FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The questions and answers below are designed to help with some of the most common things that we hear. If it does not adequately answer your question, or if your question is not listed, you can e-mail us at info@preservawood.com or call 1-800-797-2537 between 8-5 Monday-Friday, pacific standard time.

Q. It rained yesterday, or it is expected to rain tomorrow, can I apply Preserva-Wood today?

A. If it has rained, you should wait 24 hours for the wood to dry before applying Preserva-Wood. If it is expected to rain, ideally, you need at least 24 hours after applying Preserva-Wood before the rain will fall.

Q. What air temperature is too high or too low to apply Preserva-Wood? 

A. Solvent reducible formulas of Preserva-Wood can be applied at any temperature.Ideal conditions, however, are temperatures above 40 and below 90 degrees Fahrenheit, low wind conditions, and not in direct sunlight.

Q. What is the solids content of Preserva-Wood?

A. The solids content (what stays in your wood for protection and does not evaporate into the atmosphere) is 45% for our “Classic” formula and 63% for our “VOC Compliant” formula and 65% for our “Premium Log Home Finish”. Preserva-Wood “Plus” is available in both “Classic” and “VOC Compliant” formulas and has a higher solids content.

Q. I have rags or towels that I used during staining, how do I dispose of them properly?

A. As with any paint product, to avoid the possibility of spontaneous combustion, oil soaked cloth, paper or other application material should be washed in water, spread out and dried outdoors, away from sun, heat, flame or combustibles, until they are air-dried and then can be disposed of in accordance with local trash regulations.

Q. I used a sprayer to apply Preserva-Wood and I have over-spray on my windows or on my car, how do I get it off?

A. We carry a product called “Water Repellant Finish Remover” that easily removes overspray from glass and windshields. It comes in a 24 oz. spray bottle, ready to use. Another alternative for glass is to wet the surface with water or paint thinner and carefully use a razor blade to remove the overspray, being careful to not scratch the glass you are cleaning.

Q. I am interested in the Preserva-Crete, what is the coverage per gallon?

A. A gallon of Preserva-Crete covers 60-200 square feet, depending on the porosity of the substrate.

Q. Can I use Preserva-Wood on the interior of my home?

A. Absolutely, you can use Preserva-Wood for interior use. There will be a non-toxic solvent smell, which will dissipate over time (similar to a paint thinner smell). We also make water reducible Preserva-Wood, which is ideal for indoor application and has little or no odor.

Q.There are plants bordering my deck or fence, will Preserva-Wood kill them?

A. Preserva-Wood is environmentally friendly and non-toxic. We do not recommend pouring it on your plants, but typical overspray will not harm plants. A lot of overspray may seal the pores of the leaves. Any leaf or bloom that is completely saturated will probably wither, but this will not harm the plant as a whole. It may be advisable to use a lightweight drop cloth or Visqueen depending on your situation.

Q. I stained my deck, how soon can my animals and I walk on it?

A. Ideal circumstances are to allow your deck to dry in good weather for at least 24 hours before allowing pets on it or walking on it yourself. Should your animals walk on wet Preserva-Wood and get some on their feet and then try to lick it off, do not worry, ingesting a very small amount will not hurt them.

Q. I have mildew on my wood, what do I do?

A. Before staining your wood, you need to kill the mildew; otherwise you will seal in that black color. A 50-50 mixture of bleach and water will kill mildew. You will want to wash off the bleach and allow 24 hours for the wood to dry before staining. For tougher mildew, you can use a little more bleach than water or scrub with a brush.

