What acetylation does
Wood swells and rots because its cell walls absorb water. Acetylation reacts the wood with acetic anhydride, a stronger form of the acetic acid in vinegar, and swaps the water-attracting parts of the cell wall for acetyl groups that are already naturally present in wood. The result is a board that takes up far less moisture, so it resists decay and moves much less between a humid August and a dry January. Accoya rates it Class 1 for durability, the top class, and warrants the decking for 50 years against rot and fungal decay.
No coating needed
Accoya states the Decking Collection needs no coatings, sealants or end treatments to keep its warranty. Natural boards weather to a silver gray. The Accoya Color Grey board is colored through, so a scratch shows the same color underneath and there is nothing to reapply.
Verifiable environmental attributes
Accoya is made from FSC-certified radiata pine and holds Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold. It contains no plastic. Those are the specific reasons it is on our eco decking page. It is plantation pine, not a tropical hardwood, which matters to clients replacing an old ipe or mahogany deck.
Accoya or Kebony?
Both turn plantation pine into durable decking. Accoya has the longer warranty (50 years against 30) and is lighter in color when new; Kebony is darker and denser. Both weather to gray if left unfinished. We quote whichever suits your look and budget; see deck installation.
Common questions
Does Accoya decking need to be stained?
No. Accoya states its Decking Collection needs no coatings, sealants or end treatments to keep the 50-year warranty. Natural boards weather to silver gray; you can apply a finish if you prefer the look, but it is optional.
Is Accoya a tropical hardwood?
No. It is radiata pine from FSC-certified plantations, modified by acetylation so it performs like a durable hardwood outdoors.
Where these facts come from
- Accoya decking resources and species guide: modification, durability class, warranty, FSC, Cradle to Cradle
- Accoya decking listings (authorized distributors): actual dimensions, lengths, profiles, colors
Specifications can change. We confirm them against the current manufacturer data sheet on every order.
