FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q: What is Eco Wood Treatment made of?
A: Eco is made up of naturally occurring plant and mineral substances, combined in a special family recipe. The solution soaks in and penetrates wood fibres. Independent laboratory testing confirms that Eco Wood Treatment creates no harmful residues in soil or water.

Q: Lots of products for the exterior wood claim to be no-maintenance, but in fact have to be re-applied within 2-3 years. What does Eco mean by no-maintenance?
A: No-maintenance means you apply one treatment of Eco and NEVER touch it again. Eco Wood Treatment can not be worn off, will not peel or fade. Natural weathering actually increases its beauty and effectiveness.

Q: Is Eco Wood Treatment good for most types of wood?
A: Eco will beautify and increase the durability of all solid woods. However, use of Eco on low durabilty wood such as pine particularly when used in ground contacting applications is not recommended.

Q: How is Eco Wood Treatment applied?
A: It can be applied in all conventional ways including by brush, roller, sprayer or dipping. It can be safely worked while still wet without leaving permanent finger or foot marks. It can also be applied in any weather down to 0°C.

Q: How long is its' shelf life?
A: In powder form, Eco can be stored indefinitely. After mixing with water, the solution keeps best in a sealed jar and will last an extremely long time. With increased time however, water may become stagnant unless distilled water is used to mix the batch. Because you can mix only what you need, the likelihood that you will have large amounts of Eco Wood Treatment solution left over is minimized.

Q: It sounds expensive. Is it?
A: No! In fact, Eco Wood Treatment is priced below several nationally advertised stains and wood treatments that must be applied many times over the life of the wood. Eco is simply the least expensive and most effective wood treatment available. Shipping and handling costs have been greatly reduced because Eco is purchased in powder concentrate form and the savings are passed onto the end user.

Q: Can I apply sealers or coloured stains over Eco Wood Treatment?
A: Yes, you can. But we don't recommend it.

Q: Is Eco Wood Treatment safe to use on timber in contact with birds or animals?
A: Eco is safe to use on wood that is direct contact with people, animals, birds and soil as it has very low toxicity and does not leach harmful residue into the soil. Eco is a totally different product to CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate), the standard treatment for pine in New Zealand.

Q: Will Eco Wood Treatment prevent cracking or splitting?
A: Splitting is a result of loss of internal moisture from timber and as Eco is water based it will not prevent wood cracking as it dries. The effect of Eco will however continue to treat the wood by migrating into new cracks and colouring newly exposed wood. Some degree of splitting will also enhance the rustic appearance that Eco Wood Treatment gives to wood.

Q: What quantities is Eco Wood Treatment available in?
A: Eco Wood Treatment is available in packs of concentrate sufficient to make 4.5 litres or 22 litres of solution.

Q: Is Eco suitable for use on CCA treated pine?
A: The preservative qualities of Eco Wood Treatment would be made redundant by the CCA treatment. The effects of Eco would mostly be in terms of appearance in such situations.

Q: Is Eco Wood Treatment suitable for use on plywood or composite exterior cladding?
A: As Eco does not seal the wood surface there may be a risk of delamination in such applications. Check with the timber supplier/manufacturer before use.

Q: Who is using Eco Wood Treatment?
A: Canadian contractors have been using it for 60 years in house and marina construction. Some of the organisations using Eco Wood Treatment:

• Parks Canada has used Eco in several National Parks including Banff, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks.
• The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation approved Eco for municipal and highway signage projects.
• The City of Calgary is using Eco for treating wooden roadside sound barrier fencing.
• Nova Scotia Natural Resources is testing the product on picnic tables in Provincial Parks.
• Several construction contractors and log home builders are now using Eco Wood Treatment in Canada and the U.S.

Q: Is Eco Wood Treatment permitted for use on Certified Organic properties?
A: Currently Eco can be used on non-production areas of organic farms only, due to certification technicalities.

Q: Will timber treated with this product meet building code specifications?
A: Eco Wood Treatment is not recognised by NZ building codes as yet. It increases the durability of woods but does not have the preservation strength (or toxicity) of CCA so is less suitable for use on low durability timbers such as plantation pine. Eco is however suitable for use on exterior claddings of macrocarpa or other more naturally durable timber but its use in such situations should be cleared by your building authority if applicable.