5 Reasons Why We Use Premium Thermowood
The science behind our material choice
When we decided what wood to use in our saunas, we didn't just go with tradition. We looked at the science, tested different materials, and chose based on performance.
Here's why high-grade hemlock thermowood outperforms pine in every way that matters for your family's sauna experience.
1. Zero Resin Problems
Pine has a fundamental flaw for sauna use: resin pockets throughout the wood.
When pine hits sauna temperatures, the resin becomes liquid and bleeds out of the wood. This creates sticky, tar-like substances that can burn your skin, stain your towels, and make surfaces uncomfortable to touch.
Thermowood eliminates this completely. The thermal modification process removes resin compounds before the wood ever reaches your sauna. What you get is clean, resin-free wood that stays comfortable and safe at any temperature.
The difference is dramatic: pine will ooze resin, thermowood never will.
2. Stays Structurally Sound
Pine moves significantly with moisture changes. In the extreme heat and humidity cycles of sauna use, this means doors that won't close, gaps between boards, and benches that warp over time.
Research shows thermowood has 40-50% better dimensional stability than untreated wood. The thermal modification pre-shrinks the wood and dramatically reduces its moisture absorption. While pine can absorb 15-20% moisture, thermowood maxes out around 12% even in extreme conditions.
Your sauna maintains its precise fit and finish for decades. Doors close properly, benches stay flat, and the structure remains tight and well-built.
3. Cleaner Air for Your Family
Pine releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when heated—the chemicals that create that strong "pine" smell. In an enclosed sauna, these can cause headaches, eye irritation, and breathing discomfort.
Independent testing shows thermowood has 8x lower VOC emissions than pine. The thermal treatment removes the volatile compounds that cause air quality issues.
The result? Clean, breathable air that lets you focus on relaxation instead of dealing with chemical odors or respiratory irritation.
4. Superior Thermal Performance
Thermowood's cellular structure changes during the thermal modification process, improving how it handles heat.
The wood surface stays more comfortable to touch even at peak sauna temperatures. Heat distribution becomes more even throughout the sauna. The thermal properties are simply better engineered for the sauna environment.
Pine, by comparison, can have uncomfortable hot spots and uneven heat characteristics that affect your comfort.
5. Built to Last Decades
Pine degrades relatively quickly under sauna conditions. The resin bleeding gets worse over time, structural movement creates ongoing issues, and the wood simply wasn't designed for this extreme environment.
Thermowood achieves "Durability Class 2" rating through the thermal modification process. This dramatically extends its lifespan in demanding applications like saunas—we're talking 25-30+ years of reliable performance.
The wood actually gets better with age, developing an attractive silver-gray patina while maintaining its structural integrity.
The Direct Comparison: Pine vs. Hemlock Thermowood
Regular Pine in Saunas:
- ❌ Resin bleeding at operating temperatures
- ❌ Significant dimensional movement (warping, gaps)
- ❌ High VOC emissions causing air quality issues
- ❌ Uncomfortable hot spots and uneven surfaces
- ❌ Degrades quickly under sauna conditions
- ❌ Inconsistent appearance with varying knots and grain
High-Grade Hemlock Thermowood:
- ✅ Zero resin bleeding—ever
- ✅ Exceptional dimensional stability (minimal movement)
- ✅ 8x lower VOC emissions for clean air
- ✅ Even, comfortable surface temperatures
- ✅ 25-30+ year performance lifespan
- ✅ Rich, consistent appearance that ages beautifully
- ✅ Enhanced durability through thermal modification
Why Material Choice Matters
A sauna is a long-term wellness investment for your family. The wood you choose determines whether that investment delivers decades of reliable performance or ongoing frustrations.
Pine might be traditional, but it simply wasn't designed for modern sauna performance standards. The resin issues, dimensional instability, and air quality concerns make it unsuitable for premium applications.
Thermowood represents engineered wood science at its best. Every aspect of its performance—from dimensional stability to air quality to thermal properties—has been optimized for the sauna environment.
Our Material Philosophy
We chose thermowood because it's simply better material. Not because of marketing claims or cost considerations, but because the science supports it and the performance proves it.
When we build a sauna, we want it to work perfectly for decades. That means using materials that can actually deliver on that promise.
Hemlock thermowood does everything pine tries to do, but does it better. More stable, cleaner air, better thermal performance, longer lifespan. It's not even close when you compare them side by side.
Your family deserves sauna materials that enhance their wellness experience rather than creating problems. That's exactly what thermowood delivers—superior performance in every category that matters.
Experience the difference that premium materials make. Our thermowood saunas deliver superior performance because we believe your family's wellness deserves the best materials available.
