Wood has been an important building material for as long as history can remember. Ancient civilizations used the lush green forests surrounding them to build their first houses, taking everything that nature gave them. And, of course, they were wise to do so, as this material has many great properties and benefits.
So, why should we as modern people choose wood when we have such a wide variety of other natural or man-made materials?
ECO FRIENDLY
Well, obviously we’ve all heard that wood is considered to be eco-friendly. But how exactly does it impact the environment? Wood products have far less carbon emissions than either steel or concrete because of the difference in the manufacturing process. For instance, concrete is a very common material that is used in construction and infrastructure all over the world, but, unlike wood, it releases huge amounts of CO2 due to a specific chemical compound found in cement, which is a key ingredient of concrete mixes.
As trees grow, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is then stored in the wood even after the tree is cut and turned into timber for building. This helps clean the air and slows down the rate of global warming.
Best of all, wood is a renewable resource. In countries where the wood industry is well-developed like Finland, for example, trees are ethically harvested, this means that for each harvested area of forest, new trees are planted. This both keeps the wood industry running and helps avoid deforestation.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Now that you know what a great impact wood has on the ecology, it’s time to take a look at how it can benefit you and your health. Stress is a huge factor in modern society. It’s something that we all have to deal with in our day-to-day life. Stress can gradually turn into anxiety, and you may start noticing symptoms such as loss of concentration and difficulties socializing. People didn’t understand how building materials that surround us influence our health and mental well-being until the research was recently conducted. It showed that wood can have healing properties like lowering blood pressure and heart rate, lowering levels of stress, therefore helping people better focus, and, of course, gives people a feeling of warmth and comfort.
BUILDING PROPERTIES
Wood, as a building material, has plenty of advantages. First, it’s very long-lasting. One of the reasons for this is the wood’s ability to support its own weight, in some cases even better than steel. It’s quite easy to work with. When it comes to cutting, connecting and assembling, this is by far the best material for DIY projects.
Wood has higher insulation properties than other materials. Buildings that are made of wood require much less energy than their steel and concrete counterparts. It will keep you cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and can even control the humidity levels to a certain extent.
Let’s not forget about the aesthetic qualities of wood. It’s a beautiful material that has unique naturally occurring patterns and a wonderful fresh forest smell. With the right lacquer, it can become a great bonus for your interior, for instance an accent wall, or as part of a façade of your cottage
TIPS TO CHOOSE WOOD FOR BUILDING
A great tip is to consider the type of wood you will be working with according to your project. Keep in mind that some types of wood are more durable and strong than others. A key property that determines what the material will be used for is its density. Density is basically the timber’s strength and weight. Wood, based on its density, can be roughly divided into 2 main categories: building and furniture. Generally speaking, any type of hardwood is suitable for building anything: log cabins, summerhouses, and garden rooms. Teak wood has great characteristics. Although it does require insect treatment, it’s naturally very durable and approved by many professional builders. The most common types of hardwood are cedar, maple and oak. Cedar can be used both for construction and manufacturing furniture, as it has both hard and soft properties. Nonetheless, it is highly durable, and, if used as a material for your façade, doesn’t require any type of treatment (although it is still recommended). Oak is also a great choice for construction, but it also makes great high-quality hardwood floors.
So, choose your wood wisely and good luck with your building project!
