FAQ
Economy
Increased dimensional stability
As a result of the Kebony process the timbers stability is vastly improved reducing the maintenance cost of replacing defective boards.
Alternative to tropical hardwoods
Kebony products have the aesthetics, durability and stability of the best tropical hardwoods at a lower cost.
Why Choose Kebony?
Over the life cycle of the project Kebony has low if any maintenance costs.
Reduced Maintenance
Kebony products are designed to be left untreated, turning a silver grey patina over time. No surface treatment or maintenance is required.
Environment
Is Kebonization environmentally friendly?
The liquid as well as the mechanical production of Kebony has been awarded the “Swan”/Nordic Ecolabel, which is the strictest environmental standard in Scandinavia. Kebony is the only modified wood that meets these standards. We are utilizing a waste stream by product as our active ingredient. We are alleviating the use of rainforest wood in outdoor structures. We have deployed state of the art no emissions facilities. We are committed to the environment and have won many awards. We are committed to improving out profile as we move forward.
Is Kebony wood an alternative to rainforest woods?
Yes, Kebony wood is an environmentally friendly alternative to wood from vulnerable tropical forests. We use biobased inputs in the production, and get our raw materials from documented sustainably managed forests.
Is Kebony certified by FSC – The Forestry Stewardship Council?
Yes.
Why is Kebony an environmentally friendly alternative?
Kebony has a low carbon footprint compared to most other wood products. This has two main reasons: 1) Kebony’s long durability – which ensures that the carbon content is stabilised for a long time compared to the re-growth time of the wood that Kebony is produced from, and 2) Kebony’s policy of only sourcing wood that has been sustainably managed and harvested. Kebony for yacht decking is a good example: The finished Kebony Yacht product has a carbon footprint which is less than a quarter of product made from teak. The Kebony products based on Nordic pine have been awarded the Nordic eco-label “The Swan”. Kebony is utilizing an agricultural waste product as the source of the active ingredient. Kebony is alleviating the use of wood from vulnerable and endangered rainforests. Kebony is produced in state of the art production facilities, without emissions to the external environment.
How should Kebony be disposed of as waste?
Waste of Kebony is disposed of in the same manners as waste from untreated wood. There are no toxic and persistent chemicals in Kebony that will impose any risks to human safety or the environment, even when Kebony is burnt.
Features
How is it possible to make a softwood perform like a hardwood?
The Kebonization process enhances the properties of sustainable certified woods to give them similar characteristics to that of tropical hardwoods in performance. Through the infusion of a bio waste and heat, the cell structure of the wood is modified, improving its durability, dimensional stability and appearance. The result is a high performance Kebony wood.
Is Kebony available in different colours?
Kebony products come in a golden brown, easily compared to the colours of tropical woods. The colours have slight variations depending on the parent wood material used.
How fast does Kebony get the grey patina?
When used outdoors the golden brown colour of the Kebony wood will fade into a silky grey patina. The change is quicker on horizontal surfaces than vertical, and depend on how much the products are exposed to sun and rain. The variations will fade over time.
What are the fire properties of Kebony?
Kebony is fire classified as untreated wood, which is the Euroclass D-s2,d0 for reaction to fire in accordance with EN 13986.
What is the durability of Kebony?
Kebony’s durability against rot decay conforms to Durability Class 1, which is the most durable category of the European norm EN 350. This Durability Class ensures that Kebony has a long life span even in ground contact Because of its hardness Kebony will also be more robust against wear than most other wood types.
What are the physical properties of Kebony?
Kebony is wood. However, in Kebony wood the fibres’ ability to hold moisture has been modified, so Kebony will typically have lower moisture content than untreated wood when it’s in equilibrium with its surrounding climate. This effect is caused by the formation of the polymer inside the wood fibre. The process also reduces the shrinking and swelling of Kebony compared to the parent wood, typically with 50%. In other words, the dimensional stability at moisture variations is vastly improved.
What are the mechanical properties of Kebony?
The bending strength of Kebony is roughly unchanged from the parent wood, while the stiffness is improved by 10 – 20%. The hardness is improved by typically 30 to 50% over the parent wood. Softwood based Kebony will then be harder than oak, while Kebony for yacht decking even is harder than merbau and wenge.
