Maintenance of thermo-treated wood

About thermo wood

Thermo wood is thermally modified in a special computer-controlled oven. The wood is heated to 215 ºC with only heat and steam being used and without any added chemicals. The modification corresponds to the standard treatment classes prepared by the International ThermoWood Association (Thermo-D, EN 113).

During the modification, the original wood structure changes and improves its features.

The finished product is more stable and more resistant to rot and mold attack.

Patination

Thermo wood will naturally patinate over time to a uniform silver / gray color. This process starts immediately after installation and depends on the amount of UV exposure. The speed of the patination depends on whether the facade faces south or north. If the tree is protected from sun and rain, it will not patinate – or only to a limited extent.

Dirt and surface mold on the facade can be washed off with wood cleaner or algae remover. We recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions.

You can change the expression from patinated to oiled or vice versa. This simply requires that the wood is cleaned with the wood cleaner before the next process is started. If you do not give the wood a finishing treatment, it will cause small cracks in the wood, which is a natural part of the patination that cannot be removed again. We therefore always recommend finishing the wood with a treatment for optimal life.

Oil treatment

To minimize color changes and extend the life, thermo wood can be protected by using ordinary UV oil or pigmented UV mineral oil. Natural oils are not recommended as they contain substances that can be a source for biological organisms such as bacteria, mold etc. Oil should only be applied to cleaned dust-free surfaces. Apply a small amount of oil on a small piece of wood to test the color before treating. The oil manufacturer’s guidelines for the treatment must be followed.

We recommend preserving the natural shade and glow of the wood.

Surface treatment

If you want to paint the wood with a color, the life of the wood is further extended with the life of the surface treatment. Transparent of full-coverage wood protection can be used. How often the surface treatment needs to be maintained depends on the influence of sun, rain, and wind. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

We recommend:
Transparent: Flügger Wood Tex 2in1 Classic
Full cover: Flügger Wood Tex 04 Classic

Storage before installation

Thermo cladding or decking should be stored inside away from sun and rain. When this is not possible, the cladding must be raised from the ground outside, stacked evenly and covered with a tarpaulin. Leave the ends of the tarpaulin open so that damp is not encapsulated inside. This is to ensure that the stored wood is not exposed to sun or rain as UV rays will fade the material. Thermo wood should under no circumstances be exposed to rain or moisture as it otherwise may not dry properly when stacked or packed.

Fire impregnation

If the thermo wood is subsequently fire-impregnated, we always recommend following the instructions prescribed by the manufacturer of the fire-impregnating material.