TimberSIL® wood has gone through a sodium-silicate-based process for treating lumber that relies on a micro-manufacturing technology to create an effective barrier to rot, decay, bugs, termites, ants, and common insect or wood problems.
The patented process uses heat to change a proprietary formula from a soluble solution that is infused into the wood and turn it into a microscopic layer of amorphous glass throughout the wood, providing an effective, permanent barrier.
The wood is non-toxic, odorless and non-volatile, is not corrosive to nails, screws or other fasteners, does not cause excessive wear on tools, and has a natural clear color. TimberSIL® Decking and other exterior products carry a 40-year warranty. The eco friendly product is safe for the environment and recognized by professionals for green building.
TimberSIL Benefits
Fire Safety – Class A Fire Retardant
Home Protection – Will not Rot or Decay
No Damage from Bugs, Termites, Ants or other Insect
Popular Science Grand Award 2005 – Home Tech Category “Best of What’s New” – a round-up of what they consider the year’s most innovative products.
“Grand Winner under the “Home Tech” category is a wood treatment system called TimberSIL. TimberSIL is a non-toxic, non-corrosive, fire retardant, arsenic free wood treatment that is also free of heavy metals.”
Environmental Building News 2004 GreenSpec® Product – Top 10
“Perhaps the most innovative product recognized among BuildingGreen’s Top-10 of 2004 is a brand new pressure-treated wood product that relies on a unique mineralization process within the wood rather than toxins to protect it from insects and decay. And it does this without making the wood more corrosive. “If this product lives up to its manufacturer’s claims, it could quickly take over the market,” according to Wilson. “
Metropolitan Home Magazine
2005 Design – #41
Honors 100 of the most noteworthy personalities, places and extraordinary objects in the world of innovative design.
TimberSIL in the News
This Old House Magazine – Sep 2005 Non-toxic, Affordable Pressure-Treated Lumber by: Mark Powers
“Leave it to a chemist specializing in immune deficiency disorders to devise a pressure-treated wood that’s rot-proof, bug-proof, and so clean you could eat off of it. Its maker says it’s even safe enough to put in your mouth.
But we’re not sure why you’d want to do that. “
Popular Science – Nov 2005 “Pressure-treated lumber without the poison”
“TimberSIL employs 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 bakes until an insoluble matrix of amorphous glass hardens throughout the wood. No amount of rain or wear will remove it – Bugs can look, but they can’t touch.”
Timersil wood in the news
Enviromental Building News – Oct 2004 “TimberSIL Nontoxic Pressure-Treated Wood”
“Virtually all of the chemicals used in pressure-treated wood – CCA (chromated copper arsenate), ACQ (ammonium copper quaternary), copper azole, and even borates – are formulated to do one thing: kill organisms that decay or eat wood. It stands to reason that chemicals selected for their toxicity might also affect humans and ecosystems. Most uses of CCA have been phased out due to toxicity concerns…”
Environmental Science & Tech – May 2006 “Toxin-free treated wood” by: Mary Kathleen Flynn
Metropolitan Home Magazine – 2005 Design – #41
Honors 100 of the most noteworthy personalities, places and extraordinary objects in the world of innovative design.
CUSTOM HOME Magazine – Jan 2008 Timber Treatment Technologies By Victoria Markovitz
Non-toxic, non-corrosive TimberSil uses the fusion of glass to wood, instead of more hazardous treatments, to resist mold, moisture, termites, rot, and decay. The glass also increases wood’s strength and fire resistance. It comes ready for paint or stain.
Have you noticed an increase in the number of comments since installed KeywordLuv? I’ve been considering using it on a blog I own and need some honest feedback.
We’re new to this blog gig so we’ve got little to compare to historically. I’ve been reading http://www.growmap.com over the last couple of months and I’d suggest checking it out. The author appears to have an excellent grasp of how to support the needs of small business through internet marketing.
