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Oak tannins

Posted by Bo Cook on April 8, 2014 at 11:10am in Paving Materials and Advice
Hi folks,
I do like to use oak in my designs as it's a hardwood that isn't vastly expensive, plus our local suppliers source from Europe, mainly France, so we have lower miles traveled. But, we have the tannin issue!

So if we use it for edging we leave a thin gap filled with aggregates if it's alongside stone, and we have delayed painting rendered walls til it's washed out if the oak is on top. But recently we had a pergola drip issue where it passed over stone.

I may be missing something obvious, but what can we do to stop it, or how best can we clean stains off limestone and sandstone if it happens?

I have read about oxalic acid being used to clean sandstone. Any experience?

Thanks
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Tags: oak, sandstone, tannin
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Replies

  • PRO
    Phil Voice April 8, 2014 at 12:23pm

    Hi Bo

    Have a read of this from Kerry Jackson: http://www.jacksonslandscapedesign.com/2012/07/tannin-stain-removal...

  • Bo Cook April 8, 2014 at 1:18pm

    I saw that earlier on when I was researching the issue before I posted here, and I am about to order some!

    I think it interesting there is little information out there. Do people use oak and just ignore the issue, or do people not use oak at all!

    I am watching my own pond fill up naturally with rainwater, with what is now tea coloured water, again from tannins washing in from the oak edging. I know I can clean that up with activated charcoal, but I found no information whether the tannins were bad for wildlife, or what! It feels like there is tumbleweed out in the vastness of the web when I google tannins and stone, tannins and water, tannins and anything!!

    There must be some examples out there of people that have used oak and how they have dealt with it.

    Thanks for the link Phil. Appreciated

  • Bo Cook April 8, 2014 at 2:25pm

    And one final question … what wood species do people use in their design and builds? My local wood supplier has informed that that Balau also leaches! Ipe (the most expensive!) doesn't.

  • Thermo April 8, 2014 at 9:03pm

    we normally seal it with an oil like Danish or decking oil. had a job a few years where we laid a nice travertine patio and a guy employed by the client direct built an oak pergola over it and forgot to seal it. luckily the stains came out with diluted bleach. if we are using it for walls near patios etc, we often give it a good repeated soaking before anything else goes down to help get the worst out

  • Bo Cook April 9, 2014 at 8:17am

    Thanks Thermo. Helpful advice!

  • chris nangle April 9, 2014 at 6:29pm

    Hi Bo
    oxalic acid is the way too go ,alas the tannins will keep washing for a few months ,but i think this is still better than using tropical timber

  • Bo Cook April 9, 2014 at 7:32pm

    Thanks Chris!

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