Effects of pH on Bare Wood Surfaces

Inside Log Help For Those Into Log Buildings
Since 1986
®
Summer, 2015
Vol. 19, No. 2
Published by: Schroeder
Log Home Supply, Inc.
Art Director: Doug Todd
1101 SE 7th Ave.
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
1-800-359-6614
(218) 326-4434
1-800-755-3249
(218) 326-2529
WEBSITE
www.loghelp.com
In This Edition:
Effects of pH on Bare
Wood Surfaces
Sansin Timber-Tec and
TM-5 First Treat to Hold Logs
During Transition
Sta Brite P on Logs
Meet the Staff
Outlast & AWPA
Standard M4
PaintCare
Check Mate 2
Discontinued Colors
Shell Guard RTU &
Log Wash Color Changes
Schroeder
Log Home Supply, Inc.
Distribution Locations:
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Middlebury, Indiana
Effects of pH on Bare Wood Surfaces
Over the past few years we’ve developed a lot of
information about the importance of pH as it
relates to preparing a home for the application
of a finish. Following are some of the reasons
why pH is important and the consequences of
bare wood being either too high or too low in
pH and its impact on the appearance and performance of our finish systems.
Wood has a natural pH of between 4 and 5.
Any pH number lower than 7 is acidic and
those above 7 are alkaline so a pH of 4 to 5 is
slightly acidic. That’s because all wood contains
some acidic components like tannic acid. However, most cleaning products like bleach, Wood
ReNew, TSP (trisodium phosphate) and detergents have a high pH (alkaline or basic). Whenever something that is acidic comes in contact
with something alkaline and water is present
one thing that is certain is that a chemical reaction will occur. If we are dealing with only two
or three inorganic compounds the reactions
are fairly predictable but wood consists of a
multitude of organic compounds which differ
from species to species. Even within individual
species the chemistry may be influenced by the
nutrients in the soil where the tree was grown or
it may vary from heartwood to sapwood in the
same log. In other words, whenever the surface
of wood is exposed to a substance with a high
pH something is going to happen and it may
not always be predictable.
From prior experience we do know a few of
the risks associated with the use of some types
of high pH products like chlorine bleach and
caustic strippers. Disregarding the damage that
bleach can cause to the wood fibers one of the
consequences of using bleach solutions is that
if not completely rinsed off the wood bleach
solutions brings tannins to the surface and once
there the tannins can react with microscopic
particles of metal creating dark iron tannate
discolorations. The most distressing aspect of
this reaction is that the discolorations may not
Iron tannate stains that appeared several
months after the finish was applied. You can
easily see where the bleach and water cleaning
solution was inadequately rinsed.
become visible for several months and the only
way to remove them is to strip the finish off
and treat the bare wood with Oxcon.
Another consequence of using high pH products is that they occasionally darken the wood.
This can even happen when using our Wood
ReNew which usually acts as a brightening
agent. Again the problem is that it’s impossible
to predict if a solution of Wood ReNew going
to make the wood lighter or darker. That’s why
we always recommend testing any product we
sell on a small area of the home. Although it
may work as expected 98% of the time, it’s that
2% that ends up costing both time and money
to fix a problem.
One of the fallacies of using acidic solutions on wood is that
they help “neutralize” any residue remaining after the use of an
alkaline cleaner or stripper. Chemically it may be true that the
application of an acid will reduce the alkalinity of the wood but
is this in fact always beneficial to the cleaning process? The answer is no. The reaction between an acid and a base always results
in the formation of a salt. In some cases the salt is water soluble
and can be removed with washing but in other cases the salt can
be quite insoluble and ends up being deposited within the wood’s
cellular structure where it can create adhesion or other problems
with the finish. This is especially true with oxalic acid (Oxcon)
which should never be used as a neutralizer to compensate for inadequate rinsing. The formation of oxalic acid crystals or sodium
oxalates within the surface layer of wood will have a significant
impact on long term adhesion and several peeling problems that
have come to our attention have been the result of using a concentrated oxalic acid solution or inadequate rinsing.
