Building a solarium allows you to expand your home as well as creating a place where you can enjoy the sun year-round. The look of this additional room must of course respect the style of decoration already present. If you have opted for cedar paneling as your finishing material, you will need to protect it well to maintain its natural color. As you read on, you will discover the best finishing product to use for this type of wood.
WHAT ARE THE SPECIAL FEATURES OF CEDAR?
You have no doubt chosen cedar paneling for the beauty of its grain, texture and color. It goes without saying that this material adds a traditional cachet to a room. Plus, cedar is a type of wood that easily lasts for years! On the other hand, to make sure you keep its color, you will need to protect it from UV rays. To do this, your finishing product must be pigmented; the darker the pigmentation, the more the color will remain the same. It is therefore a question of balance between the change of color because of the pigment or because of the sun. Cedar does tend to fade quickly. Although your cedar paneling is located inside the solarium, it is greatly exposed to natural light from the windows.
WHAT PRODUCT CAN BE USED ON CEDAR SIDING ?
To protect an interior wooden surface, you have the choice between synthetic varnish, water-based varnish or a natural oil. The results will be very different depending on the product chosen.
OIL COMPARED TO VARNISH TO PROTECT WOOD
If you are applying the finishing product yourself, do not recommend using synthetic oil. This gives off a strong odor during application. In fact, in most cases, it is the professionals who will opt for this type of varnish. As for water-based varnishes, they are less dangerous for health than synthetic varnishes, since they have a low concentration of semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, water-based varnishes are difficult to apply if you want to achieve a professional result. Another disadvantage of varnish: it only protects the surface. As soon as a crack appears, moisture can easily enter the pores of the wood. And to restore the look of yesteryear to your cedar paneling, you will have to sand and start all over!
You will not have this problem with the oil, since it is an impregnation product. By penetrating into the pores of the wood, the oil not only protects the surface, but also nourishes the interior of the wood. In addition to offering increased protection, the oil allows for easy maintenance. No need to sand the damaged surface, you will only have to apply a layer of oil to completely impregnate the pores of the wood once again. In short, the oil is valued above all for its more natural finish, which is easy to maintain and will withstand the large temperature changes of a solarium well.
AN OIL FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
A solarium is a place of relaxation and rest. You certainly wouldn't want to relax in a toxic environment. This is however the case if you use varnish as a finishing product. Whether it is an oil or water-based varnish, it contains semi-volatile organic compounds, which can be found in the air several months or even years after application. In addition, extensive exposure to the sun, such as that in a solarium, increases the release of toxic substances into the air. For a healthy living environment, opt instead for an ecological oil made from natural ingredients .
For cedar paneling with a natural finish, ecological finishing oil is your best option. By choosing the oil, you won't have to worry about unhealthy products that might have been in your new environment. To learn more about our Kunos eco-friendly oil, check out our handy guide.
