In-Place Preservative Treatments for Covered Bridges.

摘要

Covered bridges can be vulnerable to damage from fungal decay and insect attack. This paper describes procedures for selecting and applying in-place treatments to prevent or arrest biodegradation, and summarizes recent research evaluating some of these treatments. Wood moisture is the key to decay and termite attack, and the first line of defense against biodeterioration is to minimize moisture intrusion through prompt maintenance and repair. Biodeterioration will tend to be more prevalent wherever members contact abutments, are near the ends of bridges subject to wetting from splashing, or are below windows or other openings that allow entry of wind-blown precipitation. In-place preservative applications can help limit deterioration when moisture cannot be eliminated. The goal of in-place treatment is to distribute preservative into areas of a structure that are vulnerable to moisture accumulation.