The prices of our wood depend on the cross-section, profile, and finish. Platowood works exclusively with a dealer network, who set their own prices. For current retail prices, you can contact your nearest dealer.

Both thermal and hydro-thermal modification (the Platowood process) involve heating wood at high temperatures in an oxygen-poor environment, which causes chemical changes that reduce moisture absorption and improve dimensional stability—factors that contribute to increased durability of the wood. Thermally modified wood is also referred to as “thermowood.”

What’s the difference between thermal and hydro-thermal modification?

In hydro-thermal modification, the wood undergoes an additional step before the heating process: “cooking.” At Platowood, the wood is “cooked” in an autoclave under high pressure using saturated steam. This process increases the reactivity of the molecular structure, allowing the wood to be heated at relatively lower temperatures to achieve durability. This unique combination of cooking and heating is what we call platowooding. Platowood is the only wood processor that uses this specific modification technique.

The advantage of platowooding is that our wood becomes less brittle, which results in less material loss during installation. And that reduced brittleness comes with another benefit: Platowood is the only supplier that can deliver KOMO-certified window and frame wood made from fraké.

The sustainability of Platowood Fraké is a frequently asked question. Thanks to its low environmental cost indicator of just €0.43 per square meter, Platowood Fraké is an extremely sustainable choice. Fraké is a fast-growing wood species that gains a long lifespan through hydro-thermal modification.

The Terminalia Superba, better known as the limba tree, provides the wood from which Platowood Fraké is made. Naturally, this wood is not durable and falls into durability class 5 — meaning that untreated, it will rot quickly when used outdoors.

By platowooding the wood, its lifespan is significantly extended, creating a sustainable product suitable for outdoor use. In addition, harvesting these trees contributes to the local economy.

Want to read the full story about the origin of Platowood Fraké? Then check out our news article: Platowood Fraké: from forest to sustainable wood product (1/2).