Q. I have puddles or shiny spots of Preserva-Wood on my deck, what do I do?

A. Any areas of Preserva-Wood that have not been absorbed within 20 minutes need to be wiped up or brushed out while still wet. If these puddles are allowed to dry, they will appear shiny. If you have shiny spots, and it is within 24 hours of application, lacquer thinner or acetone will take care of the shiny spots. After 24 hours you will need a commercial paint remover (“Citrus Strip”, Green’s or Jasco are some). Follow the directions on the label. All that you are doing is removing the Preserva-Wood that has dried on the surface, not taking out what is inside the wood. After removing the gummy area, if the appearance is appealing, you are done. If you have color discrepancies, wipe a very small amount of Preserva-Wood on the spot “feathering out” the edges. DO NOT APPLY ANOTHER FULL COAT OVER THE TOP, or you are back where you were at the beginning.

Q. How many square feet will one gallon of Preserva-Wood protect?

A. Depending on the porosity of your wood, anywhere from 300-500 square feet per gallon. For shingles, the coverage is about 200 square feet per gallon.

Q. What are the ingredients in Preserva-Wood?

A. While the formulation is proprietary information, we can tell you that Preserva-Wood has a fungicide, mildewcide, UV inhibitors, organic oils, water-repellent resins and transoxide pigments (except for “Clear”).

Q. Why should I buy Preserva-Wood rather than a competing product?

A. Preserva-Wood was developed in the Lake Tahoe area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was developed for harsh weather and extreme sunlight. It was developed to be environmentally friendly and to last longer. It has a high solids content to protect your wood and natural wood-tone tints to enhance the appearance of the wood. One application of Preserva-Wood will not protect your wood forever, but a continued maintenance schedule, with re-applications becoming less frequent, will keep your wood looking beautiful and keep the structural integrity intact.

Q.What is “Wood Renewer” and why would I need it?

A. Any transparent finish will allow the beauty of the natural wood grain to show through. Blemishes, water-stains or weathered areas will also show through. “Wood Renewer” can, in many cases, remove discoloration and restore the natural beauty. Applying a finish to a discolored area will seal in the discoloration permanently. There are many restorations products available, however Preserva-Products’ “Wood Renewer” is non-toxic and will not harm plants or pets, while rejuvenating wood even more effectively. Whatever beauty the wood has to offer can be brought out by the use of “Wood Renewer” prior to the application of any finish.

Q. Can I add linseed oil or color to Preserva-Wood?

A. Because of the high solids content, Linseed Oil should not be added to our “VOC Compliant” formula, Preserva-Wood ‘Plus’, or Premium Log Home Finish. If, however, Preserva-Wood is being applied to a very porous surface and our “Classic” formula will be used, up to 20% of Boiled Linseed Oil can be added. DO NOT ALLOW A SURFACE FILM TO FORM ON HORIZONTAL SURFACES. For Color:Preserva-Wood comes in 10 tints and ‘Clear’. If you wish for a different color, any quality oil based stain can be mixed with ‘Clear’ Preserva-Wood: try 4 parts Preserva-Wood ‘Clear’ to 1 part semi-transparent stain. Test for desired results before full application.

Q. What is “VOC Compliant”?

A. Certain counties in California and other parts of the nation have placed restrictions on the percent per liter of paint products that can evaporate into the atmosphere. VOC by definition means the solvents (paint thinner, etc.) which evaporate into the atmosphere during the application of and/or subsequent drying of coatings. This Volatile Organic Content for penetrating wood finishes must be less than 350 grams per liter for the more populated areas of California. The VOC part of any paint product provides no protection for your wood.

Q. Can Premium Log Home Finish be applied on log home chinking?

A. There are two types of chinking that we are aware of. One is porous, like mortar, and will accept Preserva-Wood and will take on the color if pigmented Log Home Finish is applied. The other type of chinking is smooth, like caulking, and cannot be penetrated by Log Home Finish, but can probably be wiped off to retain the original white color. More information may be needed from the chinking manufacturer, as to how their product reacts to oil based stain. If you are pre-staining the logs with Premium Log Home Finish, you may not be able to use a water-based chinking material.

If you have any comments or questions please call us at 1-800-797-2537 or e-mail us at info@preservawood.com.If you have a question you feel should be added to this page, please let us know.