How do we protect wooden windows?!

When it comes to exterior finishing materials, all manufacturers talk about warranty periods that rarely reach 10 years. In general, we 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 tint their windows continuously. It's good to know that this term refers to the period during which the finish remains intact without cracks or peeling. Basically, after a period of 5-6 years the first signs of deterioration should appear. This period can be extended if we set aside a day each year before the cold season to do window maintenance.

What is this maintenance? In autumn, window frames are washed and cleaned of 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 this oil. Basically, when windows are washed in the autumn, the window frames are thoroughly washed with water and detergent and the window frames are wiped with a cloth, then a protective coating is applied to the entire window frame with a cloth soaked in maintenance oil. This will stop snow and rain from attacking the paint or varnish layer, but will "eat" the oil.

Such maintenance materials are on offer from all varnish and paint companies and DIY stores. Sometimes the window companies themselves recommend the maintenance material, some even supply it. And that's because it's the sure means by which the life of wooden windows is prolonged. It's best to contact the representatives of these companies and ask them to help you get it.

When it comes to the strength of a window's 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 it will be destroyed much more quickly by the sun's rays. Even if transparent varnish is applied, the colour initially applied (called lye or impregnant), is semi-transparent, protecting the wood. If varnish is applied without varnish, even if the varnish is specifically for exterior use, the strength of the finish is considerably reduced. The most resistant are opaque tinted windows, through which no solar radiation passes.

Sometimes it happens that cracks appear faster on 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 of the year the window is battered by the sun, whether the rain falls directly on it or is protected by eaves or an awning, whether the snow settles on it or is more secluded and protected by the wall. All of these aggressions cause one window's finish to crack faster than another's. If you maintain the most damaged windows twice a year, you won't need to paint or varnish them for long.

The effort required to maintain windows is far less than the benefits. If you haven't done it before, start this year. I assure you that you won't regret it.