How to resin wooden frames : instructions for resining wood doors and windows. Techniques for restoring frames for the recovery of shutters, blinds and doors.
The frames are always exposed to atmospheric agents, especially the external casements of the windows: sun, hail, rain, summer heat, humidity, winter frost… These conditions, over time, cause the surface paint to lift and can damage the wood. For proper maintenance of the frames, it would be necessary to periodically brush a protective paint from UV and ensure a smooth and homogeneous surface.
To avoid having to replace the frames, you can do some DIY work such as painting and resining the wood . If you have the possibility, before resining the old windows, you should dismantle them and work in a well-ventilated area. Those who, due to structural constraints, cannot dismantle the window and door frames, can work on site.
How to resin wooden window frames
Most of the time it is possible to save the frames and limit yourself to a good recovery job, however, in some cases the state of degradation is so advanced that the wood cannot guarantee its original structural characteristics. Before attempting to recover and restore the frames , evaluate the state of conservation of the wood.
For the analysis and to continue with the restoration work of the fixtures , dismantle all the moving parts such as shutters, doors, blinds… Leave in place only the wooden frames with the fixed parts connected to them.
For a careful restoration, in addition to repainting the window frames , you can perform a more thorough consolidation by injecting resins on all the dismantled parts. What are the steps to follow to restore the window frames and bring them back to life?
- Dismantling of moving parts
- Dismantling of the frame
only if structurally possible, otherwise the frame is worked on site. - Stripping wood
Before you can resin the wood, you will need to bring it back to its natural state. - Repair
repair of any cracks, repair of seals… - Resin coating of wood
keep in mind that the resin, by itself, does not protect the wood from UV rays, so you will need to apply a specific extra protector. - Wood varnishing
To improve wind and water resistance, during repairs, the gaskets could be replaced after milling the wood . Make a careful evaluation: milling the wood, if not done properly, could weaken the structure.
For windows, we recommend replacing the glass parts: instead of single-pane glass, you can use single panes (of similar thickness) but made with new double glazing with the addition of a heat-insulating film. In this way, you will be able to improve the thermal efficiency of the window, making the frame more insulating.
As for cracks in the wood and splits in the uprights, these must be filled with injections of filler resin.
The last step to be performed, before being able to resin the wooden frames , is the measurement of the residual humidity: with an instrument, measure the degree of residual humidity inside the wood of the frame, at a depth of about 4 cm. The residual humidity should not exceed 8%. Higher percentages indicate a state of degradation of the wood that is now too difficult to recover.
Pass two-component resins for wood
Resins are intended to reduce the porosity of wood and isolate it, protecting it from atmospheric agents. In the naval field, to resinate a boat, epoxy resins are used, in the domestic field, to protect and restore our fixtures, we can use acrylic resins.
Among the acrylic resins on the market we point out Paraloid B72 which is able to protect wood from acid or alkaline agents, oils, greases and chemical vapors. It is perfectly resistant to water and forms an elastic film with excellent adhesion characteristics. It does not react with any pigments and is therefore easy to use. This product can be used to resinate wood but also light metals, creating a stable and completely transparent coating.
