Enhancing the versatility of our native Pennsylvania hardwoods, high-temperature Thermal Modification transforms the wood to a striking, exotic brown, adding high weather resistance and stability for outdoor applications.
Apply a UV protectant to maintain the color, or do nothing and let it naturalize to a silver patina.
Thermal Modification ushers in the next generation of responsibly manufactured, high performance outdoor wood products, all from our locally-grown and well-managed Pennsylvania forests.
So the three critical ingredients to creating a stable, weather-resistant, natural hardwood product are wood, heat, and steam!
The Thermal Modification process involves heating (or “cooking”) the hardwood (using steam) to a very high temperature to transform it on a molecular level into a highly-durable outdoor material. The process turns the hardwood to a beautiful chocolate brown color. The rich, deep color indicates that the hardwood has reached the proper temperature (around 400-410⁰ F). At that point, the hardwood undergoes a fundamental change where the sugars and starches caramelize, making the hardwood a non-food source for termites and other wood boring pests and insects. Also, the hardwood cell walls lock into place, preventing the hardwood from absorbing water. Overall, the durability of the hardwood is multiplied many times, giving Thermally Modified hardwood a 25+ year lifespan outdoors without the use of chemicals or other unnatural or harmful products.