High material costs, supply chain shifts, and strict carbon footprint goals are forcing design-build pros to rethink traditional decking. While Western Red Cedar and Ipe are classic choices, they are not a fit for new trends in decking criteria. Fortunately, domestic thermally modified wood decking bridges the gap. It provides a beautiful aesthetic that's also cost-effective, durable, and an eco-friendly alternative to keep your projects on schedule and on budget.
Traditional Options vs New Design Demands
The market has moved from clear, old-growth wood with a clear vertical grain (CVG) to fast-growing, knotted second-growth cedar with a rustic aesthetic.
The Challenge: Second-growth cedar is softer. It absorbs moisture which leads to splits, warps, and requires heavy maintenance.
The Risk: Without frequent upkeep, usually every 1-3 years depending on conditions, an unmodified Wester Red Cedar deck can rot within 15 years, leading to earlier replacement and costly callbacks.
When considering hardwoods like Ipe, Cumaru, and Garpa, their durability and looks are unmatched. But weight and shipping become a significant factor.
The Challenge: Premium pricing excludes Ipe and other hardwoods from mid-range budgets and competitive commercial bids.
The Carbon Toll: Intercontinental shipping gives imported hardwoods a large carbon footprint that often conflicts with green building criteria.
Cedar lowers upfront costs but spikes maintenance.
Ipe offers great longevity but breaks budgets.
Thermally modified wood decking hits the sweet spot for both initial cost and long-term return.
Our woods are thermally modified using processes that include high-heat, chemical-free kilns to transform domestic hardwoods and softwoods. The result is a lightweight, tough material that mimics tropical hardwoods in durability, long-term performance, and looks.
Through Mataverde, decking contractors and build-design firms have access to top-tier domestic alternatives that outperform traditional options.
Arbor Wood Ash: An incredibly dense hardwood option that undergoes thermal modification to deliver leading durability in its class and deep brown tones, acting as a sustainable replacement for Ipe and other hardwoods like it. Entirely sourced and processed in the U.S.A.
Arbor Wood Pine: A highly cost-effective, domestic softwood option. The thermal process restructures the wood cells, removing the vulnerability to moisture and offering a clean, uniform look. Entirely sourced and processed in the U.S.A.
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Arbor Wood thermally modified Ash 5/4" x6" decking, shown with oil finish |
Arbor Wood thermally modified Ash 5/4" x 4" decking, shown with oil finish |
Arbor Wood thermally modified Southern Yellow Pine, shown with oil finish |
Visit the Thermally Modified Wood Decking Project Photo Gallery for more inspiration here |
Mataverde ThermaWood: An affordable alternative to Western Red Cedar and high-density hardwoods. Mataverde thermally modified wood has heat darkened color that mimics the coveted look of Ipe, without the carbon footprint.
Available in clear vertical grain.
Entirely sourced and processed in North America.
Available with Thermex-FR Fire Retardant Treatment
Mataverde Western Red Cedar 2x6 decking |
Mataverde Thermally Modified Hemlock Decking |
See it for yourself, order samples now.
Easy Handling: It is much lighter and easier to cut, drill, and fasten than Ipe, saving you time and labor on site.
Moisture Defense: The kiln process cuts water absorption significantly. This stops wood movement, cupping, and twisting comparable to a high-density hardwood and significantly better than unmodified Cedar.
Rot and Bug Resistance: The heat destroys the natural wood sugars that feed fungi and insects. You get a highly durable wood that lasts decades without chemical treatments. This means less maintenance for your customer.
Premium Looks: The process bakes the wood to a rich, dark brown color throughout the core. Left unsealed, it weathers to a uniform, silver-grey patina without heavy splintering.
Fire Compliance: For strict Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones or other strict fire building code areas, you can specify SaferWood with Thermex-FR through Mataverde. This option features a non-toxic, permanent fire retardant that will not leach or wash off. It's safe to handle and live around.
Ready to price a project? Request your quote here.
Low Maintenance: It requires no staining or painting to prevent rot. Clients can apply a UV protectant to keep the original brown color, or let it weather naturally to silver gray.
Lasts up to 25 years before replacement with minimum maintenance, adding to its environmentally friendly lifecycle and high ROI.
100% Recyclable: Because it is chemical-free, this wood can be safely repurposed or recycled at the end of its life, staying out of landfills.
If thermally modified wood is a solution to your next project, contact us now for more information.
Q: How does the lifespan compare to cedar?
A: Unmaintained second-growth cedar often fails within 10 to 15 years. Thermally modified wood from Mataverde lasts 25 to 30+ years even in harsh exterior environments.
Q: Why is it considered eco-friendly?
A: It uses sustainably harvested domestic trees, which cuts down on shipping emissions. The kiln process uses only heat and steam, zero toxic chemicals. It can be recycled, not disposed of in landfills.
Q: Does it require special maintenance?
A: No, it has close to zero maintenance needs. A simple annual UV oil retains the dark brown look, or you can let it age to a clean silver-grey. Regular cleaning as needed s recommended.