What is the service life of Kebony Yacht Decking compared to teak?
Kebony Yacht Decking is roughly 50 % harder than the best teak available. Consequently the rate of wear will be lower, and at the same time the rot resistance is high. This combined should ensure a service life which is significantly longer than that of teak installations.
How stable is Kebony Yacht Decking?
The dimensional stability of Kebony Yacht Decking is equal to the stability of teak.
Do you have any reference projects where Kebony Yacht Decking has been used?
Please visit the yacht reference projects on our webpage.
Can I bend Kebony Yacht Decking battens the same way I can with teak?
Yes, Kebony Yacht Decking battens can be bent to follow the shape of the boat. Naturally, the 35 mm battens will bend easier than the 48 mm battens. Longer lengths will bend easier than short lengths.
What is the wear and tear on my joinery machines compared to teak?
Kebony Yacht Decking is very hard, therefore a slight increase in the service frequencies of sawblades / planing knives is to be expected.
Is there a distributor in my country or do I order straight from the factory in Norway?
Please see our web page for our distributors and sales outlets around the world.
What are the non-slip properties of Kebony Yacht Decking?
Kebony Yacht Decking has the same non-slip properties as teak, both wet and dry.
Will Kebony Yacht Decking turn grey over time?
Yes, when left untreated Kebony Yacht Decking will fade into a silvery grey patina.
I would like to receive samples of Kebony Yacht Decking, what do I do?
Please email an enquiry to info@kebony.com or to ata@kebony.com. Samples and information will be shipped within a few days.
Technical
What is Kebonization?
Kebonization is an environmentally friendly modification of wood. The term modification is used intentionally as the lumber accepts an organic monomer with which it cross polymerizes at the molecular level creating a new material. This new material is nontoxic and biologically inert in that it will neither harm nor feed organism such as termites, fungi, mammals or marine borers. As with many unions with nature, you do not need to harm organism or the environment to coexist, you merely do not need to become a food source.
What are the principles of the Kebony technology?
The Kebony technology is based on environmentally friendly wood modification principles. The term modification is used intentionally as the lumber is treated with a bio-based chemical which polymerises at the wood cell level, creating a new solid material. This new material is very stable, nontoxic and biologically inert.
What kind of fasteners should I use for Kebony products?
We recommend to use acid proof or stainless steel screws or nails on Kebony products.
Can I paint, oil or otherwise treat Kebony products?
Kebony can be surface treated if you want a different looking end product. We recommend waterbased acrylic paints.
Where is Kebony produced?
Kebony wood is produced in at our factory in Skien, Norway, at the entrance of the Oslo fjord
Is it correct that Kebony is maintenance free?
Kebony products do not need any kind of maintenance besides normal cleaning.
Can Kebony be machined as normal wood?
Yes, Kebony is machined (planed, cut, profiled, sanded etc) as other hardwoods. Like with all hardwood work you should take steps to protect workers from the dust generated during the processing.
In what dimensions is Kebony Yacht Decking available?
We stock battens in 5,2 x 46 mm, 9 x 35 mm, 9 x 48 mm, 12 x 35 mm and 12 x 48 mm. 9 and 12 mm battens are straight edge. Profiling to order. Widths 60, 80 and 90 are available as special order. Lengths are from 1000 mm to 3000 mm +.
In what qualities is Kebony Yacht Decking available?
We deliver Kebony Yacht Decking in the following qualities: “Kebony Super Yacht”, “Kebony Premium Yacht” and “Kebony Yacht”.
Can Kebony Yacht Decking be pressure washed?
Because of the hardness of Kebony Yacht Decking it will withstand pressure washing far better than teak. It is, however, not recommended.
How do I clean Kebony Yacht Decking?
Kebony Yacht Decking can be cleaned using water and a soft brush. Also see the Kebony Yacht Decking product sheet.
Which adhesives / caulking compounds are recommended when
We are currently working with Sika, Saba, and Simsons. Working instructions from the various suppliers will be available on our webpage.
Where do I find product data sheets for Kebony Yacht Decking?
Product data sheets for all our products are found on our webpage.