Attempting to balance the pH of a wall by using chemicals usually results in compounding the problem and although the wall
may look acceptable at the time the finish is applied, discolorations or failure of adhesion may occur weeks or even months
later. The bottom line is that NOTHING can replace adequate
rinsing with clean water after the use of any type of chemical
cleaner or finish remover.
So what constitutes adequate rinsing? Typically we recommend
rinsing a wall until you think it’s enough and then rinse it again.
Using a garden hose or pressure washer we are talking about
rinsing a wall for at least 10 to 15 minutes. It’s impossible to
over-rinse. Of course the best method of determining if a wall is
adequately rinsed is by using pH strips. If a few drips on a well
rinsed wall read between 6.5 and 7.5 you can pretty well be assured that the wall is adequately rinsed.
Some helpful tips about pH
• Avoid the use of caustic strippers (sodium & potassium hydroxide) as well as chlorine bleach solutions.
• Never use oxalic acid (Oxcon) or even Log Wash as “neutralizers” on wood surfaces. They should only be used for the
purposes they were designed for.
• Always test a small area with the product you are going to
use before you apply it to an entire wall.
• If one cleaning product has been applied to a wall, never apply a different one without first completely rinsing the first
one off. This is especially important whenever discolorations
begin to appear during the cleaning process.
• Oxalic acid (Oxcon) should only be used when it’s needed
(iron tannate stains or as a blonding agent on dark, discolored walls). Oxcon is not a cleaner and won’t remove grayed
oxidized wood.
• Always rinse a wall with lots of clean water after the use of
any cleaning or finish removing product.
For new log home shells that are in transition (sometimes as long
as six months to a year) while the owners research stain type and
color, as well as schedule the application (if hiring an applicator),
the logs can be coated to protect them with Sansin Timber-Tec
or TM-5 First Treat, especially in high humidity climates. These
products will hold the logs until a log stain or finish can be applied. Both products are available in clear and lightly colored.
Use TM5-First Treat for smaller structures as it comes in both
1-gallon (makes 2-3 gallons mixed) and 5-gallon pails (makes 1015 gallons mixed). These products are for use on bare wood. Do
not use these products over previously stained or finished wood.
Also see Sta Brite P below.
Sta Brite P is a sapstain control wood treatment for
fresh cut logs and timbers. When properly applied
on drawknifed logs, the logs can sit as long as a
year in the elements. The wood will turn gray but
will clean up beautifully once bleached and lightly
sanded. Stay Brite P doesn’t hold up as well on
strip-peeled or power washed logs because the wood pores don’t
open up as much as drawknifed logs and may need to be reapplied monthly for the same protection. It is best applied within a
week of having the logs peeled, in the morning, away from direct
sun and the heat of the day. Application methods include spray,
dip, or flow coat. Stay Brite P is highly concentrated; a 5-gallon
pail will make 250 gallons at a 50:1 ratio. Because of its high
concentration, it is designed for use by professional log home
builders and manufacturers.
© 2014 Perma-Chink® Systems, Inc.
Before and after shots of logs treated with Sta Brite P and then
cleaned at a later date. Photos courtesy of Pine Ridge Handcrafted
Log Homes Inc., Grand Rapids MN.
Meet the Staff:
Wishing you A Great Summer!
Customer Service from left: Daniel Petrich, Keeley Todd, Chris Kavanaugh,
Pam Clairmont, Stephanie Schroeder, Melody Garza, and John Schroeder.
Outlast & AWPA Standard M4
A new Minnesota law
affecting trade
painters and retailers took effect on
November 1, 2014 and for Colorado and
Maine in July 1st, 2015
The law requires paint manufacturers to establish
a paint stewardship program in Minnesota. The program will be funded by a
fee on each container
of architectural paint
sold in the state. The program will set up
drop-off sites at retail stores and other
locations throughout the state where residents
and businesses, including trade painters,
will be able to take most leftover paint for
recycling, free of charge.
