Jon Heyesen: Arbor Wood Co.

December 29, 2022

Jon Heyesen: Arbor Wood Co.

“Arbor Wood Co. We’re Minnesota based. We produce thermally modified wood, siding, decking dimensional lumber, millwork, and all that stuff. We have been around for a decade, 10 years exactly. And the Arbor Wood story really starts from an intersection of a love of building materials, a love of specifically, sustainably produced building materials, design, and an intersection, a connection with the academic world.”

-Jon Heyesen

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Jon Heyesen, the CEO of Arbor Wood Co. Jon’s journey began at the point where his passion for design, his connection to academia, and his love of building materials—more specifically, building materials produced sustainably—met. Because of where they are, the natural resources they have, and their incredibly strong natural resources research section, they have a rather active partnership with the University of Minnesota. As a result, relevant research people who want to take good care of the natural resources they have, such as freshwater, forests, a variety of soils, and varied terrains, are collaborating with them.

In this episode, Jon discusses the benefits of thermal modification and the science behind it, his well-known product line of thermally modified wood furniture, and how steam stabilizes the wood to prevent warping. He also discusses how Thermally Modified Wood targets less environmentally friendly alternatives.

It’s time to hear the full story now!

“And so, we were in the sustainable building material world. Which all started from skateboarding really. And so, had a relationship with the university doing product testing, and material testing, not only for the manufacturing business but for the distribution business. And they said,

“Hey guys, there is this technology, thermally modified wood would be a great fit for your Intectural portfolio.”

And that’s where Arbor Wood was born.”

-Jon Heyesen

Building a Sustainable Business

Over time, wood will naturally deteriorate, with certain types deteriorating a little more swiftly than others. The popularity of thermally treated wood is growing along with the trend toward sustainable construction. Although slightly more expensive than simple wood siding or decking, it does have certain advantages. Long-term outdoor durability is one of Jon’s product goals. It should be dimensionally stable, rot-resistant, and suitable for millwork and even flooring applications indoors. You can extend the life of the wood by thermally altering it. Normal, uncured wood has a limited lifespan when exposed to the weather. The process of alteration will naturally result in wood that lasts longer, reducing the need to clear forests and trees in the future. You may help create a future of sustainable building by employing modified wood.

“The technology is really about long-term outdoor durability. It’s both rot resistance, and dimensional stability, and it’s certainly used inside for millwork and even flooring applications. But the primary sort of value proposition is a great medium for cladding decking because of its outdoor performance.”

– Jon Heyesen

Want to get in touch with Jon Heyesen?

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arborwood.co/?hl=en