A new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms what many in the wood industry know already — wood is a truly green building material. The study analyzed a lifecycle assessment of green building materials and found that growing, harvesting, transporting, manufacturing and using wood produces less air pollution — including greenhouse gases — than concrete, steel and other material options.

In this time when it’s all about ‘green building,’ wood is about as green as you can get. It feeds the atmosphere as it grows and feeds the earth at the ends of its lifecycle. Wood is our only truly renewable resource.

However, for many, low maintenance is the priority. Misunderstanding sometimes leads to selection of materials other then wood. But when wood is used properly and selected carefully, it can arguably remain competitive with any building material on the market.

Making Wood Work for You

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success,”said Alexander Graham Bell. This maxim applies to designing with wood and assuring that a coating, or sealant, will be able to do its job of protecting.

First, wood needs to remain dry and experience minimal prolonged wetting cycles to naturally prevent decay.

Second, design overhangs should be utilized to protect the wood from wetting, or wood should be used predominantly on facades that are not located in very exposed locations. Wood will endure windward exposures, but the treatment, species and dimension of wood must be specifically selected to provide a stable and sound surface that performs for generations.

Third, wood species selection should be made based on performance characteristics, not just aesthetics. For example, when combined with good grain orientation or balanced dimensions, Western Red Cedar, which is naturally decay-resistant, can have many decades of life on a patio surface. Spruce, on the other hand, has relatively low decay resistance, so it is rarely used for exterior surfaces without a preservative treatment.

Decks represent a completely different surface situation, enduring foot traffic, having a horizontal orientation, and being completely exposed to the elements. Penetrating non-film-forming-finishes are far easier to maintain on decks. These coatings will tend to wear or erode rather then peel. As a result, a quick recoat will enhance the original beauty and protection. A good quality penetrating stain for decks should yield a two- to five-year maintenance cycle, depending on the pigment loading (transparent or opaque) and the exposure.

Finally, color selection is important when considering exterior maintenance as the pigment loading will affect the performance of the coating. In general, the more pigment, the longer the coating will last because good quality pigments — particularly iron oxides — provide excellent UV protection. New technologies utilize finely-grown iron oxides, such as trans oxides or nano tints, to maintain clarity and enhance UV protection, even in a clearer coating that retains the wood’s character.

Wood is an amazing material that we should utilize more often in our new buildings. Wood is strong, ecologically responsible and creates unparalleled finish product. New structures afford the opportunity to incorporate design, wood species selection, grain orientation, component dimension and treatment system specification that will ensure a low maintenance and sustainable surface for years of enjoyment.