Alpine Spas Narvik - Expectations; Wood Material Characteristics; Wood Oiling and Maintenance

Expectations
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Wood
The decorative wooden staves are “Thermowood” - heat treated pine, sourced from local European
countries abundant in pine such as Finland. This type of pine is used to build houses and saunas, so it
is structurally sound and an excellent choice for this type of application.
Pine is a softwood and is susceptible to scratches and dents, so please take care when shifting the
product. Some light scratching to the wood should be expected upon delivery but should be able to
be touched up using a medium to ne grit sandpaper (100). Knots, colour variations, grain variations
and mineral streaks are natural characteristics of wood and in no way should be considered defects.
The wooden parts of the tub will suer the eects of the harsh New Zealand sun (discolouration,
cracking and splitting) unless maintained properly – please refer to oiling section below.
Oiling
Wood being used in an outdoor application requires regular maintenance to protect it and keep
it looking good. The Thermowood is treated in Europe (through a heat treatment process) but it is
supplied unoiled. Any wood that is exposed to the New Zealand sun needs regular surface treatment
with a timber protection oil.
Leaving the Thermowood unoiled will see discolouration of the wood and will cause it to dry out,
increasing the chances of cracking or splitting which is not covered by warranty.
As part of the ownership of a natural wood product, please be prepared to:
- Oil the Thermowood upon receivership and installation.
- Re-oil the Thermowood every 6-12 months.
Only the external facing wooden surfaces (the wood not submerged in water) need to be oiled.
We recommend a ‘clear coat timber protection oil’ such as ‘CD-50’. Such products are available from
hardware stores such as Mitre 10 or Bunnings. Simply oil using a paintbrush to brush on an even
coat. Follow product application and preparation directions.
To oil all of the staves and top lip you will need a fair amount of product. It is worth getting up to
10litres of oil as your Hot Tub will need a re-coat in 6-12 months’ time.