Reduces pesticide treatments

Accoya Wood, from Accsys Technologies, is made from FSC-certified wood treated with acetylation technology, which protects against decay and insects and stabilizes the wood so it won’t cup or warp. Instead of pressure-treating the wood with toxic preservatives, Accoya Wood uses a process that chemically alters the wood with the use of natural acetic anhydride. A slight increase in acidity can corrode some metals, so the company recommends stainless steel fasteners. Accoya Wood is used primarily for decking and outdoor furniture and is not appropriate for ground-contact applications. Acetylated wood provides some termite resistance but should not be used as sole prevention.

Eco Building Products protect framing lumber, trusses, and sheathing components against mold, rot, fungus, and wood-destroying insects using the company’s water-repellent, vapor-permeable, mold-resistant treatment. The company uses a borate DOT (Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate) wood preservative that is sealed into the wood by a polymer in its Eco Blue Shield, Eco Red Shield, and Eco Clear Shield products. Appropriate in climates where houses are normally framed with treated wood for termite and mold protection, these products are not intended for ground contact or exterior applications unless protected by paint, stain, or sealer. Eco Blue Shield is dyed blue and Eco Red Shield comes impregnated with a low-toxicity ammonium phosphate flame retardant and is GreenGuard Children & Schools certified. Eco Clear Shield has no colorants but like all of these products, should be disposed of properly at the end of its service live. Eco Building Products come with a 10-year warranty.

Perennial Wood is made from Southern yellow pine treated with TruLast acetylation technology, which protects against decay and insects and stabilizes the wood so it won’t cup or warp. Instead of presure-treating the wood with toxic preservatives, Perennial Wood uses a process that chemically alters the wood with the use of natural acetic acid. A slight increase in acidity can corrode some metals, so the company recommends stainless steel fasteners. Perennial Wood is used primarily for decking and outdoor furniture and is not appropriate for ground-contact applications. Acetylated wood provides some termite resistance but should not be used as sole prevention.

Fibersit's Fiber Reinforced Composite (FRC lumber) is made of 100% recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and waste fiber, including sawdust and rice hulls. Stronger than many composite materials on the market, FRC is available as decking, 2x4 and 2x6 structural members, trim, door jambs, and in other shapes and sizes.

Kebony uses a preservation process called furfurylation to increase the durability of maple, pine, and other woods. In the process, dubbed “Kebonization” by the company, furfuryl alcohol collected from agricultural waste reacts with the wood. The company claims the resulting decking, also called Kebony, has the dimensional stability of tropical hardwoods and is similarly resistant to decay from termites and fungi. According to the company stains take slightly longer to cure on Kebony, as it is intended to be installed without a finish. When installed, the wood is a golden brown that slowly turns to a silver-gray. At the end of it’s life, Kebony can be disposed of like untreated wood. The product is manufactured in Oslo, Norway, and imported through their offices in Roanoke, Virginia. The process meets the criteria for the Nordic Swan Label. Some of the wood is FSC-certified.

GeoBoard is a non-structural, decorative cement-bonded particleboard that can be used for a variety of interior or exterior applications, including cladding. Made with portland cement and 28% pre-consumer recycled wood fiber, these panels can be finished with sealers, stains, paints, and masonry finishes and can be machined and worked with typical carpentry tools; fasteners should be resistant to corrosion. This formaldehyde- and VOC-free particleboard is factory-sealed on all six sides and available in 4'x8' or 4'x10' sheets and in thicknesses from 5/16" to 1-1/2". The panels come with a square edge but tongue-and-groove, ship lap, and beveled edges can be special ordered. Due to the energy intensity of the cement content, this product should not be considered a green substitute for particleboard except where significant resistance to fire, moisture, termites, or vermin is required.

EcoPrem Thermally Modified Wood is a chemical-free preserved wood produced by exposing wood to high temperatures (up to 445°F) and steam under highly controlled conditions. This process, developed by VTT in Finland, transforms the sugars in the wood into a form that cannot be digested by insects or decay fungi. This thermal modification process also stabilizes the wood, minimizing shrinkage, checking, and swelling. According to the Finish Thermowood Association, total energy consumption is approximately 20% higher than for ordinary sawn lumber kiln dried to 18% moisture content, and comparable to lower moisture content kiln-dried wood due to its shorter processing time. EcoPrem does not contain any harmful chemicals, so it can be handled, used, and disposed of without serious health and environmental concerns. EcoPrem is suitable for outdoor above-ground and ground-contact applications and comes with a 30-year material warranty. It can be cut, sanded, painted, and stained like conventional wood, however water-based products may require a longer drying time. EcoPrem products are made from southern yellow pine, and currently include siding, fencing, decking, and structural wood.

Sasco Products offers two borate-based wood preservatives, Impel rods and Boracol, a liquid. Impel is solid, concentrated borate that is placed into a pre-drilled hole in the wood. When the wood and Impel get wet, boric acid is released and dispersed, protecting the wood from insects and decay fungi. Impel rods are for use where wood could be exposed to moisture (although the first line of defense should be protecting the wood in the first place). Impel II rods are a commercial product for use in utility poles. Borocol liquid borate is a penetrating wood preservative for use where wood is not exposed to direct moisture. It is available in three formulas: Boracol 20-2, for rot, fungi, and insects; Borocol 20-2 BD, similar to 20-2 but with an added moldicide (didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, or DDAC); and Borocol 10-2 BD, with even more DDAC for treatment of established mold or mildew on absorbent surfaces.

