Dr. David Moses contributes to Wood Design & Building Magazine, along with Dr. Paul Morris of FPInnovations and Dr. Stan Lebow of USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory
The wood durability business is full of terminology that many of us have heard, but that oftentimes leaves us unsure of their exact meanings. For example, properties such as UV-protection, water-repellence, termite-resistance, and fungi-stain resistance seem self-explanatory; however, quantifying these properties in real terms is a challenge. We hear of claims regarding the benefits of many alternatives such as naturally durable species, wood plastic composites, thermally-modified wood and chemically-modified wood, but are never quite sure which one to choose or even what questions to ask a supplier. With more concern over the lifecycle cost of wood products, including dollar value and environmental impact, and re-use and recycling alternatives, designers and specifiers need to be prepared to do research for the best available wood durability alternatives on a project-by-project basis. While there is no definitive answer, with a few basic tools, we can equip ourselves to make educated assessments.
Read the full article here.
Read Part I of this article here.
