Thermally Modified Wood: The Green Alternative to Tropical Timbers
Totally 'green' and with absolutely no chemicals added, thermally modified timber is being specified 'across the board' - particularly where durability and dimensional stability are priorities.
One such product is Cambia by Greenleaf – made with the best American hardwoods and delivering impressive results in a wide range of indoor and exterior applications. The Cambia process is simple and chemical free and Australian distributor Britton Timbers says it offers a viable alternative to tropical hardwoods.
“We see the supply of tropical hardwoods out of South-East Asia and the Pacific coming to an end – either by supply/demand dynamics, or by continuing pressure against illegal logging,” says director Dominic McNeil. “Demand from architects, builders and the general public for certified sustainable products is also increasing, and when it comes to hardwoods, there simply isn’t enough to go around – even in Australia.
“But finding a durable, certified alternative that doesn’t come from the tropics is not easy. “So we turned the problem on its head and found naturally nondurable but totally sustainable hardwoods in the United States that have been made durable by the Cambia thermal modification [torrefaction] process.” One of Britton’s major US hardwood suppliers, Northland Forest Products in New Hampshire, was one of the first to install a Cambia oven to process its FSC-certified white ash, soft maple, red oak and yellow poplar for domestic and international markets. That was five years ago and McNeil says he now has an “exciting customer base” in Australia, with a rapid demand increase in the last two years.
“Joiners are a big part of our clientele and they are looking for alternatives to the likes of New Guinea rosewood and surian from South-East Asia. Cambia comes fully certified and our customers also like the chocolate-brown colour – particularly the torrefied ash with its beautiful grain.” Thermal modification removes the natural sugars, preventing the wood from absorbing or giving off water vapor, and bacterial decay. Wood exhibiting low Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) is resistant to cupping, twisting and warping. Or as McNeil puts it: “Dimensionally stable wood looks better longer.”
Cambia is naturally decay resistant without the use of added chemicals. And unlike other manufacturing processes that combine numerous constituent components to create a new product, thermal modification uses only heat to change the physical and chemical nature of wood. Much of the energy required to do the modification also comes directly from the wood. At high heat, combustible organic compounds from the wood become a fuel source.
Applications
In Australia, McNeil says awareness is still low, and the main uptake for Cambia has been for external applications – particularly architectural cladding and feature walls, decking, window and door joinery, plus doors for kitchen cabinets.
In the US it is also being used for flooring, outdoor furniture, playgrounds, spas and pool areas. Although it comes in a rich range of colours, when used outside it will weather just like any other timber. “Any normal timber will grey and check outside. But the great advantage with Cambia is its stability – you don’t have any cell collapse or bound water, which greatly limits movement,” says McNeil.
Species Choice
Most popular in Australia are strongly grained American white ash and American soft maple. “There are other options but the architectural market really likes the grain, which is why US timbers are used here in the first place.” Richness of the colour is determined by a combination of the species and the amount of time the wood spends in the kiln.
Water is added during the drying process to standardise temperature and reduce checking and splitting in service. Cambia also comes in dimensions not available in other species. Ash is particularly well priced, and because it doesn’t have to be LOSP treated like most other imported hardwoods, it is only slightly dearer than standard ash – including FSC certification.
Abodo Announce Britton Timbers As New East Coast Distribution Partner
Britton Timbers announced as the newest Australian distribution partner for Abodo NZ, supplying Abodo Wood to Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland, through their distribution partners.
Britton Timbers will be stocking the core product – Vulcan Wood (Thermally Modified timber) along with Abodo Protector Oil and Sioo:x coatings, in every state.
Over its 110 year history, the family owned company has grown from being a mill in Tasmania to having 4 distribution locations on the east coast, and some of Australia’s finest specialists in timber and coatings.
Abodo is a leader in sustainably sourced thermally modified timber. Specialised heat treatments allow Abodo to supply high performing and durable timber for architecture uniquely placed to assist designers and builders realise that architecture is both beautiful and lasting.
Fast Facts:
- Available as: cladding, battens, panelling/lining and joinery
- Extraordinarily stable
- 3.6 to 4.5m average length
- No leaching
- Forest Stewardship Council FSC plantation sourced
In further commitment to the Australian market, Abodo Wood now has staff in Sydney and Melbourne to help service the national architectural market alongside Britton Timbers.
Please contact your Britton or Abodo timber specialist to support your next project design.
The Future of Wood – Abodo Wood & Britton Timbers
Installation Times - Hardwood Vs Vulcan Softwood
Abodo's Vulcan timber is faster to install than other timbers - why? Abodo talk to builders and architects who have worked with both.
Abodo Vulcan Timber Cladding and Battens come in long lengths of up to 4.2m as standard, stay straight and weigh half the weight of a hardwood board. Based on these factors Abodo knew their Vulcan would be faster to install. Abodo spoke with several builders around Australia who have recently used Vulcan timber Cladding and Battens.
Vulcan is created from thermally modified plantation pine and then engineered with a unique and patented vertical grain for superior performance. A fine sawn face allows a depth of grain and optimal coating performance.
