Description
Product card thermally modified wood. Wood is a natural product and each type of wood has certain properties. These can wrongly be seen as lower quality. At THERMINO® we think it is important to inform you about this in advance. That is why we tell you in this product card what you can expect from modified wood, so that you can determine whether this is the right choice. There are various types of wood that are not very durable if they are used outdoors without treatment, including: ayous, fraké and pine wood. By thermally modifying these types of wood, the lifespan – also outside – is considerably extended. Thermal modification is a sustainable process in which the wood is processed by heat and steam, without the use of chemicals. Thermal modification makes the woods just as durable as hardwood with an average lifespan of 20 years. Thermally modified wood is lightweight and is therefore widely used as facade cladding. It is of course also possible to make a fence out of it or to use the wood as a wall in your roof.
The process of thermal modification
The thermal treatment of wood consists of three steps. In the first step, the wood is dried back in a calm condition to a moisture content of approximately 10%.
The second step is the so-called thermal treatment. The wood is placed in a vacuum environment and the temperature is raised to 200°C. Due to the heat, glucose and other substances are baked out of the wood and the cell structure of the wood changes completely.
As soon as the above process stops, the wood automatically cools down and gets a moisture content of 3 to 4%. This so that the wood does not become brittle and can be processed properly. The wood is then planed into the various profiles.
Product Features
SENSITIVE TO DAMAGE | Thermally modified wood is drier than fresh wood and is therefore more susceptible to damage. We advise you to transport the wood carefully. The ends of the planks in particular can be damaged more quickly by impacts, for example.
LIGHT WEIGHT | By extracting moisture from the wood, thermally modified wood becomes lighter in weight. This makes the wood very suitable for facade cladding, for example. It is less stressful and can be processed more easily at height, because it is less heavy than untreated wood.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY | Thermal modification is only done by means of heat and steam, so without the use of chemicals. That makes the wood an environmentally friendly choice. In addition, the lifespan of the wood is extended and in that time a new tree can grow again. By choosing thermally modified wood, you also help prevent deforestation.
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS | If you are going to install thermally modified wood, it is important to follow the installation instructions. Pay particular attention to good ventilation and mount the wood at least 5 to 10 cm above the ground. If moisture penetrates the wood, it can deform. Use stainless steel mounting material for mounting. Apply your nails, then use a nylon hammer. If you opt for facade screws, always pre-drill the wood.
KNOTS | Spruce wood naturally contains knots, these are places where a branch has been on the tree. Knots are often round or oval and can fall out of the wood when dry. These knots are also visible in thermally modified firing. You can replace these knots and glue them. Knots are unavoidable and have no influence on the quality of the wood.
TEARS | A big difference compared to other garden wood is that thermally modified wood has little wood effect. Nevertheless, it remains a natural product and there is a small chance of cracks occurring. These do not affect the quality of the wood.
GRAYING | The thermal treatment gives the wood a beautiful dark colour. Over time, this color will turn gray under the influence of weather conditions. This is a natural property that also occurs in other types of wood. Do you want to keep the original color? Then we recommend that you treat the wood with a stain before application. Or opt for colored thermally modified wood. The wood is then sprayed in the desired color.
DIFFERENCES IN COLOR AND STRUCTURE | Since wood comes from trees, no two planks are the same. The color and structure of the wood can therefore differ. Under the influence of weather conditions, the color difference will converge more. Even with colored wood, the color can sometimes differ slightly. We recommend that you order colored wood in one go as much as possible, so that the wood comes from one batch. This reduces the chance of color difference.
BLACK STAINS | Sometimes parts of thermally modified wood may have black spots. These are fungi that grow from spores in the air and ‘attach’ themselves to the wood, as it were. The wood provides a breeding ground because sugars are released on the surface of the wood during the production process. The fungi disappear by themselves or can be removed by means of water and possibly green soap. These spots do not affect the quality of the wood.