While the tracking process was painstaking and slow, the results were quickly evident and are undeniable. Based on the images captured and the state of the timber, it is evident that the uncoated timber quickly cracked and weathered when exposed to the elements, whereas CUTEK® coated timber has very little visible ageing.

CUTEK® oil works to minimise these issues by penetrating deeply into the timber and displacing moisture from the inside out. Once diffused, CUTEK® oil remain permanently mobile in the timber, actively driving out moisture even after being cut or perforated with fasteners. Furthermore, the protection of CUTEK® oil is accumulative and will only strengthen over time.

If you would like to know more about how CUTEK^® products work to powerfully protect timber while highlighting its natural beauty, head to Why CUTEK? | Our Ethos & More | CUTEK Timber Protection

The post CUTEK®: Ageing Timber appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

Proper, routine maintenance which utilises the best available coating system and products can significantly extend the service life of timber in built environments. As a brand, this goal – to prolong the service life of timber and reduce the number of trees requiring felling – is a key motivator behind our work. As such, CUTEK® worked to offer a high-quality wood preservative product, submitting several formulas for an external above-ground timber preservative product. Each formula was required to undergo vigorous testing including a biological challenge against several organisms which degrade timber, including various species of fungi and termites.

In order to ensure true and accurate results, a sample of timber coated with CUTEK® Wood Preservative formula was compared to two other timber samples – controlled samples – to determine its performance: one untreated piece of timber and a piece treated with the industry-standard wood preservative. These samples were subject to various weathering timeframes including: no weathering, six-months weathering, nine-months weathering and 12-months weathering. The intent of this was to induce preservative leaching, natural extractive leaching, timber UV degradation, and degradation due to moisture movement as natural timber degradation increases how susceptible the timber is to biological attack.

Data gained during the weathering process proved CUTEK® Wood Preservative’s ability to prolong timber’s longevity compared to the industry standard, due to its low product-leaching properties. Following the 12-month weathering process, each sample was subject to fungi and termite testing to further measure and test CUTEK® Wood Preservative’s performance.

Trial 1: Termites

Termites are able to cause significant damage to timber structures. Despite this, there are many ways to mitigate this damage including reducing the timbers moisture content, minimising ground contact, using dense hardwoods as opposed to softwoods, and applying chemical hazard treatments (H2, H3). However, not all mitigating options are suitable for all projects. The nature of the structure itself, the type of hardwood selected and its ability to be treated, cost and availability of certain timber types are all deciding factors as to how timber structures may be protected against termites.

The testing CUTEK® Wood Preservative underwent to determine its ability to protect against termite deterioration was measured by the mass of timber which was lost upon exposure to timber destroying termites (Coptotermes acinaciformis). This was compared to industry standard treated timber and untreated timber samples. All samples were subject to heavy termite exposure.

As demonstrated by the table below, CUTEK® Wood Preservative performed impressively against the industry standard and untreated timber after 12 months of exposure to termites and weathering.

The industry standard treated timber retained 39.6% of its original weight and the untreated timber retained 1.6% of its original weight. In contrast, the CUTEK® Wood Preservative treated timber retained 58.9% of its original weight, performing significantly better than the industry standard. Additionally, as the protection abilities of CUTEK® Wood Preservative can be maintained with subsequent coats, timber coated with CUTEK® Wood Preservative can be expected to have an extended service life.

Trial 2: Fungus

Various species of fungus also cause significant damage to timber structures. One of the most common and easily seen types of damaging fungi is rot. Wood rotting fungi thrive in moist, dark environments such as in timber sheds or on decks and boardwalks, which receive little to no sunlight. Although there are many tactics used to combat rot damage, addressing the root cause prior to its appearance continues to be one of the best options available.

To prove CUTEK® Wood Preservative’s ability to mitigate fungi issues, it underwent thorough testing to ensure it could provide the protection required. CUTEK® Wood Preservative was tested against five different species of wood-destroying fungi, and across all five species, performed better than the industry standard as shown below.

