Thermowood: features and scope

In this article we will talk about thermal wood, its scope, features and characteristics. Our site of advice will find out what the advantages and disadvantages of this material, which many experts call one of the most modern and popular, “material of the XXI century”.

As the name implies, thermowood is understood as wood that has undergone heat treatment. This is a special industrial technology, when wood is processed in chambers without oxygen at a temperature of +185 … + 230 ° C. The heating mode is smooth, multistage, then the wood is forcibly cooled.

Important! No chemicals are used in the heat treatment of wood!

A variety of types of wood are subjected to heat treatment, both soft – pine, spruce, linden, cedar, and hard – oak, beech, ash.

There are really many advantages of thermowood:

• Ecological cleanliness. This is still the same good old wood, only passed the technological process of heating and cooling, no chemical additives and impregnations!
• Not afraid of moisture, not subject to decay. It is for this reason that a terrace board is often made from thermowood, to which the portal devoted a separate article. Note that the moisture absorption of thermowood is 5–7 less than that of a conventional board.
• The thermal tree does not dry out and does not expand under the influence of moisture, does not warp, does not curl, does not crack. The geometric dimensions of such boards and bars will be the same, regardless of temperature drops and changes in humidity..
• Not afraid of bugs, fungus, mold, bacteria, insects. After baking in a chamber, such a tree is simply “inedible” for all pests. However, we note that moss, fungi and mold can “cling” to thermowood, but they do not affect it, but remain on the surface, due to which they are easily cleaned.
• The tree becomes more resistant to mechanical damage, there will be fewer scratches and chips on it.
• Thermowood is especially beautiful, therefore it is often used in decor. For example, oak becomes similar to noble stained wood, annual rings are better visible on ash, and inexpensive pine looks elite and respectable. Thermowood gets a gloss after sanding.

The disadvantages of thermowood, despite its growing popularity and excellent characteristics, are:

• Working with wood dried at high temperatures leads to the formation of fine dust, a respirator is required.
• The wood becomes more fragile. Yes, the hardness and resistance to mechanical damage increase, but the elasticity and strength index sharply decreases. Therefore, in load-bearing structures with a serious load, the thermal tree is not used..
• May turn gray over time in direct sunlight. Many do not consider this a disadvantage, because the gray tint gives the tree an additional nobility. If you need to protect the wood from discoloration, you will need a special oil against ultraviolet radiation..
• The risk of being hit by termites remains, it is half as much, but still. True, this applies only to thermal wood, which is in contact with the ground..

Experts are sure that the disadvantages of thermally treated wood are much less than advantages.

The scope of application of thermowood is very extensive:

• Interior decoration, including wet areas. For example, thermally treated wood is used to make tiles for kitchen aprons and bathrooms..
• Bathrooms and saunas, including steam rooms.
• Construction of gazebos, terraces, verandas, bridges and piers.
• Furniture manufacture.
• Cladding of facades, including wooden houses.
• Floor coverings production.
• Production of window frames and doors, including entrance doors.

Bone prostheses are even made from heat-treated birch, so doctors have no questions about the quality, hygiene and environmental friendliness of this material.

According to European standards EN 335-1-2006, there are three types of thermowood:

1. First class, Termo-S (Medium). It is processed at a temperature not higher than +185 … + 190 ° С. physical properties change slightly, for the most part such processing affects the appearance, gives the tree a darker, reddish tint. This class of thermowood is used only inside houses and apartments.
2. Second class, Termo-D (Intense). The processing temperature reaches +200 … + 230 ° С. This is the real, one might say, classic thermowood, which has all the advantages we have described. Since it is not afraid of moisture, it can be used in outdoor conditions.
3. Third class. It is processed at temperatures above +230 ° С. It has not received official recognition, for example, the Thermowood Association (Finland) distinguishes only the first two classes. Wood at such high temperatures darkens strongly and loses strength..

Important! The higher the processing temperature of the wood, the higher the durability and stability, but the strength drops noticeably. Therefore, experts call the second class of thermowood optimal for use..

The cost of thermowood can be very different, but in any case will be higher than that of untreated wood. The price depends on the type of wood, grade, type of product, manufacturer, and so on..