Glu-Lam Impregnation Comparison

 


     These two laminated beam sections were adjacent slices, cut side-by-side and one treated, so you could compare the almost-identical wood before and after impregnation.  The fungi that cause rot leave an abnormal porosity in apparently-sound wood near the decay.

    Rotten wood is clearly visible. Rot actually exends into wood that looks good.

     This is why rot starts up again behind conventional repairs with other products.  The slice on the right was treated with Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer™ [CPES™] dyed blue, so that regions of abnormal porosity (rot) would be visible after impregnation.

 

 

     The wood was placed in a shallow tray and the liquid wicked up into the wood.  In only a few minutes, in regions where the fungi had eaten the wood, the dyed resin was now visible.  CPES Impregnating Resin impregnates deteriorated wood much more than sound wood, because it has more porosity.

     These regions are now impregnated with a highly rot-resistant and water-repellent resin, and useful mechanical properties are restored.  This treatment improves the ability of the wood to resist further deterioration.  This is the first step in the restoration process.  When finally painted, the impregnating resin glues the paint to the wood, so it sticks better and lasts longer.

© copyright Steve Smith, 1972 - 2015, All Rights Reserved.

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