The elements will batter wood when it is left outside. Although all wood will go through some for of biological deterioration and wetting, the degree depends in large part on your climate. The moisture load is the biggest factor that affects decking and cladding. Additionally, the type of wood will have an important effect. You have to take your climate into consideration when you work out how often you should clean and treat your wood. It is very strange, therefore, that there isn’t any scientific knowledge on which climate requires which treatment. Thankfully, however, this lack of information is starting to get resolved through scientific studies. A huge range of wood types have been exposed to many different climates over a period of 34 months. Thanks to this study, we now know the service life of a range of different species, depending on their exposure and orientation.

The results demonstrate that when wood is orientated southwards, the results are different from those orientated northwards. Additionally, horizontally placed wood was more affected by moisture than vertically placed wood. Clearly, wood placed in very wet climates were affected more strongly. It was also obvious that it was better for the wood to dry as quickly as possible after a rain event. One of the most interesting results was that the type of wood seemed to be of little influence.

Climate exposure is the main factor affecting wood, regardless of their species. This is why it is so important for people to keep their wood dry when they clean it. Wood can also be protected, which is necessary in wetter climates. Hence, these people should use a treatment such as a varnish that will render the wood waterproof to some degree. Furthermore, a few other elements also have a big effect on wood. The sun’s UV rays will damage wood to a high degree. If you do live in a hot climate, you must use a treatment that protects against UV rays. You should also make sure that fallen leaves are removed from your wood. The first problem with these leaves is that they are full of moisture. Furthermore, they are full of microorganisms that will be happy to create mold and fungus colonies on your wood. It is by using a hard bristled brush that you can sweep away the leaves, as well as pushing water away. It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions that should have been given to you when your wood was installed. However, these are generally not specific to climate.