Following 12 months of weathering, the industry standard treatment provided little protection against this species of fungus as the retained mass was very similar. In contrast, the CUTEK® Wood Preservative treated timber was able to perform significantly better due to two key factors: its active ingredient is effective against this type of biological attack and CUTEK® Wood Preservative oil minimises the timber’s uptake of moisture.

Conclusion

When venturing into new territory, there is always a question of success which necessitates thorough testing. Based on a series of tests and scientific comparisons, CUTEK® Wood Preservative became a proven performer against several species of wood destroying organisms, as demonstrated be the below graph.

This proves that CUTEK® Wood Preservative not only protects timber in the short-term but outperforms alternate products long-term. Because of these indisputable results, CUTEK® Wood Preservative was able to be registered with Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) as a wood preservative and is now available as part of the core CUTEK® oils range.

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2023 Interior Design Trend: Warm Tones

This new year, we have already seen a plethora of brown, earthy tones being used in homes interiors. Some choose paint, but many are incorporating warmer tones in their textiles and furniture selections.

Adding Timber

Timber is a naturally warm element, and it can be incorporated in a variety of ways. One great example is by adding repurposed timber cladding to the walls or utilising simple décor pieces in a space. With so many different tones of timber available, anyone can find a timber tone to suit their aesthetic.

2023 Interior Design Trend: Private Spaces

Photo by Charlotte May: https://www.pexels.com/photo/interior-of-dense-room-with-shelves-on-brick-wall-5824546/

Since COVID-19, many of us have gotten used to, and prefer, private spaces to explore our work, hobbies, and interests. Open plan living is heading out and closed plans are on their way in again.

Adding Timber

If you prefer smaller, private spaces in your home, consider adding a timber screen along one or two sides of your space. A screen offers the illusion of privacy while also incorporating timber in your home in an effective and subtle way.

2023 Interior Design Trend: Indoor-Outdoor Spaces

The pandemic also instigated a preference for many to be outdoors instead of in, whether it be entertaining, sleeping, working or showering.

Adding Timber

Any outdoor space can be elevated with a timber element. Depending on your budget, consider adding timber furniture, a deck, even an outdoor shower to your space in 2023.

2023 Interior Design Trend: Ceiling Interest

Once upon a time many homes came with distinct crown-moulding in intricate patterns on the ceilings. This design element has now come full circle and is being considered timeless and fresh by design experts.

Adding Timber

A timber-lover’s take on this trend is to add timber beams or cladding to the ceiling. Adding timber beams or cladding to a ceiling is still a recently new trend in the timber world but can be accomplished to great aesthetic success.

2023 Interior Design Trend: Ethically Sourced and Sustainable Furniture

Sustainable and ethical products have become the name of the game in recent years and this trend is hitting heavy in the furniture department. Gone are the days of flat-pack, chipboard products as people look to ethically source quality pieces from antique stores, second-hand shops and more.

Adding Timber

If timber is your one true love, incorporate it into your decor by sourcing vintage hard-wood timber dining tables, side tables, dressers and sideboards. By adding just one or two items into your living space, you will immediately elevate the space with high-quality pieces that tell a story in their own right.

If you’re building, renovating, or simply revitalising the timber features of your home in 2023, we’d love to talk to you, your architect or builder about how CUTEK^® can be used in your project to maintain the beauty of your timber and powerfully protect it. Call 1300 CUTEK or send us a message to find out more.

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Why does timber grey / weather?

First, we should understand what causes timber to weather. When wood is exposed to sunshine, rain, and dew, dark colours tend to fade due to leaching and bleaching, while light colours darken due to oxidation. However, with time, all timber surfaces exposed to rain turn grey. This colour shift only affects the top layers, which primarily consist of cellulose. Long-term exposure to the elements degrades the lignin that holds the wood cells together, and it is washed away along with sugars, starches, and extractives. In conditions that are favourable to fungal species, the resulting grey colouring may be dirty and blotchy.

How do I fix greyed timber?

