Woodtone

Woodtone specializes in factory-applied coating systems for wood and fiber cement products. Their lineup includes fire-rated trim, lifetime-protected treated wood, and two-tone fiber cement coatings designed for harsh climates. Family owned and operated, they focus on prefinished products that arrive ready to install.

The company stands out for three reasons. First, they’re North America’s largest prefinished siding manufacturer. Second, they’ve maintained a close six-year partnership with Sherwin-Williams to develop specialized coating technologies. Third, they target the professional market — multi-family residential, commercial construction, custom home projects — not the DIY crowd.

FireGuard™ Fire-Rated Trim and Fascia: Class A Protection for WUI Zones

FireGuard™ features intumescent fire-retardant primer/sealer that expands upon exposure to heat or flame. This isn’t just paint — it’s an active fire suppression system that buys critical minutes during a wildfire event.

The Class A fire rating (flame spread < 25) meets Montana’s strictest WUI requirements. Every board gets coated on all six sides for superior fire protection, including the ends that typically get field-cut on jobsites.

Specification	Options
Thickness	1”, 5/4”, 2”
Width Range	2” to 12”
Length Range	8’ to 20’
Substrate	SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir) Wood - Solid or Finger-Jointed
Surface Textures	Comb Face, Comb 4 Sides, Smooth Face, Resawn Face
Fire Rating	Class A (Flame spread < 25)

Perfect for exterior fascia boards, under-eave (soffit) systems, window and door trim, garage door liners (2-inch), column wraps, rake and frieze boards. The low-VOC fire-retardant paint/primer system means you’re not fumigating the job site during installation.

Here’s the bottom line: Montana’s WUI zones keep expanding. Insurance companies demand fire-resistant materials. FireGuard delivers Class A protection on real wood — not composites or fiber cement that contractors hate working with.

Cortanium™ Treated Wood: Lifetime Protection Against Montana’s Worst

Cortanium™ features TRU-CORE water-based penetrating system that transforms ordinary SPF lumber into rot-proof, bug-proof trim. The treatment includes stabilizer added during manufacturing to minimize warping, cupping, and twisting.

What sets this apart: lifetime protection against rot, decay, and insects (termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees). Not 20 years. Not 30 years. Lifetime. And cut ends do not require additional field treatment — a massive time-saver when you’re trimming dozens of boards to length.

Specification	Details
Substrate	SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir) solid wood (North American lumber)
Treatment	TRU-CORE water-based penetrating system
Coating	Flood-coated primer/sealer on all six sides
Thickness Options	1 inch, 5/4 inch, 2 inch
Width Options	2 inch to 12 inch
Textures	Resawn face, Smooth back
Field Treatment	Cut ends do not require additional field treatment

The pre-primed factory coating requires only one field-applied top coat. Compare that to raw lumber that needs primer plus two finish coats. You’re saving labor on every linear foot.

Carpenter ants are Montana’s real termites. They’ll hollow out rim joists, sill plates, and anywhere else moisture accumulates. Cortanium’s lifetime warranty covers them specifically — not just a generic “insect resistance” claim.

RusticSeries™ Fiber Cement Coatings: Two-Tone Woodgrain That Lasts

RusticSeries™ features two-tone wood-grain finish for a natural appearance, with factory-applied coating for consistent film thickness and adhesion. This works on James Hardie (Fiber Cement), Allura (Fiber Cement), LP SmartSide (Engineered Wood) substrates.

The coating system offers 18 designer two-tone color combinations with names like Old Cherry, Aspen Ridge, and White Rapids. But here’s what matters more: the 20-year limited fade coating warranty backs up the UV resistance claims.

Profile Type	Dimensions	Weight Range
Lap Siding	12’ lengths, 5.25” to 12” widths	9.36 lbs (5.25”) to 25.2 lbs (12”)
Shakes	16” x 48” (Hardie/Allura), 12” x 48” (LP)	Per substrate specs
Panels	4’ x 8’, 4’ x 10’	Per substrate specs

The UV-resistant and fade-resistant coating handles Montana’s high-altitude sun exposure better than standard factory finishes. At 5,000+ feet elevation, UV intensity increases 25% compared to sea level. Standard paints chalk and fade within 5-7 years. This coating system maintains color depth through two decades.

