We dare to be different at ThermaPro Wood. We want to change the thermally modified wood market in the U.S. by removing the veil of exclusivity and making it accessible to all. This means our business model is a bit different too. While we package and market our top sellers into ‘products’ for your convenience, in reality, each project is manufactured to order.
Our most price-friendly and popular packaged products are made from Southern Yellow Pine and pre-coated with a wood oil that improves the wood's dimensional stability. Southern Yellow Pine, once modified, offers exceptional performance and a distinct grain pattern without breaking the bank.
However, this isn’t your only choice. Our made-to-order model gives you access to an incredible breadth of products. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your decision-making prowess, you can select your wood species, coloring, protective coating, profile, and pattern – or any combination thereof. Let’s check these out:
Species.
Many species work well when thermally modified. The most commonly modified wood species are:
Each species provides a different hardness, grain pattern, color profile, and price. The wood species you select and the required dimensions will be your project's number one cost driver. Fast-growing readily available softwoods are the more cost-effective option. Hardwoods, particularly slow-growing species like Red Oak, are not as cost-effective but offer a luxury look comparable to exotic woods with a finer grain pattern and richer natural color.
Color & Protective Coatings
Thermally modified wood used bare will achieve that aged silver wood patina desired by many architects and homeowners, with color change usually beginning within 3 months and finalizing over 12-18 months depending on sun exposure. By the way, it’s perfectly okay not to color or coat your thermally modified wood. When you review the features and benefits of thermally modified wood, you’ll see the reasons why.
If you prefer to maintain the rich coloring that appears after thermal modification or if you want to change the color, then a protective coating with a color tone and UV protectant will achieve your desired look. Depending upon location and environment, (interior, exterior, cladding, decking, wine cellar, pool bar – you get the picture) your ThermaPro Wood specialist will recommend coating and color options to meet your needs. All of our coatings utilize nanotechnology designed specifically for non-porous wood that penetrates deep into the wood fibers to help improve stability and lifespan. We offer alternatives for water-prone environments like docks, exterior applications with several color densities, and stunning interior options that are low VOC and chemical-free.
Profiling and Patterning
While thermally modified wood can be used almost anywhere non-modified wood is used, today’s most common applications are building exteriors (cladding and rain-screen), decking, fencing, and interior accent walls. Due to its properties, it is ideal for …let’s call them harsher climate applications… where humidity and temperature extremes are the norm. Places like wine cellars, saunas, pool surrounds, outdoor kitchen and bar cabinetry, porch ceilings and flooring, outdoor and indoor showers, garden beds, playsets, ski chalets, and beach cabanas.
For product manufacturers and craftsmen fashioning cabinetry and furniture, we offer thermally modified lumber in standard softwood and hardwood dimensional sizing. For the majority of uses like decks, fencing, and rainscreen, various dimensions of the wood are surfaced smooth on all sides (S4S) with eased edges to remove the sharp corners.
For use on any type of wall or flooring application, that’s where the fun begins. First, a profile is selected. This is how the millwork mills the wood into its shape for cladding, paneling, or flooring. The most common profiles are tongue and groove, clapboard also known as bevel siding, and a variety of lap profiles including shiplap and channel rustic. Generally, there are approximately 10 common profiles used in the industry with many custom profiles available.
Second, you need to determine the surface finish. The majority are sanded smooth to bring out the grain pattern and provide a clean surface for coating application and visual appeal, particularly for modern residential and commercial designs.
For rustic applications like barns, cabins, equestrian centers, rustic homes, and mountain inns, a rough or resawn texture can be added to the surface in a variety of patterns. This surface patterning gives the wood instant rustic appeal, and when utilizing a color tone it adds a unique color contrast within the pattern itself.
Countless Applications Make Made-to-Order an Easy Choice
The more ideas that arise for applications of thermally modified wood, the more we realize that made-to-order is the only way to go. It is such a versatile natural building material with superior weather resistance and durability, why not use it anywhere and everywhere?
ThermaPro Wood’s made-to-order model ensures that everyone from manufacturers to architects to homeowners gets the exact thermally modified wood product needed to bring their products and visions to life. If you want to know more about all the possibilities, just give us a call.
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