Hopefully I’ll have more to report in the future once we get a little more activity across our site.
So what’s your experience been so far with Timbersil? It looks almost too good to be true, and there are some (older) reports of poor distribution and not-up-to-spec material, which they seem to have under control now.
yeap, I have the same problem with comments but I think there is a different plugin for WP installations that does basically the same thing. ontopic now, it look like the fireproof qualities of materials are related to silicium.
I have read your article and watched the video and really it was awesome. I never imagined that a wood could be fire resistant. I think using it will really a great thing for all of us because it will last longer.
That is a pretty amazing video! In the end the untreated structure collapses and the other is just standing there like, “yeah we don’t burn. It’s cool!”
Very impressive. They really could use this stuff in SoCal with all the wildfires. I lived out there for 3 years and there were numerous homes destroyed by fire in that period. We have come a long way and this is a product that will insure our and our childrens’ safety. Thanks for sharing.
Pictures do speak louder than words! When I started reading your info about TimberSil I was mainly interested in the insect resistance, but after seeing that very effective demonstration of it’s flame resistant capabilities I have to say I am a convert. I can’t imagine why anyone would build a home without it!
That is an impressive video, isn’t it? In areas like southern California or in the mountains where brush fires often wipe out many homes this would be a true blessing.
I still remember the photos they used to show on the news of sub-divisions with one lone standing house and all the homes surrounding it completely consumed by the fire. In those cases the home that survived had tile or fire-resistant roofing.
If I lived in an area like that I would definitely want the entire exterior of my home – roofing, siding, shutters, exterior moldings, porches and decking built of TimberSIL.
Used on the interior, this wood could make homes much safer from a fire standpoint. Public buildings where large crowds gather could give them more time to exit safely in case of fire.
My next question is how much could you save on insurance premiums? I hope that TimberSIL is pursuing new standards for those building with their treated products.
Since I’ve found your blog I’m addicted to it! How is the pricing compared to more traditional materials and do you know of any builders utilizing the TimberSIL Glass?
The product is very new so any lifespan estimates would be projections. Since there is a 40 year no-rot warranty we could hope that it will be at least that long.
Timbersil has inspired New York City, Boston and Chicago to rewrite their specifications for railroad ties and pier/harbor materials. The new requirements eliminate toxic creosote materials and essentially require the use of Timbersil.
There’s also a new set of specs being written up for the building code that takes account of the additional strength of Timbersil, which I understand is 30% stronger than the original wood. So structures can be built with fewer pieces of lumber and longer spans.
Amazingly, Timbersil actually gets stronger when it’s left exposed to the sun. Incredible!
Do you have any experience with TimberSil being used for a marina decking material? How much more does it weight than say a common marina decking material such as Southern yellow pine? When the time comes to replace it can it be reused, recycled, disposed of as any other wood product?
I am impressed. I am a builder in London, and have been so for many years. However, in spite of having 35 builders carrying out all types of residential refurbishments, I have not come across Timbersil windows before.
What really got to me is that they are fire resistant. Why haven’t we seen them in the UK just yet? (Or perhaps I am just not following the trade mags as well as I should.)
The comments say it all. The product not only has achieved awards, but further acknowledgment of its quality and capabilities from those who are willing to take pen to paper, so to speak.
@Martin: From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, it seems like a consortium of Swedish wood producers and the Swedish government is in negotiations with TimberSil to arrange for a plant to be built in the EU. Apparently they have undertaken to replace all creosote and other toxic forms of treated wood infrastructure with TimberSil, and they’re now working to create a financial base that should result in a factory. Once Sweden gets TimberSil, it seems that the EU as a whole will soon follow, with new regulations that prohibit toxic wood treatments. So I’m thinking England will get TimberSil, but not sure how much time this will take.
@Matt: Not sure if you heard but TimberSil also got Consumer Reports’ highest recommendation as a real-wood decking material, without even mentioning (afaik) the fire resistance or other revolutionary qualities.
