Instead of treating wood with arsenic, Bay Tree Technologies heat treats it. Bay Tree is located in Memphis, but their first kiln is in Terra Haute, Indiana. Right now they’re only making 1.25″x5″ decking. They say the process reduces expansion/contraction by 80%.

From EBN:

In a multistep process lasting 50–60 hours, Bay Tree first heats lumber to about 210°F (100°C) for preconditioning and drying. A second stage of heating boosts the temperature to between 370°F and 480°F (190°C–250°C), which chemically transforms sugars in the wood into forms that cannot be digested by insects or eaten by decay organisms. Then steam conditioning restores some moisture to the wood. By comparison, conventional lumber kilns operate at about 165°F (74°C)…

All PureWood boards are suitable for outdoor above ground and ground- contact applications and carry a 25-year warranty—even in ground-contact. The product can be painted, stained, and sanded just like conventional wood…

PureWood is fairly expensive, likely because of the high energy costs involved. Bay Tree Technologies is positioning PureWood as a high-end decking product, similar in price to the “tropical” composite products, such as Trex Brasilia and TimberTech Earthwood, or to clear redwood, according to Long. This price is significantly higher than that of conventional copper-treated decking. Long says that costs may come down somewhat with competition (as other thermally modified wood products enter the market), but he doesn’t think it will ever be cost-competitive with chemically infused wood.

Dealers in our area:

Mountain Lumber Company of Boone-Banner Elk, Inc.
9877 Hwy 105 South
Boone, NC 28607
828-963-7524

Wilson Lumber
Old Hwy 64
Murphy, NC 28906
828-837-7919