Evaluation of the efficiency of Lasures for outdoor use on East African wood species

Timber, a renewable and sustainable building material, is significantly found in the tropical regions like Rwanda where, is used for construction and furniture. However, the tropical climate, with high humidity and temperature fluctuations, along with threats from termites and fungi, challenges the durability and performance of timber. Existing surface treatment techniques often fail to address the specific environmental and socioeconomic conditions of these regions. There is a lack of research on sustainable surface treatments suitable for Rwanda's timber industry. Through experimental testing, this study assesses the sustainability-oriented performance of water-based lasures, a type of surface treatment, on six East African wood species, including; Milicia excelsa (muvula), Markhamia lutea (umusave), Entandrophragma excelsum (libuyu), Cupressus lusitanica (cypress), Pinus callitris (pine), and Eucalyptus saligna (eucalyptus), compared with Fagus sylvatica (European beech) as a reference. It analyzes the physical and chemical changes of these woods over time, aiming to provide insights for local timber industries on the most effective surface treatment techniques and wood species for outdoor use. The research involved testing moisture content, water absorption, and coating integrity of samples treated with pigmented waterbased lasures against paint-coated and untreated samples under controlled conditions. Results revealed that lasure-treated specimens demonstrated lower water uptake, enhanced surface stability, and superior coating adhesion, especially in dense hardwoods. The findings indicate that water-based lasures are a sustainable, low-VOC alternative, capable of prolonging the lifespan and minimizing the maintenance needs of outdoor timber products in tropical climates. These findings also provide the essential guidance for sustainable wood utilization in East Africa and similar regions.