Softwood
Thermal modification allows SeasonWood to produce exceptional softwood products from commodity softwood. By subjecting woods such as spruce, pine, hemlock, and larch to in a chemical-free thermal modification process, these commodity softwoods can substitute more expensive species like western red cedar in performance in applications such as decking, siding, sauna paneling, windows, and doors.
By subjecting wood to heat modification using steam and high temperatures, SeasonWood exhibits improved dimensional stability, longer durability, and a darker post-processed wood that imitates the color of more expensive exotic species. This heat-modification technology has been widely used in Europe with many wood species to beautify home sidings, wooden fences, doors, windows, and exterior decking.
Thermally modified wood has a lower equilibrium moisture content (EMC), with better dimensional stability. This means wood will shrink and swell less, ultimately leading to parts such as doors and doors frames that fit better particularly during season changes and wood shrinks and swells. SeasonWood softwoods shrink and swell about 50 percent less so. When thermally modifying lumber to higher temperatures such as 210°C (Thermo-D), moisture in the atmosphere has little negative effect on final products made using SeasonWood.
The heat modification technology can be done to any softwood species. Following are a few examples of the SeasonWood softwood final applications:
Cedar decking substitute –SeasonWood Softwoods are more biologically durable and rot resistant in products such as pool decking and outdoor decks that are exposed to humid conditions and rain. Our 100 percent thermally modified wood is a more durable alternative to many composite decking with rotting and cracking problems because of their use of untreated wood mixed with the plastic.
Siding – Beautiful darker and warmer tones can be achieved to beautify your home. This is in addition to the added durability and performance stability of the wood particularly in harsher climates or regions exposed to extreme temperature ranges during the year.
Fences – Used as western red cedar or natural pine substitute, thermally modified softwoods used for fences become a beautiful, cost-effective, and durable alternative that is possible thanks through wood technology advancements.
Windows and doors – Windows and doors will not expand or shrink as much from rain or moisture in the air, so they’ll be easier to open and close.
Saunas – By using thermally modified pine or hemlock, saunas can be constructed to be more durable and water repellent than unmodified wood. Saunas are an ideal fit they are constantly exposed to moisture and humidity change which causes the wood to shrink and swell many times during the sauna’s lifecycle. Additionally SeasonWood is more durable and because of its lower EMC, is also lighter which can help reduce shipping costs.
SeasonWood’s philosophy of value-added allows us to invest in research kilns such as our Canadian Abbotsford ThermoWood TM Kiln so that we continue to research green opportunities to offer exceptional wood for exceptional products at great prices.
For SeasonWood Softwood inquiries contact us here or please call us at 604-762-7075
