Mataverde ThermaWood Hem Fir Decking
Discover Exceptional Durability, Real Sustainability, and Natural Elegance
Explore the significant strength and beauty of ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking. Thermally modified to enhance its natural properties, ThermaWood Hem-Fir provides excellent durability and resistance to decay. Offering a stunning aesthetic, its perfect for backyard decks, rooftop decks, patio decks, outdoor structures, and outdoor living spaces. ThermaWood outperforms traditional decking wood while maintaining its natural charm
What is Mataverde ThermaWood Decking?
The ThermaWood thermal modification process was developed to transform traditional native softwoods and hardwoods into higher performing thermally modified wood decking materials.
Thermally modified wood decking is a smart choice for outdoor living spaces. This innovative material offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and exceptional performance. Mataverde ThermaWood is made from Hemlock wood that undergoes a thermal modification process to greatly improve its stability, durability, decay and insect resistance. Creating low-maintenance, high-performance decking material that surpasses other popular decking options.
Mataverde thermally modified Hemlock decking on the waterfront
Why Choose Thermally Modified Wood for Your Decking Design?
Mataverde ThermaWood starts with selecting high quality woods to begin the modified wood process. Only the finest upper grades of Western Hemlock are chosen. Then using a unique thermal modification process, the wood is transformed into a reliable and stunning decking material.
- Remarkable Stable: Thermally modified wood decking has less expansion and contraction due to moisture changes, giving you more stable Decking material.
- Extremely Durable: Thermal modification enhances the wood's cellular structure, increasing its resistance to rot and insect damage and extending its lifespan.
- Sustainable and Domestic: Thermal modification transforms domestic North American wood species into high-performance alternatives. ThermaWood Hem-Fir is responsibly harvested using certified methods, reducing environmental impact.
- Purely Natural: Only heat and pressure in a vacuum kiln are used to create this high-performance product, with no harsh chemicals or other additives included. The result is an eco-friendly choice you can feel good about using in your home or business exterior.
- Design Versatility: Perfect for Decking projects in all climates and in any architectural style.
What Makes Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir Different from Other Decking?
Mataverde thermally modified hem-fir wood is processed into a thermally modified hemlock that is a stronger, more resilient and resistant version of the original wood.
Thermally Modified Wood Process for Decking
Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir is created using an innovative, energy-efficient thermal modification process. This process involves applying high temperatures and pressure in a vacuum kiln.
Unlike other methods, ThermaWood is gently modified at lower temperatures, reducing the risk of cracking, splitting, or checking. This not only minimizes waste but also results in an all-natural, chemical-free product perfect for outdoor use.
Because the wood is thermally modified under pressure, at lower temperatures, the wood is less brittle than other thermally modified woods. In fact, thermally modified Hemlock is less brittle than the original wood.
Key Features of Mataverde Premium ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking
- Stability: ThermaWood is remarkably stable. It shows very little expansion and contraction with changes in moisture.
- Excellent Strength: Thermally modified for exceptional strength and durability, ThermaWood Hem-Fir ensures your deck will stand the test of time.
- Hardy Decay Resistance: Highly resistant to moisture, mold, and rot, ThermaWood Hem-Fir offers long-lasting protection against the elements, minimizing the need for costly maintenance.
- Tough Insect Resistance: Thermal modification eliminates the natural wood sugars in the decking material, making it highly resistant – and unappetizing – to pesky insects.
- Varied Finish Options: ThermaWood Hem- Fir decking can be customized with a variety of oil-based finishes, paint and stains. Want it to weather? For optimal protection during the initial seasons, a finish with UV-protectant is recommended. Then, allow the decking weather naturally to a beautiful silver-gray patina over time.
- Longer Boards: ThermaWood decking is available in random length tallies in 5/4 x 6 nominal dimensions, with lengths ranging from 8 to 20 feet, including both odd and even lengths, provided in random length tallies. The majority of the material falls within the 8 to 13-foot range, with 14 to 20-foot lengths available in limited quantities as stock permits.
- Confidence: ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking Material is backed by the Manufacturer’s 20-Year Limited Warranty.
The Great Look of ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking: Color, Grain and Grade
ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking is valued for its thermally modified wood color and captivating grain patterns and natural mineral streaking. The natural wood colors are slightly deepened by heat, creating a range of rich, warm dark brown hues that add character and appeal to your deck.
Color: The natural wood colors are slightly deepened by heat, creating a range of rich, warm dark brown hues that add character and appeal to your deck. The look is very similar to what you would expect to find in the upper grades of Western Red Cedar.
Grain: Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir is has a straight grained texture with an occasional, small knot.
