A method for mitigating degradation of a wooden piece immersed in water caused by the presence of microorganisms in the water and the corresponding wooden piece, in which a large number of staples made of a material comprising iron are driven into a water-exposed surface of the wooden piece. The staples are distributed on the water-exposed surface of the wooden piece with an homogeneous density of staples on the water-exposed surface and a deepness of driving of the staples into the wooden piece. The homogeneous density of staples and the deepness of driving of the staples are adjusted to produce, by means of a chemical reaction between the water and the iron of the staples when the water immerses the water-exposed surface, a homogeneous ferrous oxide barrier on and underneath the water-exposed surface over a certain thickness into the wooden piece to protect the wooden piece against degradation caused by the presence of microorganisms in the water.