Even so, there’s a LOT of pressure being brought to bear on major home-center/retailers from the entrenched treated-wood industries to prevent them from stocking TimberSil. It’s a dirty business! Deck Builder magazine has yet to mention TimberSil in its pages, despite purporting to represent the best interests of deck builders. Given the very real problems carpenters face from corroding fasteners and underperforming lumber choices, you’d think they’d be featuring TimberSil in their articles. Again, I suspect their other advertisers (Trex et al) have reminded them where their revenue comes from.
Located in Florida, Good Millwork has been manufacturing architectural moldings and wood trim for over 20 years. We have over 10,000 molding profiles, including crown, baseboard, casing, chair rail and other wood profiles.
Over 200 woods species are available. Orders are packed and shipped daily. LTL service is available in the Southeast (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas).
All molding profiles are available for full scale preview. Moldings not found in our database can be matched in 24 hours. All moldings are produced to approved CAD drawings. Order lead times are typically 5-7 days.
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Have you noticed an increase in the number of comments since installed KeywordLuv? I’ve been considering using it on a blog I own and need some honest feedback.
Tony,
We’re new to this blog gig so we’ve got little to compare to historically. I’ve been reading http://www.growmap.com over the last couple of months and I’d suggest checking it out. The author appears to have an excellent grasp of how to support the needs of small business through internet marketing.
Hopefully I’ll have more to report in the future once we get a little more activity across our site.
Best.
Great site… very clever molding software!
So what’s your experience been so far with Timbersil? It looks almost too good to be true, and there are some (older) reports of poor distribution and not-up-to-spec material, which they seem to have under control now.
Is it still good for you and your customers?
Thanks!
Twitter: @olicelea
yeap, I have the same problem with comments
but I think there is a different plugin for WP installations that does basically the same thing. ontopic now, it look like the fireproof qualities of materials are related to silicium.
This is good to know that it is fire resistant and got other benefits as well.thanks for sharing this post.
Hi,
I have read your article and watched the video and really it was awesome. I never imagined that a wood could be fire resistant. I think using it will really a great thing for all of us because it will last longer.
Sounds interesting. I like that it creates an effective barrier to rot, decay, bugs, termites, ants and other insect.
I’ve heard of this kind of wood before, actually it is now in demand in our country because most people are trying to live a greener life.
Twitter: @rellekdomains
That is a pretty amazing video! In the end the untreated structure collapses and the other is just standing there like, “yeah we don’t burn. It’s cool!”
Please tell me where I can see/buy this product near Santa Barbara/Ventura/Camarillo CALIFORNIA
Hi Jamie,
The Official TimberSil site currently lists one distributor in California
Forsythe, Matt
Branch Manager
TimberSIL Wood Distribution California
466 Industrial Way
Placentia, CA 92870
(714) 223-1804 (business)
(714) 223-1842 (business fax)
email sales@woodwontburn.com
This California TimberSil distributor’s site is http://www.woodwontburn.com
Very impressive. They really could use this stuff in SoCal with all the wildfires. I lived out there for 3 years and there were numerous homes destroyed by fire in that period. We have come a long way and this is a product that will insure our and our childrens’ safety. Thanks for sharing.
Twitter: @storkclubny
The video really helps!what a wonderful product
Pictures do speak louder than words! When I started reading your info about TimberSil I was mainly interested in the insect resistance, but after seeing that very effective demonstration of it’s flame resistant capabilities I have to say I am a convert. I can’t imagine why anyone would build a home without it!
Hi Simon,
That is an impressive video, isn’t it? In areas like southern California or in the mountains where brush fires often wipe out many homes this would be a true blessing.
I still remember the photos they used to show on the news of sub-divisions with one lone standing house and all the homes surrounding it completely consumed by the fire. In those cases the home that survived had tile or fire-resistant roofing.