The science tells us this silvering is merely surface deep, therefore a powerful cleaner will help separate the discolouration from the timber, meaning costly replacement is not necessary. For this job we recommend you use CUTEK^® Restore, which will take all the hard work out of this process. CUTEK^® Restore is designed to be applied undiluted but can be used diluted with water if required. The Technical Data Sheet (TDS) contains more details about spreading rate, dwell times, safety precautions, and more. We recommend you test CUTEK^® Restore on a small test patch to find the best working time for your project. Once applied to the timber, CUTEK^® Restore will do the heavy lifting. After it has been allowed to work for a suitable amount of time, remove it using a high-pressure washer with a fan nozzle (a garden hose is not suitable).

Case Study – Pine Fence

Ben and Tracey bought their first home a few years ago and, like many homeowners, have been working to improve their home over time. Their house came with a standard weathered pine fence. The fence was ten years old, fully exposed to the elements, and had never been cleaned or protected. They had assumed that nothing could be done for their fence and had planned to knock it down and replace it. Instead, they tried CUTEK^® Restore. For their project, they chose to work with a dilution of three-parts water to one-part CUTEK^® Restore. This was allowed to sit and work on the timber for a full 24 hours prior to being pressure-washed off. They were astonished by the results.

How do I protect timber from weathering?

Ben and Tracey didn’t stop at restoring their fence. They knew that without properly protecting their timber, their efforts would eventually be undone by the elements. When their fence was dry, they coated it with CUTEK^® Extreme CD50. They selected double-strength Merbau as their CUTEK® Colourtone, which transformed the soft blonde of the pine into a beautiful deep brown. CUTEK® Extreme CD50 penetrates the timber to protect it from the inside out. Where other coatings envelope the wood, CUTEK® Extreme CD50 deeply diffuses into the timber, minimising moisture absorption and protecting your deck long term. With the added CUTEK® Colourtone, Ben and Tracey have the added element of protecting their timber from harsh UV rays and sun damage.

How can we help with your project?

If you would like to know more about how CUTEK^® products could help your project, you can reach us on 1300 1 CUTEK, or by using our customer enquiry form.

The post How to Restore Greyed and Weathered Timber appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

Los Lagos Region (Region of the Lakes) is one of Chile’s 16 regions. Historically, the Huilliche, the largest indigenous group of the region, has called this territory between Bueno River and Reloncaví Sound, Futahuillimapu, meaning “the great land of the south.” Los Lagos Region’s economy is based on fishing, salmon aquaculture, forestry and cattle farming. Tourism is economically important in The Andes, where ski resorts, hot springs, and recreational fisheries are popular activities. From 2001 to 2020, the region lost 143k hectares of tree cover.

The region contains the country’s second-largest island, Chiloé, and the second-largest lake, Llanquihue. Chiloé Island is an example of the importance of preserving both trees and seas. The island is heavily impacted by the fish farming industry, which pollutes its shores with plastic. It is also heavily deforested, having lost more than 310,000 acres of forest in the last two decades.

Forests impact oceans by reducing sediment runoff and helping to reduce carbon absorption in the sea, leading to acidification. As the trees grow, they will improve the relationship between forests, water, air quality, and the carbon cycle, benefiting biodiversity, and the ecosystem as a whole. Planting trees also empowers people to directly impact their local environment and raise awareness of the Island’s unique ecology and culture. 

CUTEK® is both honoured and excited to play a small part in supporting One Tree Planted and the future generations of Chile.

For more information about One Tree Planted and the work they are doing, head to One Tree Planted. For more information about how CUTEK® partners with One Tree Planted, head to Our Focus On Sustainable Practices – CUTEK Timber Protection.

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To simplify your clean-up process, try CUTEK® Cleaners and refresh your home after rain and mould infestations. 

CUTEK® Quickclean

The quick and easy option to save time and effort in the clean up by blasting away dirt, grime, grease and many other stains – your home will be spick and span in no time!

CUTEK® Restore

Easily restore the look of your timber deck and home features with CUTEK® Restore. It will brighten, clean and restore wood to look like new after removing stubborn stains caused by tannins, water, iron, resins, mould and fungus.  

CUTEK® Wood Stripper

Not happy with how your timber coating has held up to the wet weather? Strip it back with CUTEK® Wood Stripper ready for a fresh coating application – you won’t regret it! 

CUTEK® Wood Preservative

CUTEK® Wood Preservative is an oil-based wood stabiliser used for the remedial treatment of exterior wood in industrial and domestic situations. 

