A wood coating system will fail to perform properly after a certain time of weathering. From that moment, the substrate is especially prone to fungal attack. Moisture plays a key role on weathering performance, wood protection efficacy and decay susceptibility of wood. Therefore, knowledge of the moisture dynamics of the applied wood protection is of significant importance in the prediction of the service life of the wood coating system. Furthermore, weather action (abiotic) and biological factors (biotic) change the impact of moisture on the wood coating system. In this regard, this research focused on detailed monitoring of the moisture fluctuations of eight wood coating systems during outdoor weathering using a CMM (Continuous Moisture Measurement) set-up. Simultaneously, weather data were recorded. Data processing comprised correlation analysis, PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and cluster analysis on the functional moisture content data. In addition a laboratory evaluation combining artificial weathering with a floating test is discussed to determine moisture characteristics in a reliable way. Finally, these techniques are evaluated as a tool for the estimation of service life.

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