing of wood. To prevent it from reaching the wood we need to put a barrier in its way. This barrier is pigments. Therefore, even when you want to preserve the natural color of wood, products that are not totally transparent are recommended. If you look at them in the canisters, they look quite opaque. Applied thinly, they become translucent, the pigment inside changing the color of the wood very little, almost imperceptibly.

In addition to all the above advantages the products are natural and safe to use for exterior wood finishing. Only mineral pigments and earths are used for coloring, and products containing heavy metals are totally excluded. As I told you, these 'healthy' paints can be found at Naturalpaint. Their composition is based solely on natural oils and pigments, without resin content. The content in the body is high, 85-87%, and synthetic solvents are totally non-existent. The products can be used without worry when finishing wood in children's playgrounds, swings and playhouses, even toys.

One thing I appreciate about these paints is that the manufacturer declares - although it is not obliged to - all the substances that go into the paints. This gives confidence in the product and the brand, and gives the user much-needed peace of mind about the consequences for their health.

Source images: Naturalpaint

The images presented in the article are the property of Naturalpaint.srl