Environmentally friendly heat treatment improves the properties of wood
Heat treatment improves the properties of wood. Heat treatment makes wood harder and more durable, and it does not swell or twist.
Heat treatment also allows the capacity of thermal insulation to further improve, so it does not feel hot. Heat treatment also improves moisture, weather and decay resistance.
Only heat and water steam are used in the process of heat treatment. Therefore, heat treatment is an entirely environmentally friendly and chemical-free way of improving the wood properties.
We personally heat treat all the timber raw materials that we use at Pieksämäki.
Pieksäwood manufactures sauna bench boards, panels and strips using the best materials:
Aspen
The beautiful and light-coloured aspen is a traditional Finnish building material. Aspen is an excellent option for sauna benches since it does not splinter and it does not conduct heat – in other words, it does not feel hot against the skin.
The light colour of aspen creates the sense of space even in smaller premises. On the other hand, aspen can be beautifully stained due to its even wood material, so aspen can be coloured in a chosen colour.
Surface treatment with sauna protection agents can also be completed in order to improve the service life and durability.
Black alder
Black alder is suitable for the sauna and as bench boards. Due to its beautiful warm and red-toned colour, black alder is a suitable option for the wall and ceiling panels in interior design. Black alder is also a good choice for wet rooms and saunas: black alder can withstand heat well; it does not get hot even in high temperatures and it can withstand temperature fluctuations without cracking.
Black alder can be surface-treated with sauna protection agents or it can be painted to improve its service life and durability. Black alder can also be used as it is, or it can be treated with paraffin oil or sauna wax.
Heat-treated aspen
Bench boards made of heat-treated aspen. Heat-treated aspen is a beautiful brown. It has a stylish hardwood-like surface and a pleasant scent.
Heat-treated wood is harder and more durable, and it does not swell or twist over time. Heat-treated aspen retains its dimensions. Heat treatment also allows the capacity of aspen’s thermal insulation to further improve, so it does not feel hot.
The properties of heat-treated aspen also make it suitable for saunas and wet rooms, but it can also be widely used in other interior design.
Heat-treated aspen products can also be surface-treated with sauna protection agents or they can be painted to improve their service life and durability.
Heat-treated black alder
Heat-treated black alder is a beautiful, dark-coloured and durable option for the sauna. Heat treatment fully colours black alder into a beautiful brown and it achieves a stylish hardwood-like surface and a pleasant scent. At the same time the wood becomes harder and more durable and it does not swell or twist over time. Heat treatment also allows the capacity of black alder’s thermal insulation to further improve, so it does not feel hot. Its moisture, weather and decay resistance also improves.
The properties of heat-treated Black alder also make it suitable for saunas and wet rooms, but it can also be used for outdoor structures and the interior and exterior cladding of buildings.
Heat-treated black alder products can also be surface-treated with sauna protection agents or they can be painted to improve their service life and durability.
What would be the best material for the sauna or bathroom?
Genuine wood is a clean and safe option for the sauna and bathroom Knot-free and resin-free aspen and black alder are high-quality and long-lasting options. Heat treatment just improves their properties.
Aspen is naturally a lighter colour, while black alder is slightly darker.
Heat treatment brings out their colours in a different way.
Non-treated and heat-treated panels, mouldings and bench boards can be surface-treated or painted in a chosen tone.
Check out the different bench boards as well as panel and moulding options here:
