Within this case study 104 windows made from Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were examined in a 4-storey residential establishment in Hannover-Bult (Northern Germany), where they were in service for 14-15 years. The window frames were painted with a dark green opaque lacquer on the outside and a transparent lacquer on the inside. Reliable information about potential preservative treatment was not available. The windows were examined with respect to decay and moisture content measurements were conducted. Severe damages coming along with fungal decay were observed on poorly protected windows on the West façade exclusively. Missing gutters in the attic storey and incomplete end sealing of the rain protection rails turned out to be the most relevant reason for decay. The worst damaged windows showed white and brown rot, partly on the same window frames. Nevertheless, a high percentage (46 %) of the windows performed well after 15 years in service with only one renovation coating.
Keywords: Coating defects, decay type, performance, wood protection by design
Authors
Brischke C.
Institute of Vocational Sciences in the Building Trade (IBW), Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
Grüne K.
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