Enduringly attractive toned translucents

Which is the best coating system to use? The local Teknos experts will help you make the right decision. Our coating recommendations for typical requirements provide an initial pointer. In this article: translucent coatings for wooden windows.

Whether for indigenous softwoods or tropical woods such as meranti: translucent coatings combine the possibility of coloration with the characteristic appearance of the material. Teknos offers a wide range of system products that can be used to create excellent coating systems. But what is the optimal coating for the requirement in hand? Resistance class and pore filling are essential criteria.

Wood preservative: yes or no?

The resistance class determines whether a wood preservative is used. The basic rule: woods starting at resistance class 3 (this includes all softwoods) must always be preserved. Wood preservative is a possibility with resistance classes 1-2, and in some cases also advisable. As an example, this applies to white oak, which despite being a resistance class 2 wood is susceptible to blue stain and should therefore be preserved.

Meranti is a special case. There are considerable variations in bulk density within the types used for window manufacturing. Therefore, the resistance class of meranti ranges between 2 and 4 depending on the type and bulk density; meranti with a resistance class poorer than 2 must be preserved. Weight class provides an indicator: Meranti from 550 kg/m³ upward is generally resistant enough to do without wood preservative. Window manufacturers should therefore check the documentation for the weight class when purchasing.

Suitable Teknos products for wood preservation are TEKNOL AQUA 1410-01. Colourless, water-borne wood preservatives offer reliable, effective protection against blue stain and wood-destroying fungi and complies with EN 599. It is suitable for flowcoating and dipping, dries quickly and is non-staining.

The right color

The need for a pore filler depends on the type of wood. For hardwoods, the pores should be filled before applying the topcoat to achieve an optimum surface. This is not necessary with softwoods. However, if no pore filler is used, V-joints and end grain wood should still be sealed.

AQUAFILLER 6500 can be used as a pore filler. It is water-borne and suitable for all types of wood. Good run-off properties reduces the sanding requirement and produces smooth, even surfaces. TEKNOSEAL 4000-00 is recommended for end grain sealing and TEKNOSEAL 4000-01 for V-joint protection.

Natural wood appearance with an appropriate coloring is what makes translucent coatings so attractive. Choosing the right shade is therefore important. The primer is what determines the color. It should always be darker than the final coat in order to achieve deeply transparent, rich shades.

AQUAPRIMER 2900 flowcoat primer offers a wide range of color options, provides a high color egalisation effect and enables even surfaces. Its excellent process and wetting properties reduce the amount of sanding work and shorten throughput times.

The translucent variants of AQUATOP 2600 are suitable for topcoating. Their excellent clarity produces natural, transparent tones. Thanks to a well-balanced combination of pigmentation and chemical UV absorbers, they offer reliable UV protection and are highly weather-resistant. Gloss grades of 10 to 60 are possible for the desired look and feel.

When it comes to color tones, window manufacturers can rely on advice from Teknos. Teknos operates color labs in many countries. Our local specialists help with order-related color tones according to building specifications, and with developing your own color collections. If requested, the Teknos color lab can also produce individual color samples on the customer's original wood.