One of the first things visitors to the new B.C. Canadian Pavilion in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square will notice is the towering wooden entrance arches fashioned from western red cedar. At least that’s the illusion. The arches and other wood accents throughout the pavilion are actually made from a new Canadian engineered wood that’s winning awards and accolades for its authentic look, ease of use and eco-friendly nature.
Silva Panel, produced in British Columbia, is made from 100-per-cent western red cedar, which is not only attractive but a very durable wood that will stand up in almost any climate, says Henrik Laursen, sales and marketing director for the company.
"It contains a lot of natural oil," Laursen says. "It’s rot and termite resistant and just about everything else. So, for example, if you use it in a playground, or areas where there are children, you don’t have to treat it with chemicals."
For exterior uses, he adds, it’s coated with a water-soluble stain, manufactured in Switzerland by Bohme that meets environmental standards and now carries a five-year warranty. It’s still being tested at UBC’s Forintek lab and Laursen says it’s hoped that warranty can eventually be extended to seven or even 10 years.
Silva Panel had proven itself standing up to diverse climates, used in countries including Great Britain, the Baltics, Turkey and China as well as North America.
The product, which received the 2007 Canadian Wood Council Award for Technical Innovation in a new product category, was developed to meet demands for an alternative engineered wood that was sustainable and that, given the ever-increasing labour costs, would be faster to install than traditional products. Laursen says the western red cedar is being reforested, so is a renewable resource.
The panels come in sizes up to 4x12 feet, making for faster installation than using narrower panels, for example tongue-in-groove. And they can also be cut to custom widths, which means less waste at the job site. Both factors can reduce overall costs.
It’s also a versatile product, appropriate for exterior wall siding or garage doors, as well as numerous indoor uses from feature walls, saunas or ceiling tile to furniture, cabinets and drawers. Laursen indicates that his product is more expensive than other lumbers but points to its durability. Exterior panel prices are approximately $8.70 per square foot for 1200 mm-square (about four-foot-square) three-ply panels, more when treated with stain. Interior single-ply panelling costs about $4.35 a square foot for the 1200 mm square panels.
As for availability, that’s an issue – Silva is still looking for distributors, though Laursen says the product is available across the country. He suggests calling 604-462-1210 or 604-328-6531 or visiting silvapanel.com to arrange shipping.