This combination of the thermal modification process and the vertical grain lamination means Vulcan has superior stability, no resin leaching, is a beautiful brown colour and naturally durable.
Hamish Gray from Gray Construction, is a builder of luxury homes on the Sunshine Coast and has used the Vulcan Cladding on multiple projects. Hamish says:
A big part for us is that the boards are straight and not twisted like hardwoods saving us a lot of time in inspecting each piece. Vulcan is also very lightweight making it easy to handle, and a great option for garage doors. I’d honestly say that Vulcan Cladding is very easily 30% faster to install than a hardwood.
Gray Construction is known for this Minyama luxury home on the sunshine coast that features Vulcan Timber in Teak finish, contrasting beautifully with the stone, concrete and aluminium exterior.
Based in Melbourne, Mike Sharp from In and Sharp is an architect, joiner and a builder; who used our Vulcan timber battens as the main feature facade at a multi residential development in Ferntree Gully. Mike told us:
The timber battens were straight and easy to manipulate over long lengths. We had no issues with the Vulcan timber battens warping or twisting; and fixing the battens with the Spax screws worked a treat. Prefinishing the product and not having to deal with the usual hardwood characteristics, meant for a quicker install and a more consistent coated facade. I’d say by using Vulcan timber battens – the installation was 20-30% faster than using a traditional hardwood.
Matt Sidoti of Sydney based SQ Projects was the Construction Manager for a 70’s restoration in Balmain commissioned by architects Fox Johnston. He said:
All boards were tongue and groove and nail fixed over timber framing. The Vulcan timber cladding proved to be much quicker to install than hardwood. All material arrived straight and true, and without any splitting and splintering that you can expect with hardwood equivalents. We would not hesitate to use and recommend Abodo Vulcan for future projects.
Che Kung Temple Sports Centre
The 4-storey sports centre comprising of the games arena, fitness room, dance room, children playroom and two multi-purpose rooms is backed by a hill with beautiful natural setting, scattered with village houses near Che Kung Temple Station.
Southern Yellow Pine was chosen as it is available in volume in set width and length in a high grade, SFI certified. It is also available in treated and untreated so internal and external areas matched. Price was also a consideration with Southern Yellow Pine being a good value timber that provides a clean and fresh look without compromising the project budget. The Walnut was used as a feature.
Britton Timbers International supplied 221M3 of Southern Yellow Pine and 10M3 of FSC American Walnut into the project.
Britton Timbers International exports Tasmanian timbers and veneers such as Tasmanian Blackwood and Tasmanian Oak from our sawmill and veneer operations in Tasmania. In addition, Britton Timbers International imports and exports timber globally and works with importers and specifiers in destinations such as Hong Kong and Dubai to work on projects like the Che Kung Temple Sports Centre.
The Barangaroo Accoya Series
Barangaroo Showcase ACCOYA® Accoya Wood was chosen for three Marquee Projects in the Barangaroo Reserve Sydney.
Barangaroo was formerly part of Sydney’s working harbour, redeveloped into a commercial and retail district with parkland on the harbour’s edge.
R7, Barangaroo House and the famous Darling Exchange building are three marquee projects in the Barangaroo Reserve Sydney, all using Accoya wood supplied by Britton Timbers. Over the next three weeks we will be showcasing these interesting buildings.
Project Building – R7
Project Building – Barangaroo House
Project Building – Darling Exchange
We look forward to presenting these outstanding building designs that shape the Barangaroo precinct.
The Accoya Series Part 3: The Darling Exchange
Accoya Wood timber is the feature on the spiralling 6 story structure at the heart of Sydney’s Darling Square District.
Accoya wood was chosen for the cladding on the Darling Exchange, a part of the Barangaroo reserve. Taking prime position, the Accoya timber screen stands out on the spiralling 6 story structure at the heart of Sydney’s Darling Square District.
20 Kilometres of Accoya was supplied to contractors Lend Lease for the manufacture and installation of an Accoya screen that wraps the exterior of the building in a dynamic and exciting manner. The building contains a library, childcare centre, and market hall as well as a rooftop bar and restaurant with the views over Tumbalong Park, the Chinese Gardens and Cockle Bay in Sydney.
“Architecture forms a vital link between people and their surroundings. It acts as a gentle buffer between the fragility of human existence and the vast world outside. How different people choose to build connections in their environment essentially defines those societies and their relationships to conditions around them. – Kengo Kuma”
The Accoya Series Part 2: Barangaroo House
A unique split-level restaurant clad in charred Accoya wood
Barangaroo House, a free-standing, three-storey restaurant, has become one of the first projects in Sydney to utilise Accoya wood cladding, the world-leading high performance, sustainable wood product, and the distinctive Japanese charring technique, Shou Sugi Ban. Situated in the heart of Barangaroo, a dynamic commercial and residential urban renewal project on the edge of Sydney Harbour, Barangaroo House opened in December 2017 and is the latest venture by one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, Matt Moran.
