What is Thermowood Cladding?

Saturday 6th August, 2011

If you are choosing between the many different options for timber external claddings for your home, you may have heard Thermowood Cladding mentioned and wondered what it is. How do you know if it is a better choice for you than other building materials?

Here are some answers to a few of the common questions about Thermowood Cladding.

How is Thermowood Made?

Thermowood cladding comes from Scandinavian Softwood that has been treated with a heat process. When Thermowood cladding is made, it is subjected to pressure and heat, as well as nitrogen and water vapour to control the drying process. This treatment is carefully observed and can take anywhere from 24 to 28 hours. The wood is subjected to temperatures ranging from 180 up to 230 degrees Celsius depending on the species.

Basically, when the wood is subjected to very high heats, this dries it out deep into the core. Any moisture and resin is removed from the wood. With lower moisture comes higher weather resistance, meaning that thermally treated wood can be used for outdoor purposes such as facades.

When wood is heated to a certain temperature, it becomes much less appealing to insects, which also enhances its longevity. Wood treated this way is often used for outdoor situation where durability is required, such as Thermowood cladding.

How Long Does it Last?

Most Thermowood will last several years and will not need surface treatments applied to it. Some people choose to finish their Thermowood cladding with a stain. If left to weather naturally the wood changes to a silvery grey colour, similar to cedar or larch.

It is Good for the Environment?

Because Thermowood is processed using heat and water vapour, rather than chemicals, it is much better on the environment than other chemically treated wood. Most people choose Thermowood for this reason, because they are uncomfortable about the possible toxic properties of other chemicals used to treat wood.

The pine from Finland that is commonly used to make Thermowood is more often than not sourced from sustainable forests. To make sure that you are choosing an environmentally sourced Thermowood, ask the company supplying it if they have a Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or PEFC. The world's largest forest certification, this international non-profit organization regulates sustainable forest management.

Is Thermowood Expensive?

Thermowood is actually cheaper than hardwood, making it a very affordable choice for most homeowners. Because the treatment process does not involve any chemicals, it is much less expensive to produce. Manufactured using the power of heat rather than harsh chemicals, Thermowood is a very inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and resistant building material which has proved to be very popular.