Noawood – Thermally Modified Wood

Noawood is a high-performance, thermally modified wood product made from Malaysian tropical timber. It offers exceptional durability, stability, and sustainability for both indoor and outdoor applications.

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Why Choose Noawood?

Real Wood Product
Made from 100% natural solid wood, offering the authentic look, feel, and warmth.
Dimensional Stability
Resists warping, swelling, or shrinking over time — keeping its shape in any environment.
Easy Maintenance
Noawood requires less frequent refinishing or replacement, saving time and cost in the long run.
Durability
Insufficient nutrients remain after the breakdown of hemicellulose (sugar chains) during treatment
Lightweight Material
Lighter in weight compared to many other hardwoods, making it easier to handle, transport, and install.
Weather-Proof
Noawood holds up well in harsh sun, rain, and humidity.
Non-Toxic
As only heat and water vapour are used under high pressure, no toxic chemicals are part of the process.
Sustainably Harvested
Sourced from responsibly managed forests, ensuring sustainable forestry practices.

What is Thermally Modified Wood?

Thermally modified wood is real wood, just made tougher. Treated with only heat and steam in a controlled, oxygen-reduced environment, the process permanently changes the wood’s cellular structure, making it more stable, moisture-resistant, and durable. It’s free from chemicals, rich in tone, and perfect for cladding, decking, or interiors that demand both performance and visual appeal.
By breaking down hemicellulose—the part of the wood that feeds fungi, and reducing the wood’s ability to absorb water, thermal modification significantly improves resistance to rot, insects, and swelling. The result is a long-lasting, eco-friendly timber that performs beautifully in humid, seasonal, or outdoor environments, with less maintenance and greater peace of mind for builders and designers alike.

Thermal Modification Process

Step 1: Drying

Timber is gently dried at up to 130°C to remove moisture and prepare for safe high-heat treatment.

Step 2: Heating

Wood is heated to 185–230°C in low-oxygen steam conditions, triggering permanent structural and chemical changes.

Step 3: Modification

Cell structure is altered to reduce water absorption, improve decay resistance, and eliminate the need for chemicals.

Step 4: Cooling & Reconditioning

The timber is gradually cooled, and moisture is reintroduced with steam to stabilise it.

Balau and Chengal have long been the go-to for tropical hardwood decking, known for their natural strength and resistance. But they can be inconsistent, costly, and require careful grading to avoid sapwood.
At Maran Timber, we offer a smarter, more sustainable alternative: thermally modified Merpauh, Mengkulang, and Kelat, treated at temperatures up to 230°C using advanced heat and steam technology. This high-heat process transforms the wood’s cellular structure, enhancing durability, dimensional stability, and resistance to decay, insects, and moisture without using any chemicals.
With its rich color, consistent quality, and minimal maintenance needs, Noawood decking delivers the performance of Balau or Chengal without the variability, and stands as a natural, eco-friendly alternative to WPC or SPC composites. It is decking that feels authentic, lasts longer, and installs with confidence.
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Tropical hardwoods like Seraya and Merpauh have long been valued for joinery, but with thermal modification, they now shine in exterior cladding applications. At Maran Timber, we apply precision thermal treatment up to 230°C to selected species including Seraya, Merpauh, Oak, Eucalyptus Red Grandis, Frake, and more in development.
Our process uses only heat and steam to transform kiln-dried timber over a 30-hour cycle, reducing moisture content to around 4–6%. This enhances dimensional stability, lightens weight, and improves resistance to decay, warping, and insects without chemicals involved.
Thermally modified Noawood cladding achieves Class 1 durability and offers a clean, consistent grain. This makes it a natural, low-maintenance alternative to species like Western Red Cedar, with comparable density and superior tropical character. Ideal for facades, soffits, and rainscreens in modern architecture.
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Noawood Specifications

Material
Thermally Modified Solid Hardwood (e.g. Merpauh, Mengkulang, Seraya)
Durability
EN 113 Class 1 (EN 350). It is highly resistant to decay, fungi, and insects. Suitable for exterior use without chemical treatment.
DENSITY
Varies by species; average 530–700 kg/m³
FIRE RATING
Thermo wood achieves Euroclass D (EN 13501-1); can be treated for higher performance if required.
EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE CONTENT
The treatment reduces the wood’s equilibrium moisture content to around 4–6% after modification at 230°C.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Toxic-free, no chemicals added during thermal modification.
RESISTANCE
Fungi, insects, and dimensional movement.
APPLICATIONS
Decking, cladding, façades, soffits, screens, outdoor furniture, and architectural joinery.
SHRINKAGE
Radial
~0.4%
Tangential
~0.8%
Thermal treatment reduces swelling and shrinkage by up to 50% compared to untreated wood.
JANKA HARDNESS
Ranges 2.6kN to 4.5kN

Consider Noawood for your project?

Created with sustainable, chemical-free thermally modified wood. Let’s discuss specifications, pricing, custom solutions, or collaboration opportunities.
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Versatile Applications of Thermally Modified Wood

Durable Exterior Surfaces

Perfect for outdoor cladding, decking, and exterior wall panels. Thermally modified wood resists moisture, decay, and harsh weather. Its structural integrity and color retention make it a long-lasting choice for facades, siding, soffits, and other exposed surfaces.

Elegant Interior Finishes

Thermally modified wood enhances interior spaces with its warm tones and clean grain. Commonly used for wall and ceiling paneling, it offers dimensional stability and a refined, natural look that elevates both residential and commercial interiors.

Real-World Use Cases and Project Highlights

Discover how Noawood is used in real-world projects — from residential builds to commercial spaces.
Project Name 1

The boards are primed using water based paint and cured in low humidity

Project Name 1

The boards are primed using water based paint and cured in low humidity

Project Name 1

The boards are primed using water based paint and cured in low humidity

Project Name 1

The boards are primed using water based paint and cured in low humidity

Project Name 1

The boards are primed using water based paint and cured in low humidity

Project Name 1

The boards are primed using water based paint and cured in low humidity

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Decking designs that inspire

Decking designs that inspire

Decking designs that inspire

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FAQs about Noawood (Thermally modified wood)

What is thermally modified wood, and how does it differ from untreated wood?
Thermally modified wood is timber that has been treated at high temperatures (typically above 170°C) under controlled conditions to improve its durability, stability, and resistance to moisture.
In contrast, untreated wood refers to timber that has not undergone any modification or chemical treatment. It is far more susceptible to rot, fungal growth, insect attack, and dimensional instability when exposed to outdoor conditions.
The high-temperature treatment changes the wood’s cellular structure, reducing its ability to absorb moisture and making it less hospitable to fungi and insects. This results in significantly improved resistance to decay, warping, and biological degradation.
Maran Timber offers thermally modified wood under its Noawood product line, which includes options for both decking and cladding. These products are engineered to deliver premium performance in all-season climates while offering a sustainable alternative to traditional hardwoods.
Noawood uses select Malaysian tropical hardwoods, including Merpauh for decking and Meranti for cladding, both of which are thermally modified to enhance their strength and weather resistance. These species are chosen for their availability, workability, and suitability for thermal modification.
Noawood is ideal for exterior applications due to its superior durability and dimensional stability. Common uses include decking, cladding, facades, soffits, fencing, and outdoor furniture, especially in environments exposed to moisture, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations.

Other Related Products

KILN Dried Lumber

LAMINATED SCANTLING

FASCIA BOARD

Resources & Brochures

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Noawood Decking Brochure
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Specifications Sheet
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Noawood Cladding Brochure
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Timber Comparison
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Noawood Timber Catalogue
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