Why timber is painted

Manufacturer and builder 2, 1870

When water is applied to the smooth surface of timber, a thin layer of the wood will be raised above its natural position by the expansion or swelling of the particles near the surface. In colloquial phrase, workmen say that when water is applied to a smooth board, the grain of the timber will be raised. Every successive wetting will raise the grain more and more; and the water will dissolve and wash away the soluble portions with which it comes in contact. As the surface dries, the grain of the timber at the surface, having been reduced in bulk, must necessarily shrink to such an extent as to produce cracks. Now, if a piece of oil-cloth be pasted over the surface, the timber will be kept quite dry. Consequently, the grain of the wood will not be subjected to the alternate influences of wet and heat. As it is not practicable to apply oil-cloth ready made, a liquid or semi-liquid material is employed for covering the surface, which will adhere firmly, and serve the purpose of oil-cloth in excluding water that would otherwise enter to the injury of the work. Metallic substances are painted to prevent oxidation or rusting of the surfaces which may be exposed to moisture.

It is of primary importance to make use of such materials as will form over the surface a smooth and tenacieua pellicle, impervious to water. Any material that will not exclude water sufficiently to prevent the expansion of the grain of the timber, or the oxidation of metallic substances, must be comparatively worthless for paint. Linseed-oil possesses the property of drying when spread on a surface, and forming a tenacious covering impervious to water. Spirits of turpentine, benzine, benzole, and certain kinds of lubricating oil, all of which are frequently used in preparing paint, will not form a covering sufficiently tough and hard to resist the action of water for which reason, the paint that is made by employing these volatile materials will be found comparatively worthless for outside work. A pigment is mingled with the oil to prevent the timber to which the paint is applied from absorbing the oil. The design is not to saturate the wood with oil, but simply to cover the surface with a coating resembling a thin oil-cloth.