Tulip wood (Liriodendron tulipifera), also known as American tulipwood or yellow poplar, is a lightweight hardwood with an average dried density of around 455 kg/m³ and a low Janka hardness of roughly 540 lbf. In its natural state it is easy to work but non-durable (EN 350 Durability Class 5), which historically ruled it out for exterior use. Thermal modification changes that fundamentally.

BFP Thermo® Tulip is produced by heating the timber to approximately 180–215 °C in a low-oxygen atmosphere, with no chemicals or preservatives. This drives out moisture, breaks down the sugars that feed decay fungi, and permanently lowers the wood’s ability to absorb water. Independent testing carried out for the American Hardwood Export Council (by CATAS in Italy) has rated thermally modified tulipwood at EN 350 Durability Class 1 — very durable, on a par with many tropical hardwoods — supporting an above-ground exterior service life of around 30 years.

The modification also transforms the appearance. Tulipwood’s pale, greenish-cream colour deepens to a rich, uniform brown that runs through the full thickness of the board, so machined edges and minor scratches blend in rather than showing pale. Left uncoated outdoors, it weathers gracefully to a silver-grey patina.

Thermally modified tulipwood has a strong architectural track record — it was the cladding chosen for Maggie’s Oldham, cited as the first UK building to be completely clad in the material — and its light weight makes it easier to handle and fix on site than dense tropical alternatives.

As a trusted timber supplier in India, we develop custom tulipwood profiles to order. Buyers who compare thermo tulip wood price against tropical hardwood cladding often find it competitive once its renewability, stability, and 30-year exterior performance are factored in.