Second |ife for modified wood

concept of thermal modification, but don't intend to continue with the product."

He says thermally modified products are having a tough time cracking the crowded decking market due to limited marketing budgets. "There are so darned many competitive products," Bischel said. "People have so many choices. Dealers will put the sample on the counter alongside the other 53 deck samples and leave it up to the consumer. And it's difficult to get their attention, unless you're a Trex, who's in every magazine everywhere. There's just not the promotion for (thermally modified wood)."

Bischel, however, is convinced there is a place in the market for modified wood. "I got an email yesterday looking for some," he said. "They installed a job three or four years ago. Hurricane Sandy wiped out the area, but the project still looked gorgeous. He wanted some more."

NEW PRODUCTS such as Thermory decking are bringing renewed attention to thermally treated wood.

f, eour FIVE vEARS ago, modified wood arrived in the .al,U.S., touted as the Next Big Thing in decking. In the interim, several high-profile brands, like PureWood and Radiance, have disappeared, and the category as a whole has yet to make a dent in the overall decking market.

But now, thanks to a crop of new products, brands and distribution deals, modified wood appears ready for a second stab at success.

The category cunently consists of two similar yet distinct processes. The first, thermal modification, basically cooks the wood in 400-plus-degree heat and steam to remove organic compounds from the wood cells, so it will not absorb water, expand, contract, or provide nourishment for insects or fungi.

The second process, acetylation, achieves similar benefits through heat, pressure and introduction of a vinegarbased acid to transform the wood's cells.

Although acetylation has been around for decades and thermal modification has been popular in Europe since the early 1990s, both have yet to enjoy widespread use in the states. Northern Crossarm, Chippewa Falls, Wi., and sister company Rocky Mountain Bluwood, Denver, Co., were early adopters of Radiance brand thermally modified wood, but are currently liquidating their inventories of the product. "We have only a small quantity left, and then the line will be gone," said president Pat Bischel. "We still like the

He doesn't see the price tag-notably higher than pressure treated lumber-as a barrier, since it's "comparable to an inexpensive composite."

Over the last five years, Lake States Lumber, Aitkin, Mn., has seen competitors to its Evolutions thermally modified wood come and go. "Other companies have made mistakes in the species they used, mostly using yellow pine," said manager Jeny Lipovetz. "We're using a different type of wood, with a different knot structure. When you cook wood, it's important which species you use and how you mill it."

Kustom Kilns, Tene Haute, In., spent five years manufacturing thermally modified wood products for several different private label resellers before launching its own brand, DuraHolz, in January 2012. The products are currently sold throughout North America, with plans to expand distribution into parts of Asia, Australia and Europe by the end of the year.

Kustom Kilns is capable of processing a large variety of wood species for a range of applications, but currently is focusing on decking, framing and fencing products made from Select Structural grade southern yellow pine.

For the future, said sales manager Kersten Russell, the company is eyeing the commercial roofing industry and "is currently working on a laminated product that will provide the durability of our hardwood products and the structural strength of our softwood products all at a extremely competitive price."

At the same time Kustom Kilns introduced DuraHolz,

Eastman Chemical launched its own brand of acetylated southern pine decking, Perennial Wood. It has since expanded to porch flooring, deck posts, and solid (non-grooved) deck boards. Products are currently distributed in the Northeast by Boston Cedar and in the South Atlantic by Snavely Forest Products.

Royal Plywood, Cerritos, Ca., began distributing an established acetylated product-Accoya-as the commercial/industrial specialist's first step into the outdoor wood market. Thermally modified wood also caught v.p. Cliff Duernberger's eye, but he was skeptical. "I'd had it introduced to me five, six, seven years ago and samples sent," he recalled. "It was all so dark. The white oak looked like a different species. The poplar looked like maple. It was all random width lumber. Where would you use it? I never saw anywhere it fit."

Then, last summer, he was paid a visit but Thermory USA, which was looking for distributors for its new thermally modified wood. "They really figured out the process," said Duernberger. "The decking is beautifuf; they have lx6, 514x6, grooved and non-grooved. It's a lot easier than working with ip6, and the price is about the same."

Royal Plywood now distributes Accoya and Thermory throughout Southern California and the Southwest. Customers choose between the two based on the look and the application.

"Accoya is radiata pine from New Zealand. treated in the Netherlands, and it's a pine-looking product," Duemberger explained. "Thermory is North American ash. treated in Estonia. and it looks like chocolatecolored ash. It comes to us with a smoky, campfire-wood odor that dissipates over time. Accoya would be fine fbr a residential deck, but for a large commercial project, like a restaurant, the hardwood is better suited to moving around tables and chairs, high heels. and the heavier foot traffic."

Mount Storm Forest Products, Windsor, Ca., distributes Thermory in Northern California.

Shelter Products, New Ulm, Mn., recently began distributing EcoDeck thermally modified decking in Minnesota. Iowa. Wisconsin and the Dakotas. "All of our market research has shown there are great opportunities for a product like this," said v.p. Aaron Lambrecht. "There is a segment of the market looking to use real wood, but with a significantly reduced environmental impact. There are also specialty applications where raw and chemical treated lumber cannot be used. Ultimately, wood still remains the predominate product in the decking and railing category, even after the gains composite decking and railing has made in recent years."