If I lived in an area like that I would definitely want the entire exterior of my home – roofing, siding, shutters, exterior moldings, porches and decking built of TimberSIL.
Used on the interior, this wood could make homes much safer from a fire standpoint. Public buildings where large crowds gather could give them more time to exit safely in case of fire.
My next question is how much could you save on insurance premiums? I hope that TimberSIL is pursuing new standards for those building with their treated products.
Since I’ve found your blog I’m addicted to it! How is the pricing compared to more traditional materials and do you know of any builders utilizing the TimberSIL Glass?
Looks pretty cool.
Hi Rodney,
The price up front will be substantially higher than untreated wood; however, because it lasts so much longer over time it is much LESS expensive.
You may be interested in the Weathering Studies and increased hardness on the Official TimberSIL Web site.
What is the expected lifespan of these timber products?
Hi Manie,
The product is very new so any lifespan estimates would be projections. Since there is a 40 year no-rot warranty we could hope that it will be at least that long.
Timbersil has inspired New York City, Boston and Chicago to rewrite their specifications for railroad ties and pier/harbor materials. The new requirements eliminate toxic creosote materials and essentially require the use of Timbersil.
There’s also a new set of specs being written up for the building code that takes account of the additional strength of Timbersil, which I understand is 30% stronger than the original wood. So structures can be built with fewer pieces of lumber and longer spans.
Amazingly, Timbersil actually gets stronger when it’s left exposed to the sun. Incredible!
Hi Bill,
It does look like the folks at TimberSIL are proactive at updating specifications and building codes and spreading the word about their product.
Do you have any experience with TimberSil being used for a marina decking material? How much more does it weight than say a common marina decking material such as Southern yellow pine? When the time comes to replace it can it be reused, recycled, disposed of as any other wood product?
TimberSIL sure sounds pretty cool and I can’t wait to try it!
Again, such clever inventions. I hope the cost is reasonable and concumers pick up on this when it is released.
Hi Good Millwork,
I am impressed. I am a builder in London, and have been so for many years. However, in spite of having 35 builders carrying out all types of residential refurbishments, I have not come across Timbersil windows before.
What really got to me is that they are fire resistant. Why haven’t we seen them in the UK just yet? (Or perhaps I am just not following the trade mags as well as I should.)
Pretty awesome software too.
Martin, Preisler Construction Ltd.
Refurbishment London´s last [type] ..Preisler Construction Ltd Refurbishment London
The comments say it all. The product not only has achieved awards, but further acknowledgment of its quality and capabilities from those who are willing to take pen to paper, so to speak.
@Martin: From what I’ve heard through the grapevine, it seems like a consortium of Swedish wood producers and the Swedish government is in negotiations with TimberSil to arrange for a plant to be built in the EU. Apparently they have undertaken to replace all creosote and other toxic forms of treated wood infrastructure with TimberSil, and they’re now working to create a financial base that should result in a factory. Once Sweden gets TimberSil, it seems that the EU as a whole will soon follow, with new regulations that prohibit toxic wood treatments. So I’m thinking England will get TimberSil, but not sure how much time this will take.
@Matt: Not sure if you heard but TimberSil also got Consumer Reports’ highest recommendation as a real-wood decking material, without even mentioning (afaik) the fire resistance or other revolutionary qualities.
Even so, there’s a LOT of pressure being brought to bear on major home-center/retailers from the entrenched treated-wood industries to prevent them from stocking TimberSil. It’s a dirty business! Deck Builder magazine has yet to mention TimberSil in its pages, despite purporting to represent the best interests of deck builders. Given the very real problems carpenters face from corroding fasteners and underperforming lumber choices, you’d think they’d be featuring TimberSil in their articles. Again, I suspect their other advertisers (Trex et al) have reminded them where their revenue comes from.
Wow… now that’s one powerful material… Is this on the market for mass consumption, or is it still in the beginning stages? Really impressive.