The Oostvaarders Nature Center in Almere, Netherlands stands on the edge of the Oostvaardersplassen, a vast and pristine nature area with vast lakes and rugged grasslands. The area is one of the most unique natural areas in Europe. Designed by the Rotterdam architectural firm Drost + Van Veen in 2008, the Nature Center is modest […]
The 2016 Construct Canada Show featured a host of unique and innovative new products during the three day event. One particular product that caught the attention of visitors was the thermally modified wood being displayed by CFP Cladding & Decking from Guelph, Ontario. If you are considering a exterior or interior wall cladding or decking […]
Just when you think you have some time to relax and take in all the accomplishments that your hard work rewarded you with this past year the trade show season reminds all of us that you never rest on your past success’s. It’s now time to rethink and refocus efforts for 2017 and there is […]
I recently visited a North American sawmill located in the Province of Ontario, the company name was Cherry Forest Products. Apparently they are one of Ontario’s largest lumber producing hardwood sawmills. I was provided a company tour by Jacob Baranski, the company Vice President and he showed me some lumber that had been thermally modified […]
I understand that heat treatment of wood if done properly increases the stability and durability of wood. I’m not very technically inclined but through some research I discovered some basic expletives for why wood becomes more durable, stable and changes to its beautiful color when thermally modified correctly. Wood is composed of 50% cellulose, 23% […]
I received some samples of thermally modified wood and proceeded to test them for water absorption as I had been told that properly dried thermally modified wood will not allow active water to remain in the wood like other non-thermally modified wood products which in theory should make the thermally modified wood more stable and […]
Have been doing some research on thermally modified wood and the name “ThermoWood” seems to be of significant importance. When thermally modified wood was first introduced as a technology to advance the durability and stability of exterior and interior wood products using thermally modified wood technology there was a vast array of comments that kept […]
I understand there are many added benefits of using thermally modified wood products over traditional non thermally modified woods. I used some thermally modified wood ash for my decking project at my home and really liked the look and feel of the wood. I purchased my decking at Wellesley Home Hardware and thought there would […]
The technology consists of heating the wood at a very high temperature (from 190 C to 240 C), in a torrefaction kiln (autoclave) at controlled atmosphere and low in oxygen. The length of the process, as well as the temperature degree sustained during a determined period, depends on the species and the desired color. This […]
The global green building market has grown into a $260 billion dollar industry with an estimated 20 percent going into new U.S. commercial real estate construction. This trend is expected to intensify in the coming years here in North America and internationally. Owners and manager of commercial buildings will invest an estimated $960 billion around […]