ThermaWood Thermally Modified Siding Conquers Harsh Climates

Building a new home or replacing siding in a harsh climate region? We know durability and longevity are essential factors in your choice of wood siding. ThermaWood Hem-Fir thermally modified siding has consistently come out on top with discerning architects, home builders, and homeowners. It’s a beautiful and resilient wood siding that offers can’t-miss advantages for your project.

ThermaWood Hem-Fir is ideal for a winter mountain lodge, used for the both siding and the rooftop deck

Mataverde ThermaWood ™ Hem-Fir is a high performing thermally modified wood siding with excellent resistance to weather damage. With characteristics that can be favorably compared to hardwoods, ThermaWood is ideal for regions with harsh weather and extreme temperatures.

Why Should I Consider ThermaWood Hem-Fir?

When compared to unmodified Hemlock and other popular softwoods like Western Red Cedar, modified ThermaWood Hem-Fir is a siding material that can be relied on to handle to extreme weather conditions.

• Dimensional stability and resistance to warping and board movement
• Reduced susceptibility to water absorption, rot, decay, mold and mildew
• Resistance to insect infestation
  

To create Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir, North American Western Hemlock lumber undergoes a newer and more innovative thermal modification process. Unlike most other thermal modification methods, it uses lower heat in a pressurized vacuum kiln for superior performance.

This patented process is gentler on the wood and produces spectacular results. The resulting siding material is well-suited for regions with fluctuating temperatures, heavy storms, extreme cold, and high humidity.

By reducing these risks to your siding it also reduces the need for frequent repairs or replacement, extending the attractive and useful lifespan of your siding.  

We have gathered the most frequently asked questions about ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding weather resistance and other characteristics from professionals and homeowners. Here are the answers, to help you make the best siding choice for your project. 

View of a home featuring custom stained ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding

How long does ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding last?

With proper installation and maintenance, ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding will last for decades. ThermaWood Hem-Fir is known for its exceptional durability and longevity created by the modification process. 

Versatile ThermaWood Hem-Fir installed as siding and on soffits 

Seeing ThermaWood Hem-Fir is believing. Request your free sample here. 

Can ThermaWood Hem-Fir resist moisture damage and high humidity?

Yes, ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding is extremely stable, highly resistant to moisture damage and high humidity.

The thermal modification process hardens the wood and significantly reduces its ability to absorb moisture, making it less susceptible to mold, rot, and decay.

Does ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding require a lot of maintenance?

No, and the low maintenance requirement is one of the many benefits.

ThermaWood Hem-Fir can be finished with oil-based paint, or stain as desired, Or, let the natural, heat-darkened wood tones shine through with a clear UV protectant. 

Whatever finish you prefer, just clean your ThermaWood siding regularly and reapply the finish as needed.

How durable is ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding in extreme temperatures?

Very. ThermaWood Hem-Fir maintains its structural integrity and appearance even in the most challenging climates.

The thermal modification process boosts the resilience of the Hemlock in both heat and cold. ThermaWood Hem-Fir will resist warping, checking, or splitting from high heat, bitter cold, or extreme fluctuations between the two.

Is ThermaWood siding ignition-resistant for use in wildfire-prone areas?

Yes, in the ignition-resistant, fire-retardant treated version: Mataverde ThermaWood FR. 

With expanding fire code requirements throughout the country, ThermaWood FR is a fantastic option. It meets WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) fire zone requirements and IWUI (International Wildland Urban Interface) requirements, which are much stricter.

Architects and builders know how hard it is to find a real wood siding with design versatility approved for WUI and IWUI areas. Knowing it meets these building requirement and can 

Another big advantage is that the treatment process uses non-toxic ingredients and permanently bonds the fire retardant to the wood at the cellular level. So, ThermaWood FR is not only safe for people and animals to live around but can be safely recycled, adding to the sustainability. 

Fire retardant treated ThermaWood FR was specified for this beautifully done wildfire-rebuild project in Northern California, shown custom stained

Need a fire-retardant treated wood siding?

Request a sample of ThermaWood FR now and see the difference for yourself. 

ThermaWood FR on exterior soffits, interior ceiling, installed vertically on the interior walls, and used to make the pergola overhang

Will ThermaWood Hem-Fir withstand high winds and heavy storms?

Yes, the unique process ThermaWood Hem-Fir undergoes results in a less brittle siding than other thermal modification methods. 

With proper installation, it's stability and bending strength make it a dependable choice for coastal regions, mountains, plains, deserts and other areas prone to severe weather.

ThermaWood Hem-Fir in Tahoe, California is ready to take on snow, sun, humidity, and storms

What does ThermaWood Hem-Fir look like?

Beautiful! ThermaWood FR Hem-Fir provides high aesthetic value. It is a natural wood siding with a range of heat-darkened colors and a clear vertical grain. Design and construction professionals who have seen used it say it “mimics” the look and color of the upper grades of Western Red Cedar. 

