The Thermowood Collection- No Chemicals Needed
What's Old is New again. I have been importing and selling Thermowood to my clients in the United States for many years. Both for indoor flooring and outdoor decking and cladding. My clients, especially those in wet areas are ecstatic with beauty and durability. The wood is transformed and strengthened by a carefully measured heating process, practicedy the Vikings to increase the durability and longevity of their ships.
It's curious.. during these hard times, fashions and styles will rebel by becoming more refined and decadent. Perhaps it is a desperate attempt to preserve the best of civilization. As always high quality flooring is in demand. The refined look is always in style, whether in London, Paris, New York or Monaco. That which is cherished, unique and elegant is once more taking its rightful place in the home.
Thermowood: Heat, not Chemicals. Our forefathers knew an extremely simple and natural way of giving wood lasting protection from outside influences – heat treatment, with no chemical additives! It works like this: heat the wood to between 180-220° C, and a kind of ‘caramelization’ takes place, producing a dark brown coloration. Parts of the (hemicellulose) cell walls are broken up and ejected in crystal form, and the hollow spaces left behind filled up by the remaining elements. This process stops the wood absorbing water, so it no longer swells when exposed to damp and also loses its tendency to warp and split. Thermowood is therefore an ideal material for things that often get wet.
- Moisture content is reduced by up to 50% - low susceptibility to moisture & rot.
- Exceptionally increased dimensional stability over normal softwood – swelling and shrinkage are greatly reduced.
- Increased strength over untreated timbers by up to 20% - reduced bending & splitting.
- High resistance to warping & twisting.
- Greatly increased durability – life expectancy as long if not longer that that of chemically treated timbers.
- Reduced heat conducting properties – ideal for underfoot applications like poolside or hot tubs.
- Richness of colour – heat treatment darkens the colour all the way to the core.
- Can be worked like any other timber but is much lighter in weight and easier to handle.
- Reduced maintenance – stability & durability eases the burden of regular maintenance
The exceptional durability of Thermowood makes it particularly suitable for exterior applications such as decking, cladding, fencing and trellis work, garden furniture and other outdoor constructions such as pergolas and car ports. As no chemicals are added to the timber, it is an ideal material to use in organic gardens.
It’s increased stability also makes it suitable for indoor use such as interior cladding, flooring, saunas, door & window frames and indoor furniture.
As no chemicals are added to the timber, any waste produced when working can be simply burnt without any pollution.
Thermowood: Heat, not Chemicals.
Our forefathers knew an extremely simple and natural way of giving wood lasting protection from outside influences – heat treatment, with no chemical additives! It works like this: heat the wood to between 180-220° C, and a kind of ‘caramelization’ takes place, producing a dark brown coloration. Parts of the (hemicellulose) cell walls are broken up and ejected in crystal form, and the hollow spaces left behind filled up by the remaining elements. This process stops the wood absorbing water, so it no longer swells when exposed to damp and also loses its tendency to warp and split. Thermowood is therefore an ideal material for things that often get wet
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