RealTrim Plus™ Enhanced Fascia: Borax-Treated Against Moisture

RealTrim Plus™ uses Western SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir) wood with hand-selected, tight-grained, kiln-dried substrate. The secret weapon: Borax additive for mold resistance in some topcoat systems.

Every board gets Hybrid Alkyd Emulsion (HAE) - ultra-low VOC, factory-applied primer, flood-coated on all 6 sides. The kiln-dried substrate means less checking and splitting compared to green lumber that dries in place.

Thickness	Actual Size	Length Range
1 inch nominal	0.6875 in (11/16 in)	8 ft to 20 ft
5/4 inch nominal	1.125 in (1-1/8 in)	8 ft to 20 ft
2 inch nominal	1.4375 in (1-7/16 in)	8 ft to 24 ft

Width options span 1x2 through 1x12 and 2x2 through 2x12. Face options include Combed Face, Smooth Face, Resawn Face — all reversible depending on the look you want.

Borax treatment matters in Montana’s freeze-thaw climate. When ice dams back up water under soffits or snowmelt saturates fascia boards, untreated wood develops mold within one season. The borax additive provides insurance against those wet-dry cycles that destroy standard trim.

Who Should Buy Woodtone Products

Buy FireGuard for any project in WUI zones or where insurance companies demand fire-resistant materials. The Class A rating satisfies code requirements while keeping real wood workability.

Buy Cortanium where moisture and insects threaten longevity — basically everywhere in Montana. The lifetime warranty against carpenter ants alone justifies the premium for quality builders who stand behind their work.

Buy RusticSeries when clients want the wood look on fiber cement or engineered substrates. The two-tone finish adds depth that single-color factory coatings can’t match. That 20-year fade warranty means callbacks for repainting won’t happen.

Buy RealTrim Plus for exposed fascia and trim where ice dams and snowmelt create chronic moisture problems. The borax treatment prevents the black mold streaks that make houses look neglected after five years.

Skip all of these if you’re building spec homes where warranties don’t matter because you’ll never see the house again. These products target builders who care about long-term performance and contractors whose reputations depend on materials that last.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes FireGuard different from regular fire-retardant treated lumber?

FireGuard uses intumescent coating that expands when exposed to heat or flame. Standard fire-retardant pressure-treated lumber uses chemical salts that can corrode fasteners and don’t provide surface protection. FireGuard’s coating actively creates a protective char barrier while maintaining Class A fire rating (flame spread < 25). The 6-sided flood coating means even field cuts maintain protection.

Does Cortanium’s lifetime warranty really mean lifetime?

Cortanium provides lifetime protection against rot, decay, and insects including termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees. This isn’t a pro-rated warranty that decreases over time. The TRU-CORE water-based penetrating system treatment goes deep into the wood fibers, not just surface application. Most importantly, cut ends do not require additional field treatment, so the warranty isn’t voided by normal jobsite modifications.

Can RusticSeries coating be applied to existing fiber cement siding?

No. RusticSeries features factory-applied coating for consistent film thickness and adhesion. This isn’t a field-applied product. Woodtone coats James Hardie, Allura, and LP SmartSide substrates in controlled factory conditions before shipping. The two-tone woodgrain effect requires specialized application equipment you won’t have on a jobsite.

Why does RealTrim Plus use borax instead of modern fungicides?

Borax additive for mold resistance works differently than copper-based fungicides. Borax creates an alkaline environment that inhibits mold growth without the green tinting or chemical leaching of copper treatments. It’s been proven effective for decades, doesn’t corrode fasteners, and maintains the natural wood color under the coating. The 6-sided flood coating locks the borax treatment in place.

What’s the actual thickness of Woodtone trim boards?

Actual thicknesses are 0.6875 in (11/16 in) for 1-inch nominal, 1.125 in (1-1/8 in) for 5/4-inch nominal, and 1.4375 in (1-7/16 in) for 2-inch nominal. These follow standard lumber industry practices where nominal sizes reflect rough-cut dimensions before planing and drying. The precise measurements matter when calculating reveal dimensions and planning trim layouts.