Wood is a powerful construction material that provides numerous benefits for a building’s occupants. It has a variety of unique characteristics that set it apart from other common materials like concrete and steel.
For one, it is renewable and can be regrown from a single tree. It also acts as a storage for carbon and helps manage greenhouse gasses.
Durability
Wood is highly durable compared to other materials and can stand up to weather and environmental conditions. It has low deadweight and high tensile and pressure resistance. This makes it ideal for multi-story and wide-area load-bearing structures, as well as a variety of finishing applications.
It also expands and contracts less than other materials in response to changes in humidity levels, so it does not crack like concrete or steel. Additionally, it can be treated with wood preservatives that protect against biological damage, insects and moisture.
As a renewable raw material, wood offers significant climate benefits as a building material when compared to other construction materials. During growth, trees capture carbon and serve as an active CO2 store. Each cubic metre of wood used in construction replaces 1.1 tonnes of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Aesthetics
Wood is an aesthetically pleasing material that adds warmth and beauty to a building. It also provides a sense of comfort, as it produces lower volatile organic compounds than steel and concrete.
It is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs and releases moisture according to the surrounding environment. This prevents it from cracking as easily as other materials do when exposed to humidity changes.
In addition, wood is less expensive than other construction materials. It is also a sustainable and renewable resource, and it sequesters carbon dioxide during its growth. Its acoustic properties allow it to absorb sound instead of reflecting it, which helps to reduce noise levels in living and office spaces. Its low VOC emissions also make it a better choice for use in sensitive environments.
Thermal Insulation
Wood has superior thermal insulating properties, with most species offering an R-value of up to 13 per inch. The R-value increases with the density and moisture content of the wood. Light, dry woods are the best insulators.
It also has good acoustic properties and offers resistance to forces that can crack concrete and steel structures. Wood is also a natural building material that releases less volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air than concrete and other materials.
Wood can be used to create walls, partitions and roofs. It is also suitable for load-bearing elements because it has high tensile strength and pressure resistance. However, it requires a special protective treatment against fungi and insects to prevent rot and pest infestation. It can be treated with preservatives, stains and paint.
Electrical Insulation
Wood’s natural insulating properties allow for significant savings on energy bills. A typical mass timber structure requires 10% less material to achieve the same level of acoustic and thermal insulation than steel or concrete construction.
The natural insulating characteristics of wood allow for substantially leaner wall construction in timber buildings, creating more floor space within a building. It also reduces air-conditioning costs as a result of better thermal insulation.
Wood has a natural resistance to electrical conduction, though this is improved by drying the material through the use of kilns. Kiln drying prevents fungi, insects and wet rot while protecting the integrity of the wood’s structural components. It also helps to minimize the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) such as formaldehyde into indoor environments.
Recyclability
At a time when ecological concerns are high, wood is a renewable and recyclable material that absorbs carbon dioxide. It also produces fewer greenhouse gasses during industrial production than other materials such as concrete and steel.
Furthermore, it’s a material that can be grown and regenerated through forestry management programs and replanting initiatives. Its tensile strength allows it to better support its own weight, which can reduce the number of supports needed in certain building designs.
Wood also has acoustic properties, which reflect sound rather than amplifying it. This can help reduce noise levels in homes and office buildings for additional comfort. Additionally, it emits lower levels of carbon-dioxide gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during construction and use. It also gives off a natural organic compound that relaxes occupants.
Water Resistance
Wood can withstand moisture much longer than steel and concrete, making it a durable material for building structures. However, over time it can become vulnerable to fungus and pests that can eat away its structural components, requiring costly treatment and replacement.
Because of its cellular structure, wood is an excellent insulator that helps to regulate temperature and humidity. In winter it prevents heat from escaping and in summer it keeps the interior of the house comfortable without using a lot of energy.
Moreover, wooden materials are lighter than concrete and metals. This allows for greater space in a structure and reduces the amount of support that is necessary in some building designs. This also means that less land is needed for high-quality residential buildings.
Fire Resistance
Wood has good fire resistance when treated with chemicals and is able to delay combustion. This gives occupants more time to escape the building safely.
Its lighter weight can lessen foundation needs, reducing construction costs. It can also help lower the cost share for land when building multi-storey buildings. Expert wood contractors are readily available and workers of different skill levels can learn wood-construction techniques quickly.
Wood requires significantly less energy to manufacture than concrete and steel. It also has fewer carbon emissions when harvested and processed than concrete or other materials. It can also easily be recycled. It has great acoustic properties which can improve the quality of living and work spaces. It also emits a natural organic compound that relaxes people. It is also more environmentally friendly than aluminum and concrete.