Wood coated with CUTEK® Wood Preservative resists damage caused by fungal decay, mould, termites and moisture, improving dimensional stability and minimising warping, cupping and splitting. 

CUTEK® Wood Preservative has been specially designed to withstand Australian conditions. Penetrating deeply into the timber, the protective properties within CUTEK® Wood Preservative repel moisture to improve the service life of timber. 

Easy to use, CUTEK® Wood Preservative will not peel or flake, making maintenance fast and simple. Applied as a clear oil, CUTEK® Wood Preservative will allow timber to naturally silver over time. Mixing in one of 16 CUTEK® Colourtones will help to enhance and maintain the freshly oiled natural look of your timber or alter your timber colour to meet your design requirements. 

By using CUTEK® Wood Preservative on your timber, your home will be able to better withstand damage caused by fungal decay, mould, termites and moisture the next time flooding or torrential rain comes to town. 

Find your nearest stockist to clean up that mould and refresh your home today! 

If you need assistance or advice about maintaining your CUTEK^® after flood, call 1300 CUTEK or send us a message to find out more. 

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Common reasons for penetrating oil not absorbing:

• Too much moisture in the timber
• Temperature
• A barrier preventing the absorption of the oil

Too much moisture

If your deck is newly built or is unlikely to have any kind of coating on the timber, consider the possible water content of the timber.

If the timber is too wet, the oil is unlikely to absorb as efficiently or effectively. Ensure your timber is thoroughly dry before applying a coat of oil. If you have experienced recent rainfall, allow several days for the timber to thoroughly dry out before coating. Consider testing a small area prior to coating the entire deck to ensure the timber is dry enough. If it absorbs well and does not discolour, proceed with the application. In the event that the deck colour looks darker or different than expected, stop and wait a few days for the moisture content to dissipate and reapply.

Temperature

Cold temperatures will raise the viscosity and make the oil thicker, which slows down the penetration process. To assist this, place your can of oil in a warm, sunny spot or in a bucket of hot water. This will lower the viscosity of the oil and assist in the penetration time.

Cold climates and shaded and undercover areas that do not receive direct sunlight will require a longer drying period to allow full absorption of the oil.

A barrier preventing the absorption of the oil

For new timber, the barrier could be mill glaze, sometimes known as machine glaze. This occurs only with new timber and takes place during the timber machining process.

For pre-existing decks, your deck is likely to already have a coating on it. If this is not removed, the deck will struggle to absorb the oil and it will remain on the surface of the timber rather than penetrating.

To remove an existing coating

Existing coatings, like a stain, varnish, or glue on the timber, encases the wood and prevents other elements or oil from being absorbed into it.

To remove this coating, follow these steps:

1. Apply CUTEK® Wood Stripper to the deck; this will remove all remaining traces of the old coating. If you do not have CUTEK® Wood Stripper on hand, you can sand the deck back to bare wood, ensuring you have removed all traces of the previous coating.
2. Use CUTEK® Restore to restore and brighten your timber after using CUTEK® Wood Stripper or sanding.
3. Wait for your deck to thoroughly dry before applying CUTEK® Extreme CD50 with a CUTEK® Colourtone, if desired.

Please note, we always recommend testing all CUTEK® products on a small area prior to applying to your entire deck.

The CUTEK® difference

CUTEK® oil penetrates the timber to protect it from the inside out. Where other coatings envelope the wood, CUTEK® Extreme CD50 deeply diffuses into the timber, protecting your deck long term. Contact us for more advice on how to seal wood utilising CUTEK®’s wood finishing range.

The post Why is My Deck Not Absorbing New Oil? appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

One Tree Planted has planted 1,000,000 native trees to restore 357 acres of land on 6 sites in the great Southwest of Western Australia. As an internationally recognized Biodiversity Hotspot, the Southwest of Western Australia is one of the oldest and most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. With over 50% endemism (found nowhere else on earth), plant species richness is extraordinarily high. Despite its rich ecological and cultural history, this area has been historically over-cleared for large-scale industrial agriculture — leaving behind fragmented ecosystems in need of restoration to improve their health and increase climate change resilience.

