Wood protection techniques and natural weathering: their effect on aesthetics and preference of people

Wood treatments change the tactile and visual properties of wood substantially and they are further altered by weathering. No matter how useful the wood treatment is, people will be reluctant to select materials they do not find appealing. For this reason, many valuable wood protection techniques may find it hard to reach their full potential on the market. To confront this challenge, we must carefully analyse how the visual and tactile qualities of treated (and weathered) wood influence human preference and material selection. This presentation presents the results of a study in which 100 participants selected (and ranked) their favourite wooden materials to be used as an outdoor table top surface based on their combined tactile and visual inspection. The results demonstrate how preference and selection of wood vary with treatment types, species, weathering, and sensory and evaluative properties.