Tar products – FAQ

Do you sell to private individuals?

No, we only sell through our reseller, you can find them here https://www.auson.se/worldwide/

How do I open the jar?

Each flange on the hub block must be folded out, there are tools for that but it also works with e.g. a screwdriver. Imagine the lid from above, at each flange you stop the screwdriver against the small edge of the flange and fold outwards. It is important that the flaps are unfolded completely, as it is a seal that sits against the jar that makes it like a suction that holds the lid, when all the flaps are out, you pull the lid up and/ or from one side obliquely up.

How is the pine tar made?

Our pine tar is produced by dry distillation of wood in an oven. 

What colors are the pine tars in?

Auson has six pigmented pine tars that give matte, stylish colours. We also have Genuine pine tar and Dalbränd pine tar as well as tar mixtures without pigment.

How is it that pine tar is such a good wood protection?

Pine tar is a product derived from pine and contains a large proportion of resin and turpentine. By treating wood with pine tar, you therefore add these natural substances that the tree itself uses against insect infestation and other damage. The wood also gets a natural impregnation that prevents moisture from penetrating and instead allows it to breathe. This prevents the wood from drying out and cracking.

In what weather and at what temperature can I paint with pine tar?

For optimal conditions when painting, you shoul plan the painting for early summer/ summer or early autumn. Make sure the weather is expected to be stable and relatively sunny in coming days. A heavy rain shower on a freshly facade can, in worst case, cause the paint to run off. Wood tar dries slowly and it takes a few days before the tar has formed a water repellent protection. Be sure to cover details that are not to be painted such as doors, windows, house foundation etc. Leave the cover plastic for a few days after painting or until the tar has started to dry at the surface.

We recommend dry weather and a temperature preferable over 10 degrees Celsius. At that temperature the tar products are easy to work with and penetrate easily into the wood. It can be painted in colder weather, but the tar becomes a little thicker, harder to smooth out and dries more slowly. It is important that the wood is dry during the treatment and that it does not rain or get damp before the tar has dried. The warmer the weather, the thinner and easier the tar is to work with.

What do I need to do before I start painting?

It’s important that the surface is completely clean and dry. If it has been infested with algae or mold of any kind, the surface must first be washed with algae or mould wash. The surface must be dry before you start painting. For surfaces that have already been treated with pine tar, you only need to brush and clean off dirt and dust. On wood that has previously been painted with distemper paint, you should use a wire brush to remove loose paint. Finish by brushing off the entire surface with a soft brush or broom. Stir carefully in the tin before you start and also several times during the painting. The pigment settles quickly in the bottom of the tin, especially for the Pine Tar Vitriol, which must be stirred more regularly than the other pigmented tars. Finish painting an entire wall at a time, using the same batch.

How much tar is needed per square metre?

The consumption is between 5-8 sqm per litre for all our pigmented tars except for Pine tar vitriol which has a consumption between 6-10 sqm per litre. Our Genuine pine tar and our Dalbränd pine tar have a consumption of about 2-4 sqm per litre. The consumption depends on the type of wood, if the surface is planed or unplaned,the weather conditions (temperature) and whether it is a new or older façade. A dry and cracked façade absorbs the tar heavily so the consumption per square metre might be significantly greater than normal.

How fast do pine tars dry?

Wood tar is a pure natural product that is relatively slow-drying. Drying time depends on how thick you paint, which type of wood is chosen, new or older facade, the weather during and after painting. Therefore, you can not give an exact time when it is completely dry. The surface begins to feel drier after a few days while the smell of tar begins to subside slightly. After that, it takes a few weeks and sometimes up to a few months before the surface is completely dry. The drying time is shorter for Tar Vitriol than for our other pigmented tar.

How many times should I paint?

Paint at least twice to get the best water-repellent protection and even colour tone. Since the first coating provides good protection, you can wait with the second painting for up to a year if needed. Remember that the first treatment must have dried completely before you coat again.

How long does the paint last?

We usually recommend that you paint again after 6-8 years depending on the weather. The tar lasts shorter on the south and west sides compared to other sides. The time span is wide due to, among other things, the weather and wind, the quality of the wooden surface and where you live. Tar gradually builds up layers and the more times you have painted, the longer the maintenance intervals.

