In this video & article, we discuss reSAWN’s Accoya modified wood offering which is prefinished with a waterborne exterior oil. Our one-coat (1C) and two-coat (2C) product offerings provide specifiers with the choice of a more saturated color if desired.

1C Option – Finished with 1 Coat

‘1C’ denotes Accoya wood that is prefinished with one coat of our proprietary exterior oil in the factory. There is no need to apply a second coat of finish post-install.

2C Option – Finished with 2 Coats

‘2C’ denotes Accoya wood that is prefinished with one coat of our proprietary exterior oil in the factory AND will require the installer to apply a second coat of finish post-install. This finish will be included on the sales order and shipped with the materials.  Applying a second coat of finish post-install will further saturate the initial color of the cladding and extend the duration of the deeper color.  

The video focuses on RAILAY 1C and RAILAY 2C, two of reSAWN’s Accoya wood products with a waterborne exterior oil.

Video Transcript:

Hi, I’m Diane with reSAWN TIMBER, and I’m here today to talk to you about several of our Accoya products that are available with 1C or 2C exterior finish. 1C indicates Accoya is prefinished with one of our exterior oils in the factory, and this does not require a second coat. 2C indicates Accoya is prefinished with one of our exterior oils in the factory, which will require a second coat onsite by the installer.

The big difference between 1C and 2C is the color saturation on day one and as it weathers over time. Applying a second coat of Accoya does enhance the initial color of the exterior cladding and it extends the life of that deeper color over time. However, if you choose not to apply that second coat of finish, that can be a cost savings for your project.

I’m here at the factory in Pennsylvania and we do testing of our own products outside on our weathering rigs. We test for aesthetics and performance. So here are two examples. This is RAILAY 1C and RAILAY 2C – these have been outside on our weathering rigs since September 2021. That is 10 months of accelerated weathering. It’s considered accelerated weathering because it’s on our rigs on a 45 degree angle facing due South.

So 10 months of accelerated weathering represents approximately 30 months on the job site. So you can see they are weathering a little bit differently, but yet they’re weathering beautifully. So as you have your project needs or requirements for exterior cladding and Accoya modified products, give us a call at reSAWN TIMBER and we’d be happy to help you out. Thanks!

What are the benefits of Accoya wood?

• Performance: Tried and tested in the USA. Accoya wood is stable, water and rot-resistant, and comes with a warranty. Accoya wood is thoroughly tested and designed to perform with minimal movement (swell/shrink/distort). Accoya is indigestible by various insects, including termites, resulting in an effective barrier. With a 50-year above-ground and 25-year below-ground and freshwater warranty, Accoya wood can be specified with confidence and enjoyed for decades.
• Finish: reSAWN’s carefully crafted Accoya products are thoroughly vetted and tested via reSAWN’s research and development processes to test the aesthetics and performance of the wood in addition to how it weathers. Materials will arrive on-site prefinished, with the option to apply a second coat if desired. Our proprietary finishing process combined with Accoya wood provides a beautiful, low-maintenance exterior siding option.
• Sustainability: Sustainability is at the core of Accoya’s business and is part of the entire life cycle of the material, including sourcing, production, and recycling at the end of life. Accoya wood products are FSC® certified, have a low carbon footprint, and are non-toxic to people, pets, and the environment. Accoya wood is the only construction material to achieve Cradle to Cradle Platinum Certification™  for Material Health. Accoya wood siding specifications have a minimal environmental impact.

How is Accoya wood modified?

Accoya wood is modified through a process known as acetylation. Accoya takes radiata pine, a softwood, and subjects it to a vinegar known as acetic anhydride. Acetyls are naturally present in wood, and acetic anhydride enhances the hydroxyl groups, providing water-repelling characteristics. This process turns the softwood into a hardwood by preventing the cells in the wood from being able to absorb water. This vinegar is verified as non-toxic with Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold, scoring ‘Platinum’ for Material Health. This modification process gives Accoya its durability and rot and decay resistance.

Does Accoya wood require a lot of maintenance?

Not only is Accoya’s durability proven, but it has also been shown to retain its appearance, requiring much less frequent maintenance than other wood species. Since Accoya wood undergoes the acetylation modification process, it requires little to no maintenance. The modification process enhances the performance of Accoya wood, providing outstanding dimensional stability that results in lower maintenance frequency and therefore less coating over the lifetime of the product.

Accoya wood doesn’t require recoat maintenance. However, if the desire is to get back to that day one color, we do recommend a recoat for aesthetic purposes. Maintenance and recoating guidelines vary by product. Contact reSAWN TIMBER co. for product-specific information.

Samples of our Through Body Color Accoya products are available for architects and designers at no cost and shipped via UPS Ground. Click on the button below to order samples.

In this video & article, reSAWN shows you how to clean & recoat charred exterior siding. The video focuses on IKIGAI which is one of our charred Accoya materials. IKIGAI is first burnt in the Japanese style of shou sugi ban which accentuates the natural grain pattern. It is then brushed to remove most of the charcoal layer and finished with an exterior oil top coat.

