Abstract: | Abstract Wood moisture content of coated panels of Scots pine sapwood was recorded during 24 months natural weathering in Vienna by logging electric resistance and temperature near the surface. Eight coating systems with various film thicknesses were used, including three solvent borne alkyd stains, three water borne acrylic stains and two water borne acrylic paints. At five sites in Europe wood moisture content of panels coated with three solvent borne alkyd stains, a brown acrylic stain and a white opaque acrylic paint was recorded weekly by changes in panel mass. Fluctuations in wood moisture content were influenced by the film thickness, water permeability and colour of the coating systems used. Degradation phenomena led to decreasing moisture protection of less durable coating systems over time of exposure. The exposure site clearly affected wood moisture content in the panels. |