Wood has a long history as a construction material across the globe and is still a popular option today. It has been used to build houses and other buildings, boats and other vehicle and furniture items.
One of the reasons wood has maintained its status as a popular construction timber is due to the fact that it is a natural product and is renewable which in turn means that it is highly accessible and also economically viable. Wood can also be cut into a whole variety of different sizes and shapes. Many different items can be made including teak furniture, pine cupboards and even an Oak Porch like the ones you can find at http://www.bespoaktimberframes.co.uk/portfolio_page/oak-porch/
Wood is classified into two main categories which are hardwood and softwood. It can be difficult to clearly identify the trees that go into each of these groups. One thought is that hardwood trees are usually those ones that are leaf-bearing trees and those softwood trees are those that are cone-bearing ones. Hardwood, as the name would suggest, is usually denser and heavier than softwood.
Hardwood is primarily used for the construction of floors, ceilings and walls with popular options including oak, walnut, teak and mahogany.
Softwood is usually used for making window frames, doors and a variety of furniture items. The popular choices include pine, beech, cedar and ash.
Wood has some benefits as a construction material over other options that are available:
- It has thermal benefits which means it is capable of withstanding high temperatures, Heat dries out wood and causes it to increase in strength which is in contrast to man made materials like steel that can either expand or fully collapse under high temperatures.
- Wood also has low heat conductivity which means that it can help to retain warmth and is why it makes a great material for the construction of both walls and ceilings
- Electrical insulation is often made of wood as it is a material that is resistant to electrical currents.
- Wood can absorb sound effectively meaning that it is the perfect material for the construction of concert halls and theatres
Sustainability of wood has become key in recent years with many companies’ signing up to programs where for every tree that is cut down to either make a material for them or as a direct result of the company they will plant a set number of new trees. This helps keep the environment thriving as well as providing us with the wood that we need to make building materials, furniture items and much more.