The 90+ tree and shrub species planted were carefully selected to support native wildlife — for example, One Tree Planted specifically planted species that produce seeds that are consumed by the iconic and endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo, which is endemic to this region. Other flowering species will provide nectar for invertebrate life, while also feeding local nectarivorous bird and marsupial populations. In addition to the Cockatoo, over 150 bird species, including the Wedge-Tailed Eagle and Emu — as well as mammals like Pygmy Possums, Honey Possums, Kangaroos, Echidnas and more will benefit.

In addition to biodiversity benefits, One Tree Planted’s planting partners worked together with the local Indigenous community’s Nowanup Ranger Group to support cultural healing for members of the Noongar community at every project site.  This included two Smoking Ceremonies and a Welcome to Country Ceremony to mark the start of the planting program, facilitated by local Noongar Elder and Leader Eugene Eades. Smoking ceremonies are an important part of indigenous culture and are an ancient custom to cleanse an area of bad spirits and promote good health. In addition, 12 Noogar Rangers were employed throughout the season to participate in the tree planting work.

CUTEK® is both honoured and excited to play a small part in supporting One Tree Planted and the future generations of Australia.

For more information about One Tree Planted and the work they are doing, head to One Tree Planted. For more information about how CUTEK® partners with One Tree Planted, head to Our Focus On Sustainable Practices – CUTEK Timber Protection.

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The nature of decorative veneers means we do not recommend CUTEK® Extreme CD50 or CUTEK® Wood Preservative be used on decorative veneers.

Why?

Most decorative veneers are made up of three core layers: 0.6mm of a decorative timber veneer on the outside, a layer of glue and a core substrate like plywood, MDF or chipboard. The nature of CUTEK® Extreme CD50 and CUTEK® Wood Preservative is penetrative, meaning the oil will seek to penetrate deep into the substrate but will be unable to because it will be blocked by the layer of glue bonding the veneer to the core material. Because the top veneer layer is so thin and the oil cannot diffuse past the glue line, it will tend to make the timber translucent, similar to the way paper looks when oil has been spilt on it. This translucency may cause the darker glue line to show through and create a dark patchy appearance.

We do recommend the use of CUTEK® Interior on decorative veneer as a protective layer. CUTEK® Interior is an ultra-matt water based interior wood coating. CUTEK® Interior offers the high durability and protection of a polyurethane whilst retaining the timber’s original natural beauty and appearance. As a polyurethane, CUTEK® Interior sits on top of the timber and does not penetrate it, instead encapsulating the timber to protect it from general wear and tear. It is this property and its ability to maintain the natural look and feel of timber that makes CUTEK® Interior suitable for decorative veneers, as well as many other interior timber projects. Always test a small area before fully coating any timber project in CUTEK®.

Looking to include decorative veneer as a timber feature in your home? We’d love to talk to you, your architect or builder about how CUTEK® can be used in your project. Call 1300 CUTEK or send us a message.

The post Can I use CUTEK® on my decorative veneer panels? appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

What to expect when cleaning a deck after flooding

After floodwaters have receded, your timber deck is likely to have swelled with water and to be contaminated with debris. In other words, your deck will be dirty and very, very wet.

What you can do about it

Wait for the water to subside.

Decks are made to be durable through extreme weather so there is no need to worry about your deck before you can see it and safely access it again.

Wash your deck.

Using CUTEK^® Quickclean, or any household detergent with water, wash your deck with a soft broom. This will remove any debris and minimise the chances of fungal growth or other contaminants from settling into the timber.

Rinse thoroughly.

After washing, use your garden hose to rinse the deck thoroughly. Ensure all soap and debris is gone from the surface of the deck.

Allow the deck to dry.

Depending on how long your deck was submerged, the type of timber, and the upcoming weather forecast it could take a several days or weeks to dry.

Once your deck is thoroughly dry, you may decide to touch it up with a fresh coat of CUTEK^®. Ensure the deck is completely dry before applying any product to it to ensure the best results.

If you need assistance or advice about maintaining your CUTEK^® after flood, call 1300 CUTEK or send us a message to find out more.

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