Every project has different priorities. The right wood should meet them.
Maybe you’re building a backyard deck and want the beauty of real wood without automatically reaching for a premium hardwood. Maybe you’re designing a forever home and want a material that can carry the architecture from the deck to the exterior walls. Or maybe you’re creating a high-end commercial or hospitality project where performance, aesthetics and a cohesive material palette all need to work together.
There isn’t one “best” Thermory. There’s the right Thermory for your project.
With multiple species, profiles, applications and finishes to choose from, Thermory gives you the flexibility to select a material based on what matters most—from budget and performance to aesthetics, application and overall design intent.
START WITH VERSATILITY: Real Wood, Engineered for Long-Term Performance
For projects where natural character and reliable outdoor performance come first.
If your priority is getting the warmth and character of real wood while stepping up from conventional lumber, Thermory Benchmark Pine may be a great place to start.
Thermally modified using heat and steam rather than chemical preservatives, Benchmark Pine offers the natural beauty of pine with improved dimensional stability and durability.
Thermory Benchmark Pine
- 20+ years rot resistance
- Thermally modified with heat and steam only
- Natural golden, knotty, charming character
- Will naturally weather or can be finished to preserve its color
It’s a smart material choice when the character of pine, long-term performance and overall project investment are the priorities.
STEP UP THE DESIGN: Premium Hardwood With a Refined Look and Feel
For projects where the wood itself is an important part of the architecture.
When aesthetics, tactile experience and premium hardwood performance become central to the design, Thermory Benchmark Ash is a natural choice.
Ash is a premium hardwood with a refined grain, rich natural color and excellent dimensional stability after thermal modification.
Thermory Benchmark Ash
- 25+ years rot resistance
- Premium thermally modified hardwood
- Smooth, refined, knot-free appearance
- Naturally weathers to a silver-gray patina when left unfinished
Ash is an especially strong choice for high-traffic decks, poolside spaces, contemporary homes, hospitality projects and applications where the wood is meant to be seen and felt.
Here, you’re not simply choosing lumber. You’re choosing a material that contributes to the character of the space—from the way it looks in the light to the way it feels underfoot.
Steve Butler, Thermory USA Territory Manager, sums it up this way: “I always say that Thermory gives you the opportunity to have a furniture or cabinetry quality decking surface for your home. No other material offers that!”
Sometimes the priority is a different characteristic altogether: a wider board profile, a specific color or finish, a particular grain pattern, or the ability to carry a consistent material throughout multiple applications. For example, Thermory Kodiak Spruce offers an extra-wide 8-inch profile that can create a distinctly different architectural expression. Ignite by Thermory, our take on shou sugi ban (without the flame, soot, or mess!), is another popular bold standout.
THINK IN SYSTEMS: One Material Language, Multiple Applications
For projects where the material needs to do more than cover one surface.
Sometimes the biggest design opportunity isn’t choosing one product. It’s choosing materials that work together. Thermory offers thermally modified wood across multiple applications—decking, cladding, soffits, porch flooring, ceilings, trim and saunas.
This means you can create a consistent material language throughout an entire property rather than selecting unrelated materials for every surface. One material family can help connect the architecture from one space to the next.
A custom home might combine Benchmark Ash decking, Ignite cladding, and a Thermory Sauna Kit, using different species and profiles while maintaining a natural wood-forward aesthetic.
A hospitality project might carry thermally modified wood across exterior walls, ceilings and outdoor gathering spaces. Maidla Nature Villa is one example of how thermally modified wood can become part of a larger architectural experience, rather than simply functioning as an exterior finish.
IGNITION RESISTANCE: Thermory’s Fire-Safe Wood Options
For projects with additional performance requirements, Thermory offers options that can be considered alongside factors such as durability, fire performance, aesthetics and installation requirements.
All Thermory decking products have passed California’s SFM 12-7A-4A wildfire-urban-interface decking testing, giving designers and builders another consideration when specifying real wood for demanding environments.
For projects where additional ignition resistance is required, we’ve also partnered with SaferWood® by Chemco, a pioneer in exterior fire-retardant-treated wood. SaferWood uses Chemco’s proprietary Thermex-FR® treatment to provide permanent, ignition-resistant protection through a one-time factory treatment. The system is designed for applications where fire-retardant-treated or ignition-resistant wood is required, including Wildland-Urban Interface environments. Currently available: Benchmark Ash, Benchmark Pine
The goal isn’t to choose the “best” product. It’s to choose the combination of products and performance characteristics that makes the most sense for the project.
WHAT ABOUT DIY?
Thermory isn’t just for high-end architects.
If you’re an experienced DIYer who is comfortable working with wood, you can work with Thermory. The key is understanding that precision matters. Thermory should be installed according to the requirements for the specific product, including proper framing, support spacing, fastening and ventilation. Explore our installation guides.
Applicable Thermory products feature JEM (Joint End Matched) technology, allowing board ends to connect between joists rather than requiring every joint to land directly on framing. The system significantly reduces material waste—as little as 3% waste on applicable JEM installations. For a DIYer, less waste can mean fewer trips to the lumberyard and less material ending up in the scrap pile.
How to Choose the Right Thermally Modified Wood for Your Project
Whether you prioritize natural character, premium aesthetics, wider profiles or a cohesive material palette across decking, cladding, soffits, porch flooring and saunas, there’s a Thermory option for you. Every product starts with the same foundation: 100% real wood, enhanced by heat and steam. From there, it’s about choosing the species, profile and performance characteristics that make the most sense for your project.
Know what matters most to your project. Then choose the Thermory that fits.
Photo Credits: Idyll Reserve. Einar Breen. Terje Ugandi. Adam Mørk.