How long does the tar fragrance last?

The slightly stronger fragrance of tar diminishes significantly after a few days, when much of the turpentine disappears. After that a more soft and smoky tar fragrance comes out and it stays for a few months and then only appears on really hot days. After a year or so, you have to put your nose against the façade to smell it.

Can I repaint a house that has previously been treated with distemper paint?

Absolutely, it’s not a problem. Our Red tar contains similar pigments as traditional distemper paint.  Remember to be careful to wash clean if the surface is dirty and if it has been infested with mould. The tar is not a pesticide and will not remove previously mould-infested surface. Preferably paint over with the same colour as the distemper paint has.

Can I use the pine tar on other wood materials than house facades?

Yes, the colors also go well with planks, boathouses, piers, flowerboxes, fences, stables, garden rooms and more. Almost all wood that has not previously been painted with modern colours and is outdoors can be  treated with pine tar. Tar should not be used on wood indoors.

What nails should I use?

When painitng with bright colors use stainless or galvanized nails of good quality. 

Can I use any paint other than tar if I regret it?

Yes, regular distemper paint works well. If the surface is several years old and has stopped “bleeding” in hot weather, you can try painting over with linseed oil paint in a similar colour. Test first on a smaller surface.

Can pine tar discolour other materials?

Yes, on for example windows you can use turpentine or ethanol to remove tar. You can also use other paint removers. Materials such as concrete as well as pavings should be covered before painting.

Will the colour chalk up?

Our pigmented tars allow the wood to breathe and instead of the paint starting to crack and flake off, the surface and the pigment will slowly “chalk” and disappear. Pigmented tars works in a similar way as a distemper paint but are more durable and have colour pigments that bind in tar instead of water.

Does tar mould and where does the mold come from?

Pure tar contains no nutrients that allow mould to grow. Nothing in the tar minimizes mould if it already has appeared. It is a natural process caused by variations in climate, the material in the surfaces and several other factors that on certain occasions interact so that favourable conditions arise for the growth of mould and algae.

What happens if the paint has frozen during storage?

Normally nothing happens to the tar. It can be stored in cold rooms.

Can you paint pallet rims with tar?

Pine tar is an excellent wood protection for all kinds of wooden constructions, but it is not food approved. We recommend painting the outside and covering the inside with a suitable canvas.

Can you paint over Iron Vitriol with tar and what is the difference from Pine tar vitriol?

Iron vitriol can be painted over as it is, but preferably use our covering pigmented tars. Pine tar vitriol can also work, but it does not become as gray and fine as if you paint on a completely new panel. The difference between these products is that the tar protects and strengthens the façade without aging it.

Can you paint over a surface that has been painted with pine tar with another pine tar?

Our pigmented tars aren’t completely covering. The colour that covers best is our Black pine tar. However, you may need to paint it several times over a longer period for it to get a good coverage.

Can you paint on oak, larch and other hardwoods?

It’s possible to paint tar on hardwood, but preferably wait a few years until the façade has a little surface so that the tar can penetrate better.

Can I use tar on pressure impregnated wood?

Yes, preferably leave the surface for a few years until you do the first treatment.

Is it ok to spray paint the tar?

If you want to spray the tar, we can recommend Wagner´s smaller sprayers in the Control Pro Series that are sold at various DIY stores, nozzles included. For professionals, there are larger spray equipment of the Wagner brand, for example Wagner SF 23 Pro, the nozzle HEA 411 (green) provides a good spray pattern and adequate colour flow. Ordinary hobby sprayer gives a less good image. Feel free to apply with a brush, make sure that the tar does not run. Finishing should always be done manually with a regular brush or roller.

Can you alter the colour?

Our regular non-pigmented tars cannot be altered into different colours. Roslagsmahogny works with pigment in ordinary mixing machines, but it does not have as good colour stability as more modern glazes. However, you can mix an already finished pigmented tar colour with another to get a different color, here you will need to test it yourself.

Do I need to add any solvent?

All our pigmented Tars have already been diluted and these do not normally need to be diluted further for unplaned wood. For planed wood and if you want to spray the tar, we recommend an extra dilution with 10-20% turpentine or ethanol for all pigmented tars (not Pine Tar Vitriol)

Paint on planed and unplaned wood?

