Care & Maintenance of your Thermally Modified Wood (TMW) Deck
Installation
TMW is beautiful to work with.
However as with any type of wood there are certain issues to ensure a beautiful product
Pre drilling is highly recommended as TMW will split or crack if screwed into near the edge
We do not recommend nailing unless using nail guns
All cut ends should be oiled
Cutting
Treat TMW as you would any type of higher end wood. We find the higher the number of teeth on a blade the better the cut.
However, twm is a much dryer wood than you are used to. The dust created is much finer than normal and dust masks need to be worn.
Finishing
TMW has a oil based finish applied at the factory. If you wish you may stain or apply finishes on top of the factory finish. Check back later for products we recommend. We recommend a deck oil rather than a finish or sealer type product. Applying a finish or sealer type product will require sanding or striping the wood to refinish. A deck oil will only require the wood to be cleaned before applying a fresh coat of oil.
UV Protection - Colour Fading
TMW as purchased does not have a UV coating applied. Because of the relatively dark color of TMW it will fade much faster. If you want your TMW to have a weathered look then you do not need to do anything. If however you want it to retain its rich dark color then a U.V. protectant oil must be applied. We also recommend re applying this every year to ensure it keeps it’s new look. It is important to realize the difference between a deck oil and a finish. If a finish is applied to the wood you will need to sand or strip if off each time you refinish, a deck oil just needs to be cleaned up before a fresh coat of oil is applied.
On going Maintenance
One of the wonderful benefits of TMW is that it is 100% wood. If you get a scratch in it, just sand it down and re apply any stain or finish you wish. If over the years it becomes dull, just apply a fresh coat of stain. If over the years you wish to have a different color or look, just stain with a different color; or just sand it down to the original color and apply UV protection. TMW is just that simple to work with.
Burnt Smell
When you first get TMW you may notice a burnt wood smell, do not worry that is completely normal. The Thermal Modification Process will do that. Over time the smell will disappear.