Thermory® Frequently Asked Questions

General

Do you make this product?

We don't make the product, but distribute it for a division of Attica Millwork called Thermory® USA.

Thermory® USA sends wood they harvest from managed forests in the United States to a manufacturer in Europe to get it thermally treated into a product called Thermory®. They use a European manufacturer because only a few U.S. manufacturers have begun experimenting with the process, and it is far from developed over here. Their manufacturer has over 10 years of experience, and is one of the leading thermo-treated wood producers in Europe.

Where does the wood come from?

The Northern Ash used in Thermory® products is harvested in the United States and sent to Europe to be processed. To learn why, see the section above.

Is it environmentally safe?

Yes. There are no chemicals used in the process, only heat and steam.

Where can it be used?

Thermory® can be used in a lot of different applications because of the stability the thermal process gives it. Following are a sample of places it can be used.

Over radiant heat
Glued to concrete
For sub-grade installations
In at-risk areas such as bathrooms and wet rooms
Anywhere you would normally put wood flooring

What about stair nosing and other products?

We sell matching stair nosing, reducer strip, and transition strip.

How much does it cost?

See the price list for costs.

Specifics

How thick is it?

There are two thicknesses, one with the microbevel (which is thicker) and one without. Since the milling occurs in Europe, the actual widths are metric. Below is a table of the actual thicknesses for flooring along with their U.S. equivalent in decimal and fraction forms (fractions rounded to the nearest (1/16") and an approximation.

Metric	U.S.	Fraction	Approx.
18mm	0.7087"	11/16"	3/4"
	0.6425"	5/8"	5/8"

What widths are available?

Since the milling occurs in Europe, the actual widths are metric. Below is a table of the actual widths along with their U.S. equivalent in decimal and fraction forms (fractions rounded to the nearest 1/16") and an approximation.

Metric	U.S.	Fraction	Approx.
90mm	3.5433"	3 9/16"	3 1/2"
130mm	5.1181"	5 1/8"	5"
150mm	5.9055"	5 7/8"	6"
190mm	7.4803"	7 7/16"	7 1/2"

Not all widths are available for both lines of Thermory® − please see the price list for exact availability.

What lengths are available?

Since the milling occurs in Europe, the actual lengths are metric. Below is a table of the actual lengths along with their U.S. equivalent in decimal and fraction forms (fractions rounded to the nearest 1/16") and an approximation.

Metric	U.S.	Fraction	Approx.
500mm	19.6850"	19 11/16"
600mm	23.6220"	23 5/8"	2'
700mm	27.5591"	27 9/16"
800mm	31.4961"	31 1/2"
900mm	35.4331"	35 7/16"	3'
1000mm	39.3701"	39 3/8"
1100mm	43.3071"	43 5/16"
1200mm	47.2441"	47 1/4"	4'
1300mm	51.1811"	51 3/16"
1400mm	55.1181"	55 1/8"
1500mm	59.0551"	59 1/16"	5'
1600mm	62.9921"	63"
1700mm	66.9291"	66 15/16"
1800mm	70.8661"	70 7/8"	6'
1900mm	74.8031"	74 13/16"
2000mm	78.7402"	78 3/4"
2100mm	82.6772"	82 11/16"	7'
2200mm	86.6142"	86 5/8"

Lengths are random, and not all lengths are available for both lines of Thermory® − please see the price list for exact availability.

How big is the microbevel?

Microbevels are measured between two boards, so the dimension listed is the total width of the microbevel. Since the milling occurs in Europe, the actual width of the microbevel is metric. Below is a table with the actual width along with its U.S. equivalent in decimal and fraction forms (fraction rounded to the nearest 1/16") and an approximation.

Metric	U.S.	Fraction	Approx.
3mm	0.1181"	1/8"	1/8"

What finishes are available?

There are two finishes, sanded and brushed. Sanded flooring is sanded progressively up to fine grit, whereas the brushed finish exposes some open grain for a more rustic appearance.

What's the moisture content?

The moisture content of Thermory® flooring is shipped at about 4%, but will vary a little after being acclimated if the relative humidity is unusally low or high.

Thermal Modification

What is thermal modification?

Thermal modification is a process that uses heat and steam to change the ceullular structure of wood. It was developed in Finland over 20 years ago, and wood treated this way is widely used in Europe and Japan.

In the thermal process, the wood is treated with heat and steam (no chemicals) in a special, computer-controlled, high-temperature kiln. It gives the wood a higher dimensional stability and a lower equilibrium moisture content compared to untreated hardwood flooring, and also causes the color of the wood to change.

Thermal modification should not be confused with the processes of fumed or smoked wood which involve the use of chemicals to change the color of the wood. Not only is it bad for the environment, but it doesn't contribute to the wood's stability and the color is only on the surface.

It also should not be confused with "baked" wood, which is an Americanized term to describe thermally modified wood. Most American manufacturers that "bake" wood do so without steam, which makes the wood more brittle.

What are the benefits of thermal modification?

There are numerous benefits of thermally-modified (or thermo-modified) wood. Here are a few.

Stability
The changes in cellular structure make it resistant to warping, checking, shrinking, and swelling.
Rot-Resistance
The process cooks out the wood sugars, making it resistant to insects and decay.
Character
The natural beauty and character of the wood is retained through the process, and the richer tones it gets from the treatment is present through its entire thickness.

How does it compare to engineered flooring?

Overall, thermo-treated wood is superior to engineered wood. Here's the quick breakdown; detailed explanations are below.

	Thermo-Treated	Engineered
Resistant to moisture changes	Yes	Some
Twists When Too Dry	No	Some
Uses Chemicals	No	Yes
Retains Shape After Getting Wet	Yes	No

Although engineered wood has more dimensional stability than regular wood, it is generally not much (if any) more resistant to moisture changes. On the other hand, thermo-treated wood is resistant to moisture changes because of its changed cellular structure.

When the moisture content of dried wood (any wood used for flooring should be dried) changes, usually the shape does as well. Since most engineered flooring is made out of plies with alternating grain direction that give it more dimensional stability than regular wood, extreme drying of the board can lead to twisting since the forces of the grain aren't equal. Thermo-treated wood remains straight even in extremely dry conditions.

Engineered wood uses chemicals in the form of glues or plastics to hold it together or make it stronger. Thermo-treated wood is chemical-free.

Engineered wood (as well as regular wood) usually does not return to its original shape after prolonged exposure to moisture. However, thermally treated wood does return to its original shape after prolonged exposure due to the changes the process makes to its cellular structure.

Installation

How much do I need?

You should add a 5-7% waste factor to the actual square footage of the area you are flooring. This is less than the recommendations for our regular wood products because there is less waste due to completely clear material and end-matching.

How do I acclimate it?

We recommend standard acclimation procedures for Thermory® products. True acclimation may take months in extreme conditions due to its resistance to moisture absorption, but its coefficient of expansion is low enough that standard acclimation is generally sufficient for installation.

How should I install it?

In general, just the same as you would install any other wood floor. In addition to nailing to prepared subfloors, Thermory® flooring can be glued to cured concrete or another properly prepared subfloor.

What finishes can I use?

Thermory® flooring is unfinished, so a high quality surface coating should be added to help improve wear and bring out the rich colors. It accepts most stains, oils, and finishes, but should be tested on samples to make sure it performs as expected. Sanded flooring may need to be wiped down before finishing to open the grain and allow the finish to take better.

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