The Barangaroo project has sustainability at its heart. With a commitment to becoming the first global precinct that is carbon neutral, the 22-hectare historically significant harbourside site is concerned with creating zero waste emissions, being ‘water wise’ and contributing to the overall well-being of the community. As a result, the internationally recognised mission celebrates design excellence, natural beauty, world-class eco-living and its aboriginal history to preserve the project for future generations.
Inspired by the potential of creating a building in the round, the unique split-level restaurant was designed by architects, Collins and Turner, taking on a remarkable organic form clad in charred Accoya®. Supplied by leading timber experts, Britton Timbers, 45mm of Dowelled Accoya and 45mm of Half Dowelled Accoya® were laminated into a series of predetermined radii with a Shou Sugi Ban (medium char) finish applied to create a striking charcoal appearance.
To further enhance the project, a layer of WOCA coating from Denmark was applied to compliment the overall design aesthetic. Due to Accoya’s superior dimensional stability, this coating will last twice as long in comparison to typical timbers and will need minimal maintenance. The Accoya wood cladding was then screw fixed to specially made aluminium anodised brackets to ensure the dowels were evenly spaced throughout the stable structure.
Located on a prominent waterfront site, Accoya was the ideal choice for this stunning project thanks to its exceptional durability, reliability and stability properties. With a guarantee of 50 years above ground, Accoya® wood can withstand the harshest of external environments while resisting distortion and warping over its lifetime.
The Accoya Series Part 1: R7 Barangaroo
Accoya Wood was chosen for the Cladding on the R7 Tower
In the competition winning scheme, the action of the building is brought to the surface, through the external wrap around stair, linking every floor to the ground plane. This vertical overgrown promenade terminates in a rooftop restaurant and sheltered garden courtyard.
Distributed by Britton Timbers, Accoya wood was chosen for the decorative external timber facade on the R7 building which have been used to box in the buildings steel beams. The R7 tower is part of one of the world’s most significant waterfront renewal projects, Barangaroo Reserve.
The façade is constructed of stacked and offset Accoya timber columns, grading from a denser base to a lighter top. In pure elevation the façade appears open, in obtuse views, the timber appears more solid and prominent.
The R7 building has been completed and is open to the public. The Accoya boxes were coated in WOCA exterior white Oil. 27m3 of Accoya was chosen for the R7 tower due to its visual aesthetic and well-renowned performance as an exterior façade timber. Due to the high dimensional stability of Accoya, the coatings and timber structure have performed well above expectations leading to many building and architectural professionals being amazed that the R7 façade is actually made from timber.
Grandis Designs
Britton Timbers has secured Australian distribution rights for the sought-after Uruguayan plantation hardwood, Eucalyptus Grandis. Renowned world-wide as a practical multi-use timber, Grandis is now available to Australian customers through Britton Timber's distribution centres in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
According to Britton Timbers Director Dominic McNeil, Grandis is a very competitively priced timber that can be used in a wide variety of applications. “Grandis is one of those versatile timbers that is attractive in its own right – being a light pink – and can be used in a multitude of situations. It’s perfect in 25mm and 38mm thicknesses for mouldings, dress boards, furniture and cabinetry, and at 50mm plus is used for joinery.”
Grandis is easily worked and is available in super-long lengths – up to 4.8 metres.
Dominic says Grandis’ environmental credentials are also an important feature. “It’s 100% FSC ® (FSC-C113479) certified and is plantation-grown, and that’s becoming increasingly important to our customers in Australia and overseas.”
Grandis can also be laminated on special order for projects such as stair treads.
Australia Day Award for Ross Britton
Britton Timbers is proud to report that Director Ross Britton, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia last month.
Region Close to His Heart
By Rachel Freeman
The beautiful Arthur-Pieman area has been home to Ross Britton’s family for more than 100 years, so it’s no wonder he cares so deeply for it.
Mr Britton has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to conservation and the environment, and the community.
Over the years, Mr Britton has been a member of numerous committees and advisory boards tasked with making recommendations to Parks and Wildlife and the government. From 1990 to 2012 Mr Britton has served as chairman to many committees and coalitions involved with protecting the area. From 1994 to 2010 he was a representative for the forestry and timber industry.
Mr Britton’s contributions also involve his work with the Lions Club of Circular Head. Since 1969 he has been a charter member and, over the years, has served as president, zone chairperson and deputy district governor.
Mr Britton believes the main issues facing the Arthur-Pieman area are the tracks, Aboriginal heritage, flora and fauna, and weeds. “When I first started going to the area, there were tracks everywhere,” he said. “It was a real eyesore, you really had to see it to believe it.”
With one main track Mr Britton believes that people going through would be safer, there would be less damage to the local flora, less weeds would be spread throughout the region and there would be less damage to the Aboriginal heritage.
“When people first started tracking through there, they weren’t recognising the Aboriginal hut depressions and middens so they were damaging them,” Mr Britton said.
“There is a lot of important Aboriginal culture and heritage there that we don’t want to damage.”