Wood dictionary
Not all wood is the same—and the many technical terms often don’t make it any easier. To ensure you always know what we’re talking about when it comes to structure, treatment, etc., we’ve summarized all the important terms relating to wood in an easy-to-understand way.
Wood dictionary
Not all wood is the same—and the many technical terms often don’t make it any easier. To ensure you always know what we’re talking about when it comes to structure, treatment, etc., we’ve summarized all the important terms relating to wood in an easy-to-understand way.
Wood dictionary
Not all wood is the same—and the many technical terms often don’t make it any easier. To ensure you always know what we’re talking about when it comes to structure, treatment, etc., we’ve summarized all the important terms relating to wood in an easy-to-understand way.
Brushing
Brushing removes the softer components of the wood using rotating brushes. This creates a deeper, tactile texture that emphasizes the natural grain. The surface has a rustic, high-quality appearance and is less sensitive to minor scratches.
Coating
Coating involves applying protective or decorative layers such as varnishes, glazes, or opaque paints. Coated surfaces receive additional protection against weather, UV radiation, moisture, and dirt.
Formaldehyde certificate
Proof of the low-emission use of adhesives or binding agents. Certificates such as E1 or stricter standards specify how low the formaldehyde content of wood products may be. They guarantee a healthy indoor climate, which is particularly important for interior applications.
Grain
The grain refers to the naturally visible structure of the wood, characterized by annual rings, knots, and growth direction. It makes each piece of wood unique and influences both the appearance and value of a product.
Hewing
A chopped surface is created by targeted blows with a special tool, resulting in a lively, handcrafted relief. It gives the wood a traditional, alpine look and emphasizes its rustic character.
Moisture (KD in %)
KD (“Kiln Dried”) describes wood that has been dried in a drying chamber to a defined residual moisture content. The percentage value indicates how much moisture remains in the wood after drying. Controlled KD drying ensures high dimensional stability, reduces the risk of cracks and warping, and makes the wood particularly reliable for facades, interior fittings, and refined surfaces.
PEFC
The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification is a globally recognized certification system for sustainable forest management. PEFC-labeled wood products come from responsibly managed forests and support the careful use of resources.
Planing
Planing is a machining process in which the wood surface is smoothed and straightened using a planer blade. The result is a clean, elegant surface with high dimensional accuracy—ideal for visible applications such as facade profiles or panels.
Quality A/B
A-grade describes a virtually knot-free, visually calm surface with harmonious grain and minimal color variations. It is ideal for high-quality visible areas. B grade shows natural features such as knots, stronger color nuances, and an overall livelier character, but remains technically flawless. A/B means that the visible side is A grade and the reverse side is B grade. This combination offers a high-quality appearance while making efficient use of materials—ideal for facades and profiled timber.
Resistance class
The resistance class describes the natural durability of wood against fungi and microorganisms. It ranges from 1 (very durable) to 5 (not durable). Facade or exterior wood with a higher resistance class withstands weathering longer and requires less maintenance.
The planing
The term describes the processing state of a wood-based product that has been planed. Planing results in a fine, smooth surface with defined dimensional accuracy, as required for facade strips, profiles, and visual applications.
Thermal treatment (thermowood)
Bei der thermischen Behandlung wird Holz in einer kontrollierten Umgebung auf hohe Temperaturen erhitzt. Dadurch verändern sich die Zellstrukturen, was das Material widerstandsfähiger, formstabiler, dunkler in der Farbe und weniger anfällig für Feuchtigkeit macht. Thermoholz eignet sich besonders gut für Fassaden, Terrassen und architektonische Bauteile, bei denen Langlebigkeit und optische Eleganz gleichermaßen gefragt sind.
Tongue-and-Groove joint
A classic joining technique in which one side of the wood profile has a groove (cut) and the other has a tongue (raised edge). Both elements fit together perfectly and ensure a stable, visually closed surface – typically used for facades, ceiling and wall panels. A special quality feature of Minka Wood is the 4-sided tongue-and-groove design. This means that the profiles not only fit together seamlessly on the long sides, but also on the short sides. The result is a significantly higher degree of accuracy of fit, a very clean overall appearance, and particularly simple, safe, and material-saving processing.
Wood finishing
Generic term for all processes that improve the appearance and technical properties of wood—e.g., brushing, chopping, planing, coating, heat treatment, or oiling. Finishing gives the wood greater durability, a unique appearance, and improved tactile properties.