Wood is the only major building material that grows naturally and is renewable. With growing pressure to reduce the carbon footprint of the built environment, building...

Of all the energy used in North America, it is estimated that 30 to 40 percent is consumed by buildings. In Canada, the majority of operational energy in residential...

For many years, the design values of Canadian dimension lumber were determined by testing small clear samples. Although this approach had worked well in the past, there were...

Moisture, Decay, and Termites Wood is a natural, biodegradable material.  That means certain insects and fungi can break wood down to be recycled via earth into new...

A permanent wood foundation (PWF) is an engineered construction system that uses load-bearing exterior light-frame wood walls in a below-grade application. A PWF consists of...

“Durability by design” is the most important aspect of durable solutions.  It starts with using dry wood, storing it appropriately to ensure it stays dry, and then...

For outdoor applications of wood, we have a strong tradition here in North America of using our naturally durable species: Western red cedar, Eastern white cedar, yellow...

Treating Methods There are two basic methods of treating: with and without pressure. Non-pressure methods are the application of preservative by brushing, spraying or dipping...

The appearance of wood can be modified with the application of an architectural coating. Architectural coatings are surface coverings such as paints and stains applied...

Non-Pressure Treated Wood For most treated wood, preservatives are applied in special facilities using pressure. However, sometimes this isn’t possible, or the need for...