Our pigmented tars are already diluted for use on ordinary unplaned surfaces. For planed surfaces and surfaces that are of harder wood, you must dilute an additional 10-20% with turpentine or ethanol. Keep in mind  that the tar gets thinner the warmer it is, so just use so much that you get a good coverage without the tar starting to run. As planed wood is shiny, the tar can also look shiny the first time. 

Advanatage/disadvantage of painting the wood before set-up or on site?

If you paint on loose wood, we recommend that you paint the first coat when the timbers are flat  on the ground, you then reduce the risk of white stripes  on the façade when the wood dries. Tar takes a long time to dry so it can take time to paint twice if you choose to paint everything when the façade is up. This can be especially important to keep in mind, for example, your rent scaffolding when painting. Painting should not be done indoors. Tar contains turpentine which is a volatile solvent that should not be inhaled. Read more in the safety data sheets on our website.

Undercoating on end wood?

Do only use tar for the end wood. End wood sucks about 30 times more than ordinary wood surface, so it’s important that this part of the wood is made water repellent. You can make the tar a little bit thinner with turpentine or ethanol so that it penetrates better into the end wood or use our Tar Oil which is a thin tar mixture perfect for end wood.

Can you paint on a previously painted surface?

It is possible to paint on a previously glazed surface if it’s old and has started to flake. Just keep in mind that the tar can not penetrate where there is a previously painted surface. It’s good to be aware that our pigmented tars are not opaque and that other colours or flaked surfaces can be seen through. We recommend that you do a test on a smaller area first before you paint over.

Paint with Tar oil?

Used on wooden constructions where you want a tar that easily penetrates into the surface such as balcony floors, decking and bridges. The tar is brown when applied, as it does not contain any pigment, this colour will gradually fade away. This can take a few months up to a year depending on when the treatment is done. Tar oil penetrates the wood and makes the surface water-repellent and minimizes cracking. The drying time ranges from a few days up to several weeks.

Paint with Tarinoil (Roslagsmahogny)?

Tarinoil is a mixture of tar, linseed oil and turpentine. It’s thinner and dries faster than regular tar. Apply two thin layers, allow to dry between. Tarinoil can be used on wooden structures, piers, boats etc. The tar turns dark brown when applied, as it does not contain any pigment this colour will fade due to sunlight, but the tar continues to do its job in the wood. Tarinoil contains linseed oil which in extreme conditions can give rise to mould. Therefore, you must always do a thorough mould wash of the surface before painting.

Paint with non-pigmented tar, Genuine pine tar 850 and Dalbränd pine tar 773?

The tar can be heated up to 50-70 degrees Celsius or diluted with about 20% turpentine or ethanol for easier penetration into the wood. An old traditional tar coating recipe is a third of each, linseed oil, turpentine and tar. It can be used on wooden facades, wooden roofs, churches, boats, piers, fences and more. Pure pine tar has antiseptic qualities and can be used for veterinary purposes such as horseshoes and more. The tar turns dark brown when applied, because it does not contain any pigment, the colour fades through time, but the tar continues to do its job in the wood. The drying time ranges from a few days up to several weeks.

Paint with pigmented pine tars, Red pine tar, Black pine tar, BlackBrown pine tar, Brown pine tar and Green pine tar?

These are already diluted and ready to use on unplaned wood, for planed wood dilute further according to the instructions on the tin. It is important to paint in thin layers to avoid cracking. Stir well on the bottom of the tin before painting, also stir occasionally during the painting. We recommend that you paint two coats on previously untreated wood. Drying time is anywhere from a few days up to several weeks. Whilst the tar penetrates into the timber, the colour remains on the surface.

Paint with pigmented tar, Pine tar vitriol?

Pine tar vitriol is ready to be used as it is, no dilution should be done. It turns brown/grey with the first coating. At the second  coating  it turns further gray. It is then a reaction with the sun that makes it light grey. Where the sun does not access, for example the north side of the house, it does not turn as gray. Stir thoroughly, especially at the bottom of the tin before painting as the pigment settles, also stir in the tin during painting about every 5 minutes. We recommend two coats on previously untreated wood. Drying time is anywhere from a few days up to several weeks. The colour remains on the surface. Coverage is between 6-10 sqm per litre.