Heat-treated wood, a product with sustainable applications

Heat-treated wood, as its name suggests, is wood that is subjected to a heat treatment that modifies some of its properties, with the aim of improving its durability, resistance and stability.

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Thermowood heat treatment process

There are different types of heat treatment for wood, but one of the most recognized is the Thermowood process. This is based on thermal modification with the sole use of steam and heat, without chemical products at any point in the process. The wood is subjected to a temperature of 212ºC with steam to prevent cracking, and then slowly cooled until the wood has a humidity of 4-7%. This process allows a chemical and physical modification of the wood, changing its composition.

Benefits

With heat treatment we obtain a wood that is 50% more stable than the same untreated wood. Thanks to its low moisture content, swelling and shrinkage are reduced by up to 50% and being more resistant, it maintains its shape for many more years than it would without treatment. At the structural level, its surface becomes harder, while, due to the low humidity, it becomes lighter. The fact of eliminating its resin content makes it more resistant to fungi and insects. The color becomes slightly darker and more uniform.

Sustainable wood

By not using chemicals or other harmful elements for its treatment, heat-treated wood is a sustainable product. The treatment extends the life of the product, giving it more resistance, also acting as a long-term storage point for CO2, which is why it also contributes to sustainability in this regard.

Applications

Gabarró exclusively distributes Lunawood heat-treated wood. Lunawood is a sustainable, durable and dimensionally stable wood material for facades, landscaping and interiors.

Lunawood Thermowood is an ideal material for facades, thanks to its remarkable dimensional stability, weather resistance, durability and beautiful appearance. Lunawood does not necessarily require any surface treatment, even in areas with a very harsh climate, making it a truly sustainable option throughout its life cycle. The untreated surface takes on a beautiful silver-gray hue over time when exposed to ultraviolet light. Lunawood siding and strips have a neat even brown tone, which can be maintained longer by protecting the wood with a UV-protective and pigmented surface treatment.

Lunawood Thermowood brings a touch of Nordic nature to an urban space. The beauty of Lunawood Thermowood is in the imperfection, as the knots, small cracks and uniform color create an amazing, rustic and natural look. Best of all, Lunawood Thermowood is a pure organic material produced using only natural methods, heat and steam, without chemicals. It is a resin-free material, as it is removed from the wood during the thermal modification process. Lunawood is therefore an optimal material for interiors in many ways, including for saunas and spas. Lunawood is also a safe solution for people who suffer from any type of allergic reaction related to wood.

Lunawood takes landscaping projects to a new level. Its natural look and feel are combined with excellent durability and dimensional stability, even in the harshest weather conditions. Lunawood heat-treated wood is perfect for terraces and various outdoor structures such as sun protection lattices, pergolas, partitions and fences. Thanks to its toxin-free composition, Lunawood is safe to use and its lightness makes the wood easy to handle. In decking projects, the smooth surface and natural look of Lunawood sets it apart from other wood materials.