The importance of wooden facades is increasing. People are seeking a natural appearance and are increasingly avoiding synthetic materials. Due to the high costs and time-consuming maintenance associated with wood protection coatings, there is a growing trend to avoid such treatments. In Slovenia, coniferous wood, primarily spruce and larch, is predominantly used for facade construction. The aim of this diploma thesis was to compare the key properties of Norway spruce, heartwood of European larch, sapwood of Scots pine, and heartwood of Scots pine after seven years of outdoor exposure. In the thesis, we mentioned and analysed which wood species are used for wooden facades in Slovenia and whether it is possible to use alternative species, such as pine wood, for this purpose. We were interested in how the properties of the selected coniferous wood species affect their suitability for outdoor use without protection. The work began with the documentation and preparation of samples of the selected wood species, which were exposed outdoors for seven years. We analysed the dynamics of wood wetting and drying over a seven-year period, and determined the density, compressive strength, colour, roughness, contact angle, and visual assessment of decay after seven years of outdoor exposure. After analysing the data, we found that spruce wood, larch wood, and pine wood performed well after seven years of exposure, but unprotected pine sapwood is not suitable for outdoor use
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