ᐅ House Photos Discussion Corner – Share Your Home Pictures!

We applied larch oil once (a bit unevenly in one spot, so I need to touch that up), which is supposed to slow down the graying process. You probably have to reapply it more often, or you can just let it gray naturally, or paint it a color later on.

Oil it every year, and it will stay looking nice – my uncle has his apprentices do this on his house every year.

He is a complete wood enthusiast (carpenter), but even he thinks the grey wood looks really ugly.

We also created a curtain wall facade using "artificially" weathered wood, and I must clarify that it results in a beautifully smooth and glossy surface, which at most needs to be repainted once every 10 years (!) without any sanding! The stain penetrates into the wood, so nothing peels off! It has a wonderful appearance.

The photos show the difference between natural wood (larch) and the finished coating, highlighting how glossy the surface is. The color tone here is patina, but many other shades are available. This stain can be ordered in 2,000 different NCS colors, so it’s definitely not just "cold and gray."

Nice, but just painted – it’s not really what some people here appreciate.

Our excavation pit is finally completely filled in again. Slowly, above-ground work can begin as well. It looks like much less work than it actually was.

If you don’t paint, the wood will naturally turn gray and weathered—that’s something you need to decide based on your preference. I’m not a big fan of natural weathering because wasps often attack and eat the wood.

Painting is only a lot of work the first time, especially because you also have to paint the back side, which is not a smooth surface but full of grooves and cracks. However, the final coat goes on very quickly. It takes several hours to dry each time. Subsequent coats are applied only on the visible side and are also done quite quickly. The stain contains protective agents (i.e., biocides) against algae, fungi, and pests, as well as UV protection—not just pigment. You can also get the stain in a clear version if you prefer the natural look.