Detail of a typical ThermaWood Hem-Fir wood tone range

Is ThermaWood Hem-Fir sustainable?

Yes, ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding is a sustainable and environmentally friendly wood siding option from start to finish. 

First the wood for ThermaWood Hem Fir is harvested in responsibly managed North American forests under PEFC guidelines. It has a small carbon footprint, especially when compared to many imported wood species.

Plus, the thermal modification process extends the lifespan reducing the need for frequent repairs, and extending its lifetime before replacement. Finally, ThermaWood Hem-Fir is safely recyclable.

ThermaWood Hem-Fir vertical siding exterior

Does ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding have a warranty?

Yes, ThermaWood is covered by a 20-Year limited warranty providing additional assurance that the material will stand up to rot, decay and insects. You can be very confident with peace of mind when purchasing ThermaWood Hem-Fir.

See what ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding can do for your siding project. Order your sample today. 

What is the cost-benefit ratio over the lifecycle of the siding?

No matter how perfectly a siding material matches your vision and your project criteria, it must still meet your project budget and give a high return on investment

ThermaWood Hem-Fir is a much lower upfront investment than similar grades of Cedar siding, with better availability. It is more affordable than most exotic hardwoods but has similar insect and decay resistance.

With such high durability, ThermaWood siding can provide excellent savings on repair and replacement costs over time.

How should I install ThermaWood Siding

Exterior wall and breezeway ceiling with ThermaWood Hem-Fir Tongue and Groove installation

ThermaWood T&G (Tongue and Groove) Siding

For ThermaWood T&G (Tongue and Groove) Siding, the two best methods for installing are to create a rainscreen gap behind the siding. This way, the siding will not be sitting directly on the building envelope.

This creates a way for any trapped moisture to escape and minimizes the potential for rot and decay that may damage the whole wall assembly.

• The first way to install T&G ThermaWood is to use a ‘dimpled’ weather resistive barrier (WRB) and fasten the T&G siding over it. The dimples create a very small rainscreen gap, just enough to keep the siding off the building envelope.

• A better method is to use ¾” thick furring strips and space them at 16” on center over your WRB weather resistive barrier. Then install the T&G siding over the furring strips. This creates a ¾” rainscreen gap behind the siding. This is a more effective way to ventilate your wall cavity when using T&G wood siding.

ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding design installed in multiple directions with Climate-Shield Rainscreen

Climate-Shield Wood Rainscreen System

However, the best rainscreen method is to use Climate-Shield Wood Rainscreen System. This creates the most effective rainscreen and does not require furring strips.

This system offers you several additional advantages:

• Robust Engineering: Climate-Shield is a well-designed open joint rainscreen allowing better air circulation and moisture to escape. It eliminates the need for wood furring strips behind the siding, decreasing time and material costs and preventing trapped moisture behind your siding.

• Increased Durability: The combination of ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding and the Climate-Shield system provides an exceptionally durable and long-lasting exterior solution that can withstand the harshest weather conditions.

• Repels Insect Infestations: By removing the natural sugars and hardening the Hemlock, thermal modification makes ThermaWood Hem-Fir both unappetizing to insects and difficult to dig into. The insect resistance of ThermaWood is comparable to hardwood and prevents repairs, replacement, and unsightly damage.

  
  

• Improved Ventilation: The Climate-Shield system is an open joint rainscreen. It creates the ideal cavity behind the siding and space between each siding board with patented rainscreen clips.

  Trapped water or moist air can lead to mold, rot, and other damage behind your siding and can affect the exterior wall of the building. Preventing trapped moisture is particularly important in regions with high humidity, heavy rainfall, and snow.

• Siding Design Versatility: Climate-Shield allows you to design your siding horizontally, vertically, or both. Corners can cleanly wrap the exterior for a consistently beautiful visual.

  Since there are no complicated grids of furring strips needed, you can add wood rainscreen to your soffits, ceilings, overhangs, and custom architectural details more easily.

• Increased energy efficiency: When warm, humid air is allowed to escape from behind the siding quickly, it can’t affect the interior climate of the house.

  Climate-Shield components automatically create the ideal, consistently sized air cavity between the siding and the building envelope during installation. This cavity helps to reduce thermal bridging, improving energy efficiency and can help reduce interior heating and cooling costs. 

• Climate-Shield components are backed by a 25-Year Limited Warranty

Making a smart investment in Mataverde ThermaWood Hem-Fir siding allows you to protect your home from the elements, reduce your maintenance costs, and enhance its overall value. With natural beauty and exceptional performance, ThermaWood Hem-Fir is the ideal choice for design professionals, home builders, and homeowners who demand the best for their exterior siding projects.

If ThermaWood Hem-Fir or ThermaWood FR could be right for your next siding project, please contact us for answers to your questions or for any information you need. We are here to help!