When evaluating real-world product durability, laboratory testing can only tell you half the story. To truly understand how building materials perform under extreme, non-stop pressure, there is no better proving ground than a high-traffic public beach space.
Westwood Lake in Nanaimo, BC, is a bustling hub for outdoor recreation where public decking faces the ultimate stress test: heavy foot traffic, continuous exposure to moisture and abrasive beach sand, punishing summer sun, freezing winter spells, and year-round wear from the public.
Technical Summary: Westwood Lake Project Specifications
| Feature | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Project Name | Westwood Lake Park Public Space Boardwalk |
| Location | Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC |
| Product Specified | Imbue™ Thermally Modified Decking |
| Board Profiles | DK16V 142×27 (Reeded) & DK4R 140×27 (Smooth) |
| Finish / Treatment | Uncoated; allowed to naturally weather to a silver patina. |
The Westwood Lake Challenge: High Traffic Meets Waterfront Conditions
Abrasive Wear: Fine sand continuously tracked by beachgoers quickly erodes soft wood fibers and coatings.
Moisture Cycles: Wet feet, swimming gear, splash zones, and regional winter rains lead to rapid swelling, rotting, and surface degradation in standard timber.
Thermal & Sun Exposure: Unshaded lakeside areas absorb high solar heat while UV rays degrade untreated timber coatings.
Alternative Public Space Decking Materials: How Imbue™ Compares
When evaluating options for high-traffic municipal and waterfront projects in Canada, specifiers typically consider four main alternatives?
Western Red Cedar: Prized in British Columbia for its native heritage and beauty. However, untreated Cedar is soft, prone to deep splinters under public foot traffic, and vulnerable to cupping, warping, and rot in unsealed waterfront settings.
Pressure-Treated Softwood: Widely used for low-upfront-cost civic infrastructure, but it degrades quickly under Canadian freeze-thaw cycles, warps easily, splinters, and relies on heavy chemical preservatives.
Ipe & Tropical Hardwoods: Known for extreme density on heavy-duty piers, but recent CITES trade regulations, soaring import costs, severe heat retention under direct sun, and strict municipal green-procurement rules around rainforest deforestation make it increasingly difficult to specify.
Capped Composites: Popular for eliminating annual staining and resisting rot. However, synthetic plastic composites retain intense solar heat—becoming uncomfortably hot for bare feet—and contribute non-biodegradable microplastics to the environment.
The Solution: Imbue™ Thermally Modified Decking
Imbue decking uses FSC®-certified Radiata Pine subjected to an advanced, chemical-free thermal modification process (heating the wood in computer-controlled kilns up to 230°C with steam reconditioning). This permanently alters the wood’s cellular structure at a molecular level, giving fast-growing softwood the stability, density, and natural durability of premium hardwoods.
For the Westwood Lake project, two specific profile combinations were utilized:
DK16V 142×27 (Reeded Face): Features fine micro-grooves that deliver enhanced slip resistance, making it the ideal choice for transit pathways where wet, sandy feet are coming directly off the beach.
DK4R 140×27 (Smooth Face): Features a smooth finish with pencil-round edges (4R), giving high-touch resting areas and main boardwalks a clean, comfortable, and tactile feel.
Key Features:
1. Heat tempered for durability, stability,and long-term performance.
2. Durability Class 1 (EN350) and Class 2 (AS5604) – above ground.
3. 96.5% dimensional stability.
4. High grade quality timber with mainly clear faces and minimal knots.
5. 15-year warranty
5. FSC® certified timber from responsibly managed plantations.
6. Light weight and easy to install.
7. Easy to maintain and lower maintenance costs over its lifespan.
8. Naturally chocolate brown, will silver with age unless finishes are applied.
9. Accepts most finishes including water and oil borne stains and paints.
Kid-Friendly & Barefoot Safe: Heat-Resistant, Splinter-Free, and Non-Toxic
In a family-focused park like Westwood Lake, user safety—especially for young children—is paramount. Imbue Thermally Modified Decking excels as a kid-friendly surface in three critical ways:
No Splinters (Splinter-Resistant Surface): Thermal modification cross-links the wood fibers, significantly reducing grain-raising, checking, and surface slivering. Children can run, sit, and play barefoot directly on the boards without the risk of painful splinters common with standard Cedar or pressure-treated wood.
Remains Comfortable Under Full Sun: Composite and plastic decking are notorious for absorbing heat, often reaching extreme temperatures that burn bare feet on hot summer afternoons. Thermally modified wood boasts a 20% to 30% lower thermal conductivity than untreated softwoods and synthetics. It reflects solar radiation rather than trapping heat, keeping the board surface safe and comfortable for bare feet even during peak heatwaves.
100% Non-Toxic & Chemical-Free: Traditional pressure-treated lumber relies on heavy metals and chemical biocides to resist rot. Imbue achieves superior rot resistance using only heat and steam. It contains zero toxic additives, making it 100% safe for toddlers, barefoot parkgoers, local wildlife, and the surrounding lake ecosystem.
Additional Key Benefits of Thermally Modified Decking for Public Spaces
Beyond barefoot safety, Imbue Thermally Modified Decking delivers technical advantages that make it an exceptional choice for municipal infrastructure:
Unmatched Dimensional Stability (50% Less Movement): By removing hemicellulose (the moisture-attracting sugars in wood cells), thermal modification reduces equilibrium moisture content by roughly 50%. The boards experience virtually no swelling, shrinking, cupping, or warping—keeping board gaps uniform and smooth across seasons.
Class 1 / Class 2 Biological Durability: Eliminating the internal sugars starves rot-causing fungi and insects of their food source. Imbue achieves a 25+ year durability rating without chemical preservatives.
Unstained Natural Silver Weathering: At Westwood Lake, the Imbue decking was left completely unstained and unsealed. Over time, UV exposure naturally transforms its warm brown tone into a sophisticated, silvery-grey patina. Unlike softwoods, this weathering is purely aesthetic—the internal decay resistance and structural integrity remain intact without costly ongoing staining schedules.
Environmentally Friendly & Carbon Negative: Sourced from FSC®-certified plantation pine, Imbue provides a renewable, carbon-storing alternative to old-growth timber and energy-intensive composite plastics. At the end of its decades-long service life, it is 100% biodegradable.
Conclusion: Setting the Standard for Municipal Decking
The Westwood Lake public space project demonstrates that municipalities and architects do not have to choose between high-maintenance native softwoods or eco-unfriendly plastic composites.
Thermally modified flatsawn wood for siding, soffit, panelling & decking
Imbue™ is flatsawn Radiata pine, thermally modified to enhance its natural durability and stability, creating sustainable materials built to last.
This heat-treated wood cladding is available in both Imbue™ and Imbue™ Light, each with a curated collection of program colours selected by Fisher’s coating specialists.
