Wood restoration: treatments and protections

After a major renovation, scheduled maintenance is your best ally for longevity. Facades, frames, shutters, and interiors shouldn't be abandoned until the next major renovation, but should be monitored with periodic checks. Small cracks, localized detachments, and the first signs of peeling paint or wood decay are much easier to manage if addressed immediately.

For painted facades , for example, visual inspections every few years can identify areas most exposed to smog, water, or sun. In these areas, a gentle wash and partial restoration of the finish may be sufficient, without requiring extensive scaffolding across the entire facade. Water repellents and protective coatings applied during restoration can be renewed periodically to maintain their effectiveness.

Wooden elements require regular maintenance, especially in areas with strong sun exposure or harsh weather conditions. Checking the condition of shutters and window frames every 2–3 years, assessing whether a light sanding with a coat of finish is sufficient or whether more thorough work is needed, prevents advanced deterioration, where replacement becomes inevitable.

In restored interiors , maintenance is often more related to daily habits than to external factors. Using detergents compatible with the paints and materials chosen, taking care not to constantly bump the walls with furniture and objects, and possibly touching up small areas with products consistent with the original cycle keep the overall look tidy without disrupting the previous work.

It's also helpful to prioritize : some areas are more delicate or exposed (stringcourses, corners, protruding decorative elements, lower parts subject to impacts), while others are less critical. Understanding these differences allows you to focus time and budget where they're really needed, avoiding random, poorly targeted interventions.

Living with awareness in a restored building means accepting that time will continue to leave its mark, but deciding to manage it in a controlled manner. This avoids emergency restorations and transforms maintenance into a series of small, planned actions that are much more sustainable in the long run.