Grade: Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir decking is available in C & Better grading. In this grading category, you'll find primarily mixed grain and flat sawn Hemlock boards. This slightly more rustic grade of Hemlock features a fair amount of mineral streaking, and some knots are permitted per board. Most of these knots are small and secure.
Why Customers Prefer ThermaWood Hem-Fir Aesthetic
- Stunning natural color variations make every project unique.
- Alluring grain patterns add character and sophistication.
- ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking aesthetics enhance the look of your deck.
CHECK OUT THERMALLY MODIFIED WOOD DECKING PROJECT PICTURES HERE
Exceptional Physical Properties of ThermaWood Hem-Fir
DURABILITY:
Conventional thermally modified wood methods produce decking materials with a Class 2 durability rating for pine, spruce, hemlock, and other softwoods. In contrast, ThermaWood Hemlock decking has a Class 1 Durability rating. You can expect more than 20 years of service minimum under most outdoor conditions.
STABILITY:
All types of wood will undergo seasonal expansion and contraction due to variations in humidity and moisture content, particularly exterior woods, which are more exposed to environmental elements. ThermaWood thermally modified woods exhibit significantly greater stability compared to non-modified woods, expanding and contracting to a much lesser extent. Reduced wood movement translates to enhanced performance. ThermaWood Hem-Fir exhibits approximately 5.6% volumetric expansion and contraction with changes in moisture content.
HARDNESS:
ThermaWood Hemlock is a modified softwood and has a minimum Janka hardness of 540 lbs. As a comparison, Red Cedar has a Janka hardness of 350. ThermaWood Hemlock is more than one and a half times harder than cedar.
STRENGTH:
ThermaWood Hemlock is exceptionally strong, that's why it's often used for structural and framing members.
Testing shows ThermaWood Hemlock to have a modulus of rupture of over 12,693 psi.* This means it would require more than 6 tons of pressure per square inch to bend the wood until it breaks. While most thermal modification processes tend to make wood more brittle, the unique wood modification process of ThermaWood Hem-Fir actually enhances its strength.
FIRE RESISTANCE:
if your project is in a high-fire zone and requires WUI or IWUI-approved Decking, check out ThermaWood FR Hem-Fir Decking. An ignition resistant option that gives all the benefits of standard ThermaWood Hem-Fir, plus a permanent fire treatment approved for both WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) and IWUI (International Wildland Urban Interface) high-fire zone standards.
DOWNLOAD MATAVERDE THERMAWOOD HEM FIR BROCHURE
Want to see for yourself?
Would you like to see an actual piece of ThermaWood Hem Fir decking? Request a sample today.
Installation, Care and Maintenance of Mataverde ThermaWood Decking
Installation
For residential projects like backyard decks, Install 5/4x6 ThermaWood decking at 16" on center. For commercial projects, install Mataverde ThermaWood Hemlock Decking at 16" O.C. or less. If installing the decking diagonally, use joist spacing no greater than 12" O.C. Use stainless steel screws or stainless steel nails. Pre-drilling is a good option to consider to minimize the potential for splitting or cracking, especially when using nails to fasten the deck boards to the joists.
*Pro Tip - Always plan on ordering extra decking to cover your material needs for defect-cutting and trimming your decking boards. This will allow you to use the best boards and the best portions of each decking board to meet you or your clients' needs and expectations. Any extra materials may be saved on site as 'attic stock'. Keeping a small amount of attic stock is a great insurance policy in case they are ever needed in the future.
Finishing
If you would like to maintain the 'like-new' look of of your modified wood decking, use a high quality oil based paint or stain finish with a UV inhibitor for best results. This can add some color to your deck. It will also help the decking boards season properly and minimize surface checking, especially during the first year. Water based finishes are not recommended.
ThermaWood decking after several years of outdoor exposure.
Care and Maintenance
Like any deck boards, an annual cleaning is recommended for best looks and performance. Do not use a pressure washer, bleach or harsh chemicals for cleaning your Mataverde ThermaWood decking. A biodegradable cleaner, such as Penofin Pro-Tech Cleaner, or similar product, works well.
After the first year, refinishing your decking is optional. If you would like to maintain the 'like new wood' look, by all means, please refinish your decking. Or if you prefer to allow your decking to naturally weather to a silvery gray patina, that's another, lower maintenance option.
Why Builders and Architects Recommend Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir Decking
Home builders and architects typically seek durable and sustainable decking solutions to specify in their exterior projects. Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir emerges as a top-tier alternative, offering exceptional performance, environmental benefits, and long-lasting aesthetics. Thermally modified wood cost is often more project budget-friendly than other alternatives.
This thermally modified wood boasts reliable stability and design versatility that can be counted on. Whether you're building a new deck on a luxurious home or a resilient commercial building, consider the advantages ThermaWood Hem-Fir can bring to your next project.
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