How do we protect wooden windows?!

When it comes to exterior finishing materials, all manufacturers talk about warranty periods that rarely reach 10 years. We generally say that products are good if they have a 5-6 year warranty. Many people get scared when they hear this term, imagining that they will have to paint their windows continuously. It's good to know that this term refers to the period during which the finish remains intact, with no cracking or peeling. Basically, after 5-6 years the first signs of deterioration should appear. Extending this period can be done by setting aside a day each year before the cold season sets in to do window maintenance.

What does this maintenance consist of? In the fall, the window frames are washed and cleaned of the dirt accumulated throughout the year and a coat of maintenance material (usually a special oil) is applied to the entire surface of the wood exposed to the outside. Application is very simple, with a cloth soaked in the oil. Basically, when windows are washed in the fall, the window frames are washed thoroughly with detergent and water, wiped with a cloth, and then a protective coat is applied to the entire window frame with a cloth soaked in maintenance oil. In this way, snow and rain will no longer attack the coat of paint or varnish, but will 'eat' the oil.

Such maintenance materials are available from all varnish and paint companies and DIY stores. Sometimes even the companies that make windows recommend the maintenance material, some even supply it. That's because it is the sure way to prolong the life of wooden windows. It is good to contact the representatives of these firms and ask them to help you get it.

When it comes to the resistance of a window finish, it is good to know that not all materials have the same guarantee period. The more transparent and glossy they are, the shorter the guarantee period.

A good manufacturer of such materials will never recommend a system with very high transparency because he knows that it will be more quickly destroyed by the sun's rays. Even if clear lacquer is applied, the color originally applied (called lye or impregnant), is semi-transparent, protecting the wood. If varnish is applied without a varnish, even if the varnish is specially made for exterior use, the resistance of the finish decreases considerably. Painted, opaque windows through which no sunlight passes are the most resistant.

Cracks sometimes appear more quickly in windows on one side of the house than on the other. This is not because they have been finished differently, but because they are exposed to different stresses. It matters a great deal how much time a year the window is battered by the sun, whether the rain falls directly on it or whether it is protected by eaves or awnings, whether snow settles on it or whether it is more set back and protected by the wall. All these stresses cause one window's finish to fail faster than another. If you maintain your more aggressed windows twice a year, you won't need to paint or varnish them for long.

The effort put into window maintenance far outweighs the benefits. If you haven't done it before, start this year. I guarantee you won't regret it.