TimberSil
TimberSIL - Locked in For Life™
Non-Toxic Pressure Treated Lumber
TimberSIL looks like wood, acts like wood, and can be used like wood because it is wood, but with one critical difference: glass. Fusing two natural materials–wood and glass—TimberSIL has been rendered into a superior building product that is non-toxic, termite, mold and mildew resistant and will not rot or decay, leach poisonous or harmful chemicals into the environment and is stronger, and more durable than conventionally milled wood.
The secret is sodium silicate, a mixture of sand and soda ash used since the 1800s in detergents and as an egg preservative. Lumber soaks in it under pressure, then is baked until an insoluble matrix of amorphous glass which hardens and essentially “shrink wraps” the wood fibers throughout and fills the micro-channels with molecular-thin, layers of glass.
The result is a material that is many times stronger than composite products because the glassy portion parallels the grain of wood, greatly increasing strength and ensuring that nails, screws, and fasteners hold more firmly. Because TimberSIL does not rely upon copper and quaternary as fungicides like conventional pressure treated woods, the product is non-corrosive to nails and other fasteners.
Due to the glass infusion, the wood is inert and unavailable to rot and most common wood protection problems. No toxic materials or poisons are used to target, kill, or harm any organism due to the fact that the wood inside and out is permanently unavailable as a food source.
TimberSIL is resistant to warping and maintains its shape better than other types of wood. TimberSIL is also Class A fire rated as the natural resistance of glass to fire helps to overcome the combustible properties of wood.
In appearance, the transparency of glass allows the properties of wood to show through while allowing TimberSIL to be painted or stained like wood. If used outdoors and left unpainted or unstained, TimberSIL will eventually gray in the sun but with minimal checking and warping like conventional pressure treated wood.
Ideal for decking applications, TimberSIL is also designed for interior and exterior, above-ground and in-ground use. TimberSIL is available in dimensional sizes for framing, decking, balusters, siding, tongue and groove flooring and pilings.