MagBoard is a structural panel made from magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, fiberglass reinforcement, talc, and fillers. These panels can be used in place of cement board, interior and exterior gypsum panels, plywood, and oriented strand board (OSB). MagBoard resists fire, insects, mold, and moisture. The company claims that its product provides impact resistance and structural properties for axial compression, racking, and transverse loads that are as good or better than provided by plywood or OSB, and shows no structural changes after 25 freeze-thaw cycles or reduction in strength when wet. Available in 4'x8', 4'x9', and 4'x10' dimensions with thickness of 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", and 3/4". The manufacturer claims its 3/4" thickness can replace 2-1/2" of poured concrete for flooring. These panels are best suited for use in areas that could be exposed to insects, flooding, or hurricanes, where standard gypsum drywall is not recommended.

Green E-Board is a magnesium oxychloride cement structural panel that incorporates pre-consumer recovered wood fiber along with fiberglass reinforcement. These panels can be used as a finished interior wall surface, as a backer for tile, stone, or countertops, or as subflooring. Green E-Board is fire-, insect-, rodent-, and moisture-resistant and can be used in places where impact resistance is required. Green E-Board is available in 6 mm (1/4”) and 12 mm (½”) thicknesses in 3’x5’ and 4’x8’ dimensions. Their 1/2” 4’x8’ panel is offered with tapered edges. These panels are best suited for use in areas prone to insects, flooding, or hurricanes where standard gypsum panels are not appropriate.

JetProducts offers JetBoard, JetSoffit, JetTrim, and JetBacker magnesium oxide (MgO)/magnesium chloride fiberglass-reinforced cement products. JetBoard is fire-, mold-, insect-, and moisture-resistant and comes primed on all six sides. The company's 4’x8’ panels are 1/2” thick and come with one smooth side and one faux wood grain side. JetSoffit is 1/4” thick and comes in vented and non-vented 8’- long strips in 12”, 16”, 24”, and 48” widths. JetTrim comes in 4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12” widths in 10’ and 12’ lengths. JetBacker can be installed as a backer under ceramic tile for interior walls in kitchens and bathrooms, or as an underlayment for interior floors and countertops. It comes in 1/4” thick 3’x5’ panels and 1/2” thick 3’x5’ and 4’x8’ panels. These panels are best suited for use in areas that could be exposed to insects, flooding, or hurricanes, where standard drywall products are not recommended.

Dragonboard makes magnesium oxychloride cement panels for interior and exterior walls and ceilings, roof sheathing, and subflooring. These panels come with a smooth side that can be used and finished like drywall and a rough side generally used as a backer for ceramic tile. For exterior use, the panels should be protected using a waterproofing sealer. Dragonboard has been tested for fire-, mold-, fungus-, insect-, and impact resistance according to ASTM procedures, and is approved for fire assemblies with one- to four-hour ratings. Dragonboard makes a ¾" thick 4'x8' panel for flooring (the company claims it can replace 2-1/2" of poured concrete), a standard 11/16" thick 4'x8' panel, and other specialty sizes. Tapered edges are also available. These panels are most appropriate for use in areas that could be exposed to insects, flooding, or hurricanes where standard gypsum panels are not recommended.

Armoroc structural cement-bonded particleboard is made with portland cement and 28% pre-consumer wood fiber. These panels can be machined and worked with typical carpentry tools; fasteners should be resistant to corrosion. This formaldehyde- and VOC-free particleboard is factory-sealed on all six sides and available in 4'x8' or 4'x10' sheets and in thicknesses from 5/16" to 1-1/2". Tongue-and-groove edges are available on two or four sides. The manufacturer claims that its higher percentage of wood fiber produces a stronger panel. Due to the energy intensity of the cement content, this product should not be considered a green substitute for particleboard except where significant resistance to fire, moisture, termites, or vermin is required.

TrewRenew FSC-certified Douglas Fir lumber and plywood are available with pressure-treated preservatives and fire retardants. TrewRenew DOT (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) uses Viance’s Timbersaver low-toxicity, borate-based wood preservative that resists insects and decay organisms. TrewRenue FRT (fire retardant pressure treated) uses a borate-based fire retardant treatment D-Blaze, which has the UL classification “FRS” signifying a 25 or less rating for flame spread and smoke development. Borate-treated products like TrewRenew DOT and FRT should not be used for applications with significant moisture or ground contact.

Cambia is a chemical-free preserved-wood produced by exposing wood to very high temperatures (up to 447°F) under low-pressure, low-oxygen conditions, which transforms the sugars in the wood into a form that cannot be digested by insects or decay fungi. This thermal modification process also stabilizes the wood, minimizing shrinkage, checking, and swelling. Cambia claims 80% of its energy comes from using the gasses released by the drying wood as fuel. Cambia does not contain any harmful chemicals, so it can be handled, used, and disposed of without serious health or environmental concerns. Cambia can be painted, stained, and sanded like conventional wood; is suitable for outdoor aboveground applications; and comes with a 25-year warranty. Cambia lumber uses Yellow Poplar, Ash, Soft Maple, and Red Oak for flooring and millwork.