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Compressed Wood Products

ETR’s products are all made from FSC-certified, 100% post-industrial by-product material, all diverted from landfill. This by-product material is re-processed and re-engineered into an extremely dense, stable and aesthetically pleasing composite log. This log, or “engineered timber”, can essentially be considered a new raw material, a direct replacement for any mill-supplied timber used in the manufacturing of traditional wood-based products. Not only is this material an easy substitute for the manufacturing of most products, but in almost all cases it will make a better end product.

During the manufacturing process, there are a number of variables that can be changed, which can alter the appearance of the product and significantly affect its physical properties. Depending on the desired outcome and the required properties of the end product being created, these variables can be mixed and matched to produce the ideal component construction. The factors and variables we have the ability to adjust are:

  • Recipe – by arranging the fibers in a specific way or formula, relative to color, size, pattern, etc., the desired aesthetic end result can be created.
  • Color (stained vs. infusion) – the fibers can be stained with natural pigments and arranged in the desired format, or the entire product can be “dye-infused” to create a product with a solid-body color.
  • Cut – the “engineered timbers” can be cut horizontally (sliced perpendicular to the direction of compression), giving a more “open grain” pattern, or they can be cut vertically (sliced in the same direction as the level of compression), which gives a much more linear presentation.
  • Glue selection (Interior vs. exterior) – depending on the intended use or product being created, the standard low-VOC interior–grade adhesive can be replaced with E-1 compliant exterior-grade waterproof glue suitable for use in products including decking, exterior furniture boards, and siding materials.
  • Coating – depending on the application, a variety of different finish coatings can be used. The material can be left unfinished, coated with a natural oil or wax, or top-coated with a urethane or lacquer.