Why Are Timber Products Ideal for Construction?
Timber is a versatile raw material that offers various benefits. Thus, it has a wide range of applications. People have been using timber in construction for many years. Though wood has complex properties, individuals have managed to use it in building various structures. Timber has various features that make it ideal for construction. The article gives some reasons you should consider using timber products for construction.
It Has Thermal Properties
Many materials change their size and volume depending on the temperature levels. The continuous expansion of these elements reduces their strength. Wood, however, does not expand with temperature increase. Instead, the material dries out and becomes stronger. Wood also has a low thermal conductivity coefficient. That is why timber is ideal for wall coverings or ceilings. Another great thermal property of wood is its specific heat. Lumber tends to have high specific heat. Thus, it takes a lot of energy to change the temperature of one kilogram of wood. Timber needs almost twice the heat energy that stones need to change temperature.
It Improves Sound Quality
Timber also has excellent acoustic properties. The material can absorb sound and echoes. That makes timber ideal for structures that need proper acoustics. The isolation of sound depends on the surface's mass. Thus wood is great for absorbing sound instead of sound isolation. The speed of sound is also faster in timber products than gases or liquids. Friction can lead to loss of sound energy. The energy loss in timber is low due to its structure and how light it is. These properties are why many musical instruments are made of wood. Therefore, if you wish to get proper acoustics, timber is an ideal material to use.
It Is Renewable
Unlike other kinds of building materials, you can keep growing and regrowing timber. You can achieve this using natural processes or through forestry management. If you choose to use timber in your construction, follow practices that promote continued growth. That way, you will ensure the continued production of wood.
It Is Easy to Process for Use
The production costs for materials such as concrete are high. Wood has a low impact on the environment, meaning its production costs are low. You will also produce less wastewater in the wood manufacturing process. Also, a lot of timber mills use the wood by-products as biofuel. That reduces the amount of fossil fuel produced from the production