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Perennial Wood™: A Long-Lasting, Real Wood Product for Your Projects

Architects and designers face a dilemma: they want to use real wood for outdoor applications but know their clients may not appreciate the maintenance that often goes along with pressure-treated or cedar, or the way it looks after a few seasons of exposure to the elements.

Perennial Wood is the solution. It is real wood that has been modified with TruLast™ Technology to stand up to the elements, resisting changes from moisture and holding its shape for decades. Best of all, the modification process does not affect the wood’s appearance. It’s been found to rival teak in both beauty and performance. Now, you can offer your clients a beautiful, U.S.-sourced, real wood material with fewer drawbacks for exterior applications.

Preserving Authenticity of Historic Properties
Because Perennial Wood is real wood and the TruLast Technology process does not leave behind any toxic substances in the wood, Perennial Wood is well-suited for historic renovations/restorations. Historical societies and associations, and architectural design boards of historical districts support the use of Perennial Wood to preserve the authenticity and character of vintage properties.

Supporting Sustainable Building Practices
Manufactured by Eastman, Perennial Wood can contribute to your pursuit of industry certifications and ratings, and green building efforts. It is sourced from U.S. Southern pine, and processed, milled and finished in the Southeast — eliminating the need for shipping wood from offshore sources. Because Perennial Wood lasts longer and requires less frequent replacement than unmodified wood, it results in less material disposal over the long term. Perennial Wood contributes to as many as 4 point categories in USGBC’s LEED certifications.

Eastman is committed to finding sustainable business opportunities within the diverse markets and geographies it serves. We are proud to have been named a 2012 Energy Star Partner of the Year.

Specifying Perennial Wood
Perennial Wood is an authentic wood building material that you – and your clients – will feel good about choosing. Current applications include:

  • Decking and related components
  • Porch flooring
  • Trim (Coming Soon)

To help you specify Perennial Wood products and incorporate them into your plans, we offer a complete Specifiers' Binder, which includes the following architectural design tools and more. All of these resources are available in our download section.

  • Data sheet
  • 3-part specs
  • CAD drawings
  • Architectural support from Perennial Wood experts
  • AIA/CES Continuing Education Course: “Wood Acetylation: Offering a Non-Toxic Path to Preserve Wood”

To discuss Perennial Wood products in more detail, please contact a dealer near you.
Perennial Wood for Architects

TRULAST™ TECHNOLOGY
TruLast Technology is a major advancement in wood technology and is the proprietary process that makes Perennial Wood possible. Wood that has been modified with TruLast Technology resists changes from moisture and remains dimensionally stable for decades. Simply put, TruLast Technology retains the wood’s authenticity and beauty while changing the wood’s cell structure to provide long-lasting outdoor performance. Learn More

KEY FACTS:

  • TruLast Technology is a process called acetylation, which permanently transforms the wood’s cellular structure throughout by using heat, pressure and an organic compound to replace the water-loving (hydrophilic) groups in the wood’s cells with water-hating (hydrophobic) groups, which minimizes water absorption and the associated damaging effects.
  • The process leaves no toxic substances within the wood. The organic compound, acetic anhydride, is used in manufacturing a wide range of products, from acetaminophen to artificial sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose) to toothbrushes, eyeglass frames, adhesive tape, tool handles, and LCD TV screens. Use of acetic anhydride leaves behind small amounts of acetic acid, which is also found in household vinegar.
  • The resulting Perennial Wood remains straight and smooth, and is three times more resistant to shrinking and swelling than untreated wood – without compromising the wood’s natural appearance.