How can wooden islands withstand water?

August 27 2025, By ROSE CAO, 4 mins to read

A unique architectural sculpture, standing out on the water, is a harmonious combination of nature and human creativity. The project is an unimaginable wooden "oasis" that can appear on the water. Usually we often see industrial materials other than wood such as iron, steel... but how? Let's find out together in this article.

Sensory experience:

• Vision: Sunlight shines through the gaps and wood textures, creating shimmering streaks of light that change continuously on the wood surface at different times of the day. At night, a cleverly installed, soft, artistic lighting system turns this place into a magical block of light in the middle of a sea of ​​darkness.

• Hearing: The sound of waves gently lapping at the foot of the structure, combined with the sound of the wind whistling through the wooden gaps, creates a peaceful natural symphony, completely separate from the noise of the mainland.

• Tactile: The wood surface is smoothly processed, still retaining the natural grain, giving a warm, rough but delicate touch.

Technical Solutions: How to Prevent Wood from Being Eroded by Seawater?

In order for a structure to survive the harsh environment of seawater (with its salt, high humidity, microorganisms and currents), a very strict process of treating and protecting the wood is required. Here are the key steps:

1. Choosing the Right Wood Type:

• Wood with high natural durability (Group I & II): Prioritize wood types that are termite resistant, waterproof and have good load-bearing capacity.

  • Xylia Xylocarpa: Has very good hardness and water resistance.

  • Black Rosewood (Cassia Siamea): Naturally termite resistant, suitable for humid environments.

  • Hopea Odorata: Good water resistance, often used in shipbuilding.

  • Teak (Vatica spp.): Very hard, strong, termite resistant and water resistant.

• Thermally Modified Timber: Wood that has been treated with high temperatures (over 180°C) in an anaerobic environment. This process changes the sugar structure of the wood, making it No longer a food for mold and insects , and at the same time reduces water absorption to very low levels, significantly increasing dimensional stability.

2. Surface Treatment & Deep Impregnation:

• Pressure Treatment: This is a MANDATORY step. The wood will be put into a sealed chamber and high pressure will be used to push it. specialized preservatives penetrates deep into the wood grain.

  • Suitable chemicals: Use salts such as ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) or CuAz (Copper Azole) . The copper component in it is effective in killing mold and insects, very suitable for environments in direct contact with seawater.

  • Advantage: This method helps the chemicals penetrate deeply and evenly, protecting the wood from the inside, extending its life for decades.

3. Final Protective Coat:

• Specialized coating for marine environment: After impregnation, the wood surface needs to be covered with high quality oil or oil based paints Specially designed for ships and marine structures.

  • Characteristic: This coating forms a strong physical barrier, Absolutely waterproof, UV resistant (prevents wood from fading and becoming brittle due to sunlight), and is highly elastic to accommodate the natural expansion of the wood.

  • Procedure: Usually includes 1 coat of anti-corrosion primer and 2-3 coats of topcoat to ensure thickness and durability.

4. Smart Design & Structure:

• Limit stagnant water points: Design inclined structures with drainage grooves to prevent seawater from stagnating on the wood surface for long periods of time.

• Use stainless steel screws and bolts (304 or 316 stainless steel): Ordinary metals will rust rapidly in a salt environment, causing structural damage and contaminating the wood color.

• Regular maintenance: Despite careful handling, the Check and re-apply topcoat every 2-3 years It is necessary to promptly treat scratches or deterioration caused by the impact of waves and wind.

Technical Conclusion: With the combination of With the right choice of wood, modern pressure-treated technology, a specialized coating and a smart design , this wooden work of art in the middle of the sea can completely last forever, becoming a beautiful symbol of human creativity and ability to conquer nature.

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