What is Fuming?

Fumed (AKA Smoked) wood has been exposed to ammonia which reacts with the natural tannins in the wood to bring out new colors and variations.

European oak is the preferred species for fuming/ smoking because of its high tannin content which brings out an intense darker color.

Because the intensity of the reaction depends on the tannin content of the wood, each board reacts a little differently from the next, creating color variation that is more pronounced than untreated wood.

It is a common mistake that fuming/ smoking involves application of the ammonia INTO the wood, but this is not the case. The change in color comes from the wood's reaction to the presence of small amounts of ammonia in an enclosed environment. The ammonia causes the tannins in the wood to be brought to the surface. The longer the wood is exposed to the ammonia, the darker it becomes, resulting in range of color from rich brown to almost black.

In Europe, this fuming process has been used for centuries. The premium Timbertop collection boasts many stunning color variated European oak floors masterfully crafted using this time-honored technique.