Paint Stewardship Led by Industry
Made in the USA.
5 gallon $285.00
Cannot be sold or shipped to Canada
Order Online
PaintCare Inc. is a non-profit organization
established
by the American Coatings Association to implement
state-mandated
paint stewardship programs on behalf of
paint manufacturers in states that adopt
paint
stewardship laws. PaintCare currently
operates
programs in California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island and
Vermont. PaintCare is also planning
programs for Colorado (July 2015) and Maine
(July 2015).
Check Mate 2 Gray, Lt Brown, and
Red Brown are being discontinued.
We still have some left in stock!
Please call for Availablity 1-800-359-6614
Shell Guard RTU and Log Wash can change color
after they are made, but does not change the
effectiveness of the products.
Happy 4th
of July!
The primary goals of the program are to decrease paint
waste and
recycle more post consumer paint by setting
up convenient drop-off
sites in each PaintCare state.
Although the program is required by
state law, it is
designed and operated by the paint
manufacturing
industry.
PaintCare Recovery Fee and Funding
As required by the law, a paint stewardship fee
(“PaintCare Recovery Fee”) must be added by manufacturers to the wholesale price of
architectural
paint sold in Minnesota. Manufacturers pay this fee
to PaintCare to fund setting up drop-off sites for leftover, postconsumer architectural paint, and for the transportation, recycling, and
proper disposal of that
paint. lt also pays for consumer education
and program
administrative costs. The proposed fees are based on
container size as follows:
$ 0.00 — Half pint or smaller
$ 0.35 — Larger than half pint to smaller than 1 gallon
$ 0.75 —1 Gallon
$1.60 — Larger than 1 gallon to 5 gallons
The law also requires that each distributor and retailer include the
PaintCare Recovery Fee with their sale
price. While displaying the fee
on invoices and receipts is not required of retailers, PaintCare encourages showing the fee and listing it as PaintCare Recovery fee to aid in
customer and dealer education and to provide consistency across the
program. Currently, affected products sold through our website will
have the fees added to your total once we’ve received your order.
Notice for Trade Painters
Trade painters may pass the fees on to their customers
in order to
recoup the fees they pay on the product.
CALENDAR:
Independence Day
Labor Day
July 4th
Sept. 7th
Offices Closed
Offices Closed
To Place An Order:
Call Toll Free: 1-800-359-6614 or order online:
www.loghelp.com Fax Toll Free: 1-800-755-3249
Schroeder Log Home Supply, Inc.
1101 SE 7th Ave Grand Rapids, MN 55744
MN Business Hours:
April - Oct: Weekdays 8:00 - 4:30 p.m. CST (Saturdays 9-Noon).
Nov - March: Weekdays 8:00 - 4:30 p.m. CST (Closed Saturdays).
Branch Office Hours May Vary - Please Call Ahead
If you are estimating jobs for which
architectural paint are subject to
PaintCare fees, you should take these fees
into account by checking
with your supplier to
make sure the quotes for paint products
include the fees. You should also let your
customers know that you
will be including
these fees in your quotes.
New Paint Drop-Off Sites
PaintCare
will establish paint drop-off sites across the
state. Most
drop-off sites will be at paint stores. Other
sites may include solid
waste transfer stations, recycling
centers, and government-sponsored
household
hazardous waste programs. Participation as a drop-off site
is voluntary. Schroeder Log Home Supply, Inc. is not a drop-off site;
to find your nearest drop-off site click this link.
So What Do You Think of PaintCare?
They welcome your feedback:
Hotline: (855) 724-6809
Fax: (855) 385-2020
info@paintcare.org
Order Online!
American Coatings Association
1500 Rhode Island Ave NW
Washington, DC 20005