Traditional methods of timber protection against bio-deterioration

Abstract

Timber, as a construction material, has played an important role in the history of architecture and construction since is very beginning. Naturally, the concerns about its durability and resistance are equally old and have been registered throughout history on building treaties and writings that can date as far as the Old Testament. Being a natural material, bio-deterioration is one of wood’s main weakness. Early attempts to deal with this issue included the resource to simple techniques as charring, immersion on saltwater and painting with natural oils and tar. On the 19th century the timber preservation industry was born and new methods and chemical preservatives were introduced. Presently most of those methods are known to be harmful to the environment and over the past decades the banned substances list has progressively increased urging the timber preservation industry to research for new sustainable methods. The study presented in this paper consists of a survey of traditional preservation products and technics and was conducted based on a historical bibliographical research. The results obtained were compiled into a database. This study, revealing a great deal about past construction methods, provides a valuable insight to the conservation of antique wood elements and allows understanding the timber elements condition when inspecting and rehabilitating old buildings. This insight can also be useful to the ongoing research on sustainable timber protection as the principles behind past methods can be the base to develop new improved solutions.