What are the differences between autoclave-treated, thermostabilised and saturated wood?

When we talk about protected wood, we often mean autoclave or saturator treatments. These treatments are used to combat the effects of wood ageing and add durability and aesthetic appeal to wooden facades. The differences are in the technique used to preserve the wood and the results.

Saturated wood makes façade maintenance easier. Saturators are finishing applications to protect the façade, prevent it from greying and keep it looking good. The autoclave process is a chemical treatment of wood to make it more resistant to external attack and insects.

Under certain conditions of use, wood is subject to natural aggressions such as insects, fungi and humidity. Autoclave treatment by vacuum pressure is a system that impregnates the wood with chemical salts. These act as preservatives. The aim of these preservatives is to make the wood more or less durable over the long term. The depth of preservative impregnation is determined according to the risk classes defined for the use of the wood. It is not a finishing treatment. The autoclave process is not environmentally friendly, as it makes the wood damp and causes cracks, shrinkage and deformation. The wood ages and becomes dull. It will need to be treated again in the medium term. That's why it's a good idea to choose alternative solutions such as saturators to maintain the original colour.

Protecting and maintaining your exterior cladding doesn't have to mean sacrificing environmental impact. There is an alternative to autoclave wood. When it comes to its saturants, Sivalbp has demonstrated its commitment to eco-responsibility by using non-toxic, chemical-free products. Protecting the environment and the health of users, avoiding pollution and offering solutions that are sustainable over time are the reasons why Sivalbp does not offer autoclave wood.

Sivalbp saturator finishes uses light, dark or pre-weathered on wood species that are sustainable for up to 50 years and come from responsibly managed forests. These finishes allow you to play with and enhance the natural contrasts in the wood. Saturated cladding becomes durable, class 3, aesthetic and resistant to external stresses.

Saturated finishes do not flake or peel and do not require stripping or sanding. Regular maintenance (4 to 5 years) using Sivalbp saturators ensures that the façade retains its original appearance. These finishes are solvent-free and film-forming. They use an acrylic resin that penetrates deep into the wood fibres. They provide optimum, long-lasting protection against UV rays and bad weather. Pre-weathered saturators, on the other hand, allow the natural greying of the wood to continue for several years.

For an effective, non-polluting wood preservation treatment, Sivalbp offers EcoThermo wood instead of autoclave wood. These woods have undergone thermo-stabilisation, a wood transformation process that ensures great stability over time, without the addition of chemicals. Heat-treated wood cladding is therefore an excellent substrate for cladding subjected to external stresses, such as high levels of humidity. EcoThermo cladding can be recognised by its brown colour, which will quickly lighten and be permanently protected by the saturator. EcoThermo Sivalbp brings aesthetic, sustainable and environmentally responsible solutions to the market.