Wood is a powerful construction material with many unique characteristics. It is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture with the changing environment. It emits a natural organic compound that relaxes people and it has great acoustic properties.
Unlike concrete and metal, wood is a renewable resource. It also captures carbon dioxide and returns it back to the soil through its life cycle.
Strength
Wood is a very strong material, particularly when it’s subjected to compression or tension parallel to its grain. This makes it ideal for use in load-bearing structures.
Unlike steel, which can expand and collapse in the presence of heat, wood actually dries out and strengthens. Its resistance to heat is also a key factor in its use for matches, hardware equipment handles, and wall coverings. Wood has a lower thermal conductivity than aluminum, steel, marble, and glass.
Additionally, wood is a lighter material than concrete or metal. This means it needs less support during construction and can reduce the amount of soil needed to anchor buildings. This, in turn, can lead to cost savings for the builder and occupant. It can also allow for structural solutions that are more flexible than those built with other materials. For example, wooden trusses can often serve double duty as structural elements that integrate mechanical components such as ductwork, sprinklers and lighting. This can free up space for occupants and increase efficiency. The flexibility of wood can also mean easier retrofitting for additions or changing occupant needs.
Durability
Wood’s cellular structure makes it a natural insulator, which helps to regulate the interior temperature and humidity. This reduces air-conditioning costs and creates a comfortable living environment. Additionally, it’s a material that releases fewer volatile organic compounds during construction and use, while giving off a pleasant, natural organic smell.
Its tensile strength also means it requires fewer supports in certain building designs, which saves on cost. It also has excellent acoustic properties, absorbing sound rather than amplifying it, creating a tranquil environment.
In addition, wood’s thermal insulating properties allow for significantly leaner walls in timber buildings, resulting in significant savings on energy costs. It is also lighter than concrete and metals, which reduces the need for costly foundation work and allows for a smaller footprint on the land.
However, if it is not protected against pests and fungus, wood can decay or rot, requiring costly treatment and replacement. It can also be damaged by fire, although if treated with wood preservatives and properly cared for, it can resist damage better than other materials.
Aesthetics
Wood is warm and visually appealing, providing a natural aesthetic that many homeowners prefer. It also provides acoustic qualities and naturally emits a chemical that relaxes people. This makes it a great building material for office and living spaces. It is also a natural insulator, which reduces noise and heat transfer in buildings.
Wood requires significantly less energy to manufacture than concrete or steel and emits fewer carbon emissions during harvesting and processing. It is also flexible, which makes it an ideal building material in earthquake-prone areas.
It also outperforms concrete and steel when it comes to breaking length (or self-support length), which means that much larger spaces can be built with smaller walls. This can lead to significant savings on construction costs. Trinity Western University in Langley, BC saved time and money by assembling a student housing building with modular wood-built units. This was a faster and quieter process than conventional construction, resulting in a project that opened to students in just nine months.
Recyclability
Wood is a renewable resource that can be recycled again and again without losing its valuable properties. It also requires less energy to manufacture than other materials such as concrete and steel. And it has a lower carbon footprint during its lifetime as well. Wood absorbs CO2, and when used in timber buildings it releases much less greenhouse gases than traditional building materials.
Wood has natural insulating properties. This allows timber buildings to be built with significantly leaner wall construction, which reduces overall construction costs and space needed in the building. This in turn reduces air conditioning costs and helps save on energy bills.
Wood is also a good fire retardant. When treated with chemicals, it delays the spread of fire, which can give occupants time to escape the building safely. And wood has good water resistance, making it a great choice for flood-prone areas. Wood can also be sourced locally, and using local materials helps to boost communities and economies. This can be particularly important in remote and rural areas.
Sustainability
Wood is a renewable material that has significant sustainability benefits. Unlike concrete and steel, it can decompose back into the earth organically, replenishing the soil with nutrients in the process. It also sequesters carbon, storing it for a longer period of time than other building materials.
Its hygroscopic properties allow it to absorb and release moisture, helping to stabilize humidity levels, which can result in less expensive heating and cooling bills. It also emits lower levels of volatile organic compounds during construction and use than other materials, providing a more pleasant indoor environment for occupants.
It is a sustainable material, which means it can be harvested and replaced with new growth through forestry management programs and replanting initiatives. In addition, when properly protected with fungicides and insect treatments, it is durable enough to withstand insects and fungi that can damage or decay other building materials. Lastly, its relative lightness makes it easy to insulate and achieve high performance standards for energy efficiency. This is especially important for taller buildings.