Cladding Alternative v.1
Wood shingles are typically made from cedar, a naturally decay resistant, light softwood with low density and shrinkage values as well as good thermal insulation properties. Wood clapboard and siding is made from softwood species (conifers) such as pine, spruce, redwood, Douglas fir or cedar.
If your wood siding is made from North American softwoods, there is a greater chance of it coming from well-managed forests than hardwoods, which are likely to be harvested from far away, tropical and unregulated markets. If you bother to check labels on your clothing and food purchases, then it's not a large step to check the origin of your building goods - it's rather interesting to know. The availability of wood products certified under sustainable programs such as FSC (Forestry Steward Council) has grown and is one way of ensuring your wood products were produced under responsible forest management worldwide.
Hardwoods used to be a common siding choice in North America. Made from yellow poplar, red oak, sycamore, maple and hickory beech. These deciduous species simply are not as abundant and affordable for use as siding as they once were. Hardwoods are slow-growing compared to softwoods and thus their stands cannot renew at as rapid a rate. A new process developed by Norwegian company, Kebony ASA, saturates softwoods with non-toxic furfuryl alcohol (a byproduct of sugar cane production) that renders the wood resistant to decay and able to weather exterior exposure like hardwoods with hardened surface characteristics. Kebonization, as the process is known, provides an alternative to unsustainably harvested tropical hardwoods. Kebony Cladding, Decking and Yacht Decking installed as a golden brown develops a silver-grey patina as it ages, exposed to the elements. Kebony carries both FSC certification and Swan eco-label.
Comments
Post a Comment