Do you know?
Heating wood can make it more durable. The ancient Britons knew when building their timber palisade enclosures to put the pointed end of each timber into the fire to char before banging them into the ground to make a long lasting defence. The charring and heating of wood makes it less likely to rot. The modern day equivalent are innovative products like Brimstone, a thermally modified British hardwood that is more durable and used for long lasting exterior cladding on buildings.