Video Transcript: Hi, this is Ryan with reSAWN TIMBER co. ‘s R+D Department. 

Today we’re going to be showing you how to clean an exterior cladding product in preparation for a recoat.

Keep in mind, that Accoya is a modified wood and doesn’t require recoat maintenance. However, if the desire is to get back to that day one color, we do recommend a recoat for aesthetic purposes.

So the first step in this process is knowing when your cladding was installed. So we know – our test board for IKIGAI has been out on our testing rigs. We know this was put outside 3 years ago (1 year of weathering = 3 years of accelerated weathering). So, that falls in the 3-4 year window of when we recommend recoats.

Accelerated Weathering Correlation

Accelerated weathering means exposure of our products facing South on a 45-degree angle. One year of accelerated weathering equals approximately three years of natural weathering.

Visual Inspection of Cladding

The next step would be to visually inspect the product for any kind of damage, fading, mold – things like that. And after taking a look at this, and knowing how long it’s been outside, we’ve decided to do a recoat on this product.

This product here is IKIGAI. This is a shou sugi ban product or a charred Accoya product.

And I think after we clean it and prep it and we get the finish on there, it’ll look just as good as the day it got installed*. So, let’s do that.

NOTE*: Maintenance and recoating guidelines vary by product. Contact reSAWN TIMBER co. for product-specific information.

Part 1 – Cleaning IKIGAI Accoya Exterior Wood Cladding

• Step One – dampen the surface with water, using a garden hose if possible.
• Step Two – apply reSAWN’s ready-to-use exterior wood cleaner using a soft-bristled brush.
  • NOTE: For lighter cleaning, the product can be diluted with water at a ratio of 1:2.
• Step Three –  scrub the treated area with a soft-bristled brush. That’s a nice soft-bristled brush. Working lengthwise along the wood until it is clean. For stubborn stains, repeating the treatment may be necessary. 
• Step Four –  rinse thoroughly with water until all of the foam has been washed away.

Let the wood dry for a minimum of 24 hours before starting the recoat process.

Part 2 (Optional) – Recoating IKIGAI Accoya Exterior Wood Cladding

• Step One –  stir the oil finish provided by reSAWN thoroughly before use.
• Step Two – once the clean surface is dry, apply a layer of oil finish supplied by reSAWN with a foam pad. Work length-wise across the boards. Maintain a wet edge to prevent any lap marks. 
• Step Three – wait for 1 to 3 minutes, allowing oil to penetrate. Then buff off traces of excess product with a piece of cloth.
• Step Four – Let the surface dry for about 24 hours.

NOTE: Complete curing takes place after 7 days.

Cloths that are soaked in oil may spontaneously combust, and must therefore be submerged in water after use.

Accelerated Weather Testing at reSAWN TIMBER co.

At reSAWN, our Research & Development department ensures the quality assurance necessary to specify our exterior cladding products with confidence. Testing begins at the conception of a new product by placing the product on our accelerated weathering rigs. Our R & D team studies the finish performance and quality and structural performance of each product.

Accelerated Weathering is done at our facility in Telford, PA. Telford is located in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania in the Northeastern United States in the humid continental climate zone, with some characteristics of the humid subtropical climate that lies in Delaware and Maryland to the south. A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold in the northern areas) winters. Precipitation is usually distributed throughout the year. Telford experiences average temperatures of 25 °F to 45 °F in the winter and 65 °F to 85 °F in the summer. The average precipitation per month is around 3.5 inches with an average yearly precipitation of 41 inches. The average relative humidity for the year is 65%. The average UV index ranges from low-moderate in the winter (2-5) to high-very high in the summer (8-9).

Materials are installed facing due South with approx. 8 hours of direct sunlight per day at a 45-degree angle to accelerate weathering. The actual weathering appearance and time frame at your site will be different depending on several factors including climate, altitude, and facing. In general, the acceleration factor is roughly 3:1 and so for example, 1 year of accelerated weather testing can be correlated to roughly 3 years of natural weathering. However, taking into consideration the usual high variation of test results obtained with wood samples and the variations in climate zones, facings, and weather — it is impossible to make an exact correlation to the time associated with weathering at your site.

[3:1 has to be qualified as it relates to the material being installed as vertical cladding in a Southern exposure in the Northern Hemisphere. 3-5 Years for Northern exposure. In both conditions, this assumes full UV Exposure. Cladding blocked by UV exposure will alter these estimated time frames. If reSAWN material is used as roof cladding (specifically 12:12 pitch) it’s a 1:1 correlation.]

At reSAWN TIMBER co. we celebrate and visually leverage wood’s inherent tendency to weather over time by designing modern, high-performance products that are meant to age in place with grace. 

We work with woods’ natural tendency to grey, not against it. Our products look beautiful on day one and continue to as nature takes over. Each board works cohesively together yet each board has its own visual story. The result is modern originality & inherent textural beauty with each and every project.