Frequently Asked Questions

DreamDex is scientifically enhanced softwood lumber that turns into hardwood lumber.  The process is started by using clear, certified, Radiata Pine.  The lumber is then infused with a biodegradable polymer and dye known as "BioCore" technology.  After 100% penetration, the lumber is dried at high temperature. This sets the “Biocore” polymer and dye in an inert state. The lumber is surfaced and ready to be used to make a superior deck and enter into the life we call DreamDex Living!

Natural lumber tents to split and check due to water loss.  Some composite decking has a propensity to deteriorate and is not structurally stable enough to span more than 16".  After many years of testing, DreamDex has evolved into a product that has all the attributes of both lumber and composites, with few negatives.

• Class A Fire Rated
• Listed on the CalFire California State Fire Marshalls list as a desirable decking material
• Highly water resistant
• 25  year warranty against rot and deterioration
• Highly insect resistant
• Color in every cell as nature meant it to be
• 5/4” decking will span 24”
• 2”  decking will span 36”
• Complete railing component system
• Maintains natural lumber appearance
• Can be worked like lumber
• Will not react with screws or hardware as the polymer sets in an inert state
• Absolutely no off gassing.
• No plastics or harmful chemicals to worry about around kids

Compass Lumber sold a very limited amount of DreamDex, in the very beginning of the product coming to market, direct to a very few consumers. As we are located in the Sonoma area, the decking was sold in that area .  The product was used to create decks for our marketing program and to get some product on the ground to get consumer, as well as installer, reactions. Compass Lumber products now has a network of stocking dealers established in Northern California, with more retail lumber yards stocking the product each week.  We are very happy to guide you to a dealer in your area.  If you do not see your favorite yard on our dealer list, ask them to stock the product for you.  We sell full units to stocking dealers only.  We do not sell directly to contractors or consumers. 

DreamDex uses a revolutionary new scientific breakthrough called BioCore technology. This scientific treatment not only modifies the softwood being used by taking over the cells, completely,with an environmentally friendly polymer, but also allows us to introduce nano-color particulates into the cells themselves, thus causing the lumber to take on whatever color we give it, just as if it had been colored in nature.  We do not use very high heat techniques to virtually turn the wood into glass nor do we introduce chemicals that cause the wood to have an odor. Rather, our process leaves the lumber in what we term an "Ultra-Green" state.  We start with plantation grown FSC certified trees, and introduce an environmentally friendly polymer and dye which, when set, creates a new product which is completely inert and has absolutly no odor or off gassing.  We believe that DreamDex is THE lumber product that so many have searched for year upon year. BioCore technology is the "holy grail" of lumber.

Over the past three years, we, at Compass Lumber Products, have worked closely with the scientists at New Forest Strategies, to refine the decking now known as DreamDex.  Our number one goal was to make sure that the final product was highly resistant to water.  With the massive failure of composites over the last few years from deterioration due to water intake, we felt it was imperative to develop a product that would not absorb water. We kept DreamDex in a bucket, submerged for a month at a time. We put DreamDex in a can full of gasoline and lit it on fire and left it for 20 minutes. We held an industrial pressure washer 10 inches from the surface of DreamDex and left it on for 15 minutes. We left DreamDex in the hot sun for months at a time. Over the last few years we had several pieces fail and the scientists tweaked the formula until all of our tests gave us the results we wished for. We now can say with confidence, that we have a product that will last indefinetly.  There may be some color fading, and some slight checking, but no major detrioration has been found after testing under the severest circumstances! Now we have "DreamDex, Scientifically Enhanced Performance Lumber".

DreamDex is scientifically enhanced softwood lumber that takes on the properties of a fine hardwood and then some. In addition to having the hardness factor of Oak, DreamDex is extremely insect resistant. 

We have been asked repeatedly to develop a dark brown color.  We are working on a color to meet that demand now. DreamDex Clear has been fire tested at Underwriters Laboritories and has been awarded a Class A Zero Flame Spread listing. We are very proud of the fact that DreamDex is also water resistant and insect resistant.  We do, however, recommend applying a good quality sealant such as Penafin or Sikkens on the decking to enchance the properties and bring out the natural color tones.

DreamDex will develop small checks or cracks.  These are very minimal and will not affect the product in anyway.  Using a good quality UV sealer will slow down the checking. There is no cause for alarm at the small checks that develop.  These small checks will not develop into the very large cracks that are so prevalent in Ipe and other hardwoods.  The small checks in DreamDex are not due to water loss, but due to the lumber actually settling in to its final form.

Lately, we have been asked , several times, if DreamDex will mold. The answer is an emphatic NO. However, any product, plastic included, will have surface mold grow if conditions are right. This will manifest itself in small black dots on the surface of the decking. If dirt or dust is present, along with water, mold will grow. It washes right off the surface of DreamDex as well as plastic. For DreamDex to attack the lumber fiber, internally, 20%-30% moisture content must exist for the mold to continue to grow. As the BioCore process, used to make DreamDex, encapsulates  all of the lumber cells and virtually locks in any lasting water, mold will NOT grow. We guarantee, for 25 years, our product against structural damage due to mold, insects or rot.

The color in DreamDex will fade. However, because there are NO tannins in the original lumber, the Sequoia color will fade to a very pleasant brown within a couple of months and then it will turn a silver-grey after a year. Applying a sealant with UV inhibitors will prolong the natural color.

DreamDex has the highest fire rating available for a decking product. This is the same rating given to concrete!

 DreamDex can be screwed down from the top.  It is recommended to pre-drill before screwing down.  Some of the decks on our picture gallery were fastened using the Tigerclaw TGC deck clips.  For this system, the decking must be pre-grooved on the edges.  We don't have a recommended fastening system.  Please talk with your contractor or your local lumber dealer for suggestions. 

We recommend using a good quality hardwood deck sealer for DreamDex.  We have tested many different deck sealants, and we have found that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".  Talk to your contractor or your local lumber yard for more information.  Remember, if you use no deck sealer at all, DreamDex will simply fade to light brown and then to a silver-grey within about a year (depending on how much sunlight it is exposed to).

Yes!!! DreamDex Classic will have a price point around the same as Construction Heart Redwood!  The knot structure will be similar to select Redwood.  This is very exciting to us because we now can compete with the select grades of Redwood and Cedar with a much superior product.

DreamDex Classic is a knotty grade of Scientifically Enhanced Performance Lumber.  The knot structure is about the same as select Redwood.

All of our Classic ( knotty) DreamDex in both the Sequoia and the Moss is graded on 2/common pine grading rules. This is a higher grade than the patio 1 and patio 2 grades commonly used for decking in the Ponderosa Pine species.  The lumber is then regraded and 95% of the heart centers are pulled out. We are now listed on CalFire under the Ponderosa Pine rule which states Class C fire rating.  Classic (knotty) DreamDex is currently being tested at Underwriters Labs for fire rating.  We hope to get a Class A rating like Clear DreamDex.

Yes!  All DreamDex products both clear and knotty are FSC chain of custody certified.

The MOE ( Modulus of Elasticity ) of DreamDex is 1040 Ksi ( Nominal )

The MOR ( Modulus of Rupture ) of DreamDex is 10.38 Ksi ( nominal )

Water actually makes DreamDex feel like it is more skid resistant than dry lumber. Resistance testing is being done.  DreamDex remains a pleasant temperature to walk on, even in the 90-plus Degree weather of northern California.