There are a bounty of benefits to using Thermally Modified Timber over chemically treated, composite, pressure treated or untreated alternatives. For centuries we’ve known that heating timber to high temperatures, close to combustion, has led to a more stable, longer lasting option and for more on the history of heat treated timber, see here. In this post, we’re going to be uncovering the top 5 advantages to using our thermally modified timber here from our Devon sawmill.
Increased Stability
The dimensional stability of thermally modified timber is increased up to 60% from that of unmodified timber. No chemically treated timber will have this level of stability and in fact, pressure treated timber, due to the chemicals involved can later react to the sun, causing warping and cupping, unlike thermally modified timber. When we thermally modify our timber, we’re denaturing the cells of the wood, changing them from hydrophilic cells to hydrophobic ones. This means that they change from liking water and absorbing it, to disliking water and therefore repelling it. When the timber becomes hydrophobic and stops absorbing moisture, it stops expanding and contracting with weather events and as a result, becomes evidently more stable.
Reduce Rot & Insect Attack
Thermally Modified Timber is a good timber to use if trying to avoid insects fungi or mould. During the thermal modification process, the cells of the timber denature and don’t hold the sugars and moisture that they did before. This means that they simply aren’t tasty to insects/fungi/moulds that would otherwise have fed on them. Through this, we can see a much longer lifespan of thermally modified timber over other alternatives. Chemically treated timber has the same advantage, but it only lasts a short amount of time as the chemicals have a life span shorter than that of the timber.
Chemical Free
So here we have it, perhaps the most important point for those looking for a sustainable exterior cladding. Our thermally modified timber is completely chemical free, 100% natural. Thermal modification is a much more eco friendly alternative compared to composite cladding, pressure treated timber, or chemically treated timber. Our plant is run from solar energy from our on site solar farm, and our timber is all grown locally to us here in Devon. We run each cycle which involves heat of up to 220 degrees within a vacuum and that’s it, no chemicals involved at any stage of the process. With thermally modified timber your’l get uniform weathering of the timber along with zero chemical run of during your project.
Supports British Woodlands
Our timber is all British and we’re proudly certified with Grown in Britain. With the use of British timber comes stronger emphasis on our forests industry and woodland management. By using British timber we encourage woodlands to be managed more effectively, supporting woodland owners to replant trees and encourage the growth of our woodlands here in the UK. We currently import 80% of the wood used here in the UK, an unbelievable fact from Timbersource. By using British thermally modified cladding, we can help to support our woodland industries on our doorstep, staying local and again, more sustainable.
Long Life Span
Thermally modified timber has a lifespan of up to 60 years and has a much longer lifespan than composite cladding, pressure treated cladding or chemically treated cladding. The cells of the timber are denatured through he entire thickness of the timber, giving it durability throughout, rather than merely on the surface levels. If comparing the end of life procedures for any of the cladding materials not the market, thermally modified timber is 100% natural and so can decompose with zero negative impact not the environment. No chemicals will be leached and no plastics will be left.
Our thermally modified timber is becoming a more common choice of exterior cladding on projects across the UK. Across the globe it is a well renowned and heavily used technology, but it has only recently made it’s way over to the UK. Brimstone cladding Vastern timber produce the same thermally modified cladding and were the first in the UK to do so. With our new plant, and a few updates in the technology, we’re now owners of the largest and most technologically advanced thermal modification plants in the UK. So send us an email, request a sample or give us a call to find out more.
