Are you thinking about building with Accoya wood? Have you just heard wonderful things about “future wood” thus far, and have you become skeptical?
Do you want to know what the main Accoya wood disadvantages are?
That’s reasonable, given how we felt when we first learned about Accoya a few years back. We now know more about wood thanks to our own experiences. Many of Accoya wood’s advantages have been realized.
But, depending on what product you’re comparing Accoya to, certain drawbacks exist. As a result, we seek to increase transparency. In the following blog post, we have listed the downsides of Accoya wood.
One of the fundamental Accoya wood disadvantages is not a natural occurrence
You should be aware that Accoya is a modified wood product rather than a type of wood. The original material is radiata pine, which may be found in New Zealand forests. After logging, the pine is acetylated with acetic acid.
The wood is transformed so that its toughness and lifetime are considerably boosted during the acetylating process.
Even if only natural ingredients are utilized in this method, the following must be stated: Accoya does not occur naturally in the environment.
Production necessitates an additional step. However, the fact that Accoya is produced from rapidly regrowing radiata pine puts this disadvantage into perspective.
Furthermore, Accoya’s producer, Accsys, tries all necessary to produce the wood product as environmentally friendly as possible.
Accoya’s numerous environmental labels and certifications, such as the widely regarded Cradle to Cradle designation, demonstrate that this devotion bears results.
Accoya is also carbon negative during its whole life cycle. If you prefer naturally occurring wood, you should be cautious about its consistency.
Because using naturally growing tropical woods with properties comparable to Accoya raises different, but sometimes larger, sustainability concerns due to limited supply and unregulated deforestation.
A suitable option could be easily accessible, locally sourced lumber.
In the long term, it’s important to remember that using Accoya for both a terrace and a privacy screen may come with some trade-offs in terms of dimensional accuracy, splinters, and other factors in the outdoor area.
The scent – you would probably be fed up with Accoya when it comes to furniture
As we learned in the first part, Accoya is acetylated throughout the manufacturing process. The alteration adds acetic acid to the wood.
You may have figured by now that you can smell acetic acid. Customers will hardly notice the aroma because it is not overpowering. Furthermore, the patio floorboards gradually vanish with time.
However, if you want a patio that smells like wood, you might be better off using a different sort of wood. Red Cedar, for example, might be used.
This wood smells fantastic. It reveals its full potency, especially when wet. Unsurprisingly, some of the world’s top chefs utilize cedar wood for baking or grilling delicacies like fish or bread over a fragrant cedar board. But let’s get back to Accoya.
Accoya and metal – that can be dangerous
Acetic acid not only makes Accoya wood products smell unpleasant. It is also hazardous to metal buildings. This is due to the acid’s ability to erode metal structures connected to Accoya.
This corrosion tendency must be considered while constructing terraces, particularly for screws and substructures directly linked to the wood, such as pool covers or staircases. The Dutch Heavy Traffic Bridge designers were likewise aware of this risk.
The threaded rods were covered by this large, trafficable timber bridge made of AccoyaEpoxy resin. These bars acted as transverse reinforcement and were bonded into the wood.
Because of hot-dip galvanizing, the steel sections attached to the bridge’s outside are likewise corrosion-resistant. They were also treated with an anti-corrosion coating. Accoya’s corrosion risk is well under control with the correct know-how.
Accoya price
“Accoya is pricey!” we hear over and over. However, this apparent disadvantage cannot be ignored. It always depends on which wood you are comparing, in our opinion.
Accoya is, of course, more expensive than the unaltered pine from which it is derived. However, this would not be suited for long-lasting terraces.
When compared to native decking wood, Accoya decking boards are a few percent more expensive than, say, local larch. This, however, does not provide the same endurance and has significant drawbacks, such as cracks or resin leakage.
Because of the chipping and frequent swelling and shrinking, the decks will exhibit much more age than an Accoya deck after several years.
The price is considered when comparing Accoya to tropical woods with similar long-term qualities and an equally good durability class. Accoya is priced similarly to other wood alternatives in this market.
It’s important to note that Accoya treatment is not without drawbacks.
The treatment of Accoya goods should not be taken lightly. Accoya is a far more difficult wood to cure than cedar or Douglas fir. If the treatment is not applied appropriately, it may not adhere to the wood surface.
Accoya Gray is now available in addition to Accoya. This Accoya version, colored through to the core of the wood, does not require additional treatment.
Conclusion
A closer look at the Accoya wood product, which is often praised, shows its flaws.
But wood experts know how to deal with these problems, so Accoya can be recommended for a beautiful Accoya decking that will last a long time.