Secondary abstract: |
The importance of wooden façades is increasing, as people seek a natural appearance for their homes and are increasingly avoiding synthetic materials. At the same time, due to the high costs and time-consuming maintenance associated with wood protection coatings, there is a growing trend to avoid such treatments. In Slovenia, coniferous wood, primarily spruce and larch, is predominantly used for façade construction. The aim of this diploma thesis was to compare the key properties of common spruce, heartwood of European larch, sapwood of Scots pine, and heartwood of Scots pine after seven years of outdoor exposure. In the thesis, we report and analyse which wood species are used for wooden façades in Slovenia and whether it is possible to use alternative species, such as pine wood, for this purpose. We were interested in how the properties of the selected coniferous wood species affect their suitability for outdoor use without protection. The work began with the documentation and preparation of samples of the selected wood species, which were exposed outdoors for seven years. We analysed the dynamics of wood wetting and drying over a seven-year period, and determined the density, compressive strength, colour, roughness, contact angle, and visual assessment of decay after seven years of outdoor exposure. After analysing the data, we found that spruce wood, larch wood, and pine wood performed well after seven years of exposure, but unprotected pine sapwood is not suitable for outdoor use.
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