What is Accoya?

Accoya is a premium outdoor timber material made from sustainably sourced Radiata Pine; or as we like to jokingly refer to it, Pine that’s been pickled!

The timber undergoes a non-toxic process called acetylation, which modifies the wood at a molecular level to make it more stable and durable, making it suitable for outdoor use where it otherwise wouldn't be.

And the results speak for themselves! Accoya comes with a 50-year warranty for above-ground use, and a 25-year warranty for in-ground or freshwater applications. It is also certified for use in termite zones, being 22 times more termite-resistant than untreated Radiata Pine.

Accoya is available in both a natural (clear) finish and a grey timber finish. If the natural finish is not oiled, stained or painted; then over time the natural colour of the Radiata Pine will slowly weather and change to a silver grey colour. If the grey finish is what you are looking for, then grey Accoya is the way to go, as it saves having to wait time for the timber to naturally weather. The grey pigment is not just on the surface of the timber, it penetrates right to the core. This means that if you cut or machine the timber, it still has the same grey colour.

That said, if you have a particular colour in mind, you can also stain or finish Accoya to achieve the look you're after. Just keep in mind that once you add a coating, you'll need to maintain that finish over time. Leaving Accoya unfinished is generally the lowest cost and easiest maintenance option.

What is Accoya typically used for?

Accoya is particularly well suited to outdoor applications.

Here at Hammersmith, we currently offer Accoya primarily as outdoor cladding and decking. However, on request, we can also run different profiles or manufacture other Accoya products. See our Custom Woodworking & Woodturning page for more information.

Cladding and decking is just one of the many ways to use Accoya. It is also commonly used for mouldings for doors and windows, pergolas and other outdoor structures, and outdoor furniture. Essentially, anywhere you would normally consider using timber outdoors, Accoya is worth considering, particularly where you want the natural look of timber without the ongoing maintenance that can come with other outdoor timbers.

Why choose Accoya?

Being a premium product, Accoya comes with a premium price tag. Which might leave you asking: why choose Accoya over an equivalent hardwood?

The answer is simple: longevity and ease of maintenance.

Even dense hardwoods such as Spotted Gum and Blackbutt require regular maintenance to keep their original colour and appearance, with most exterior applications needing recoating or oiling two to three times a year. Accoya, on the other hand, can be left unfinished and allowed to naturally weather without any oiling or coating.

This makes Accoya particularly well suited to products such as cladding, especially on houses with high ceilings or multiple storeys tall where accessing the timber for regular maintenance isn't always easy or particularly comfortable.

The other advantages of using Accoya compared to other hardwoods is that being a softwood it is considerably lighter and also far easier to cut, drill and machine.

So, while Accoya may come with a higher upfront price tag, you're paying for a product designed to weather beautifully and last for decades. Over the life of the product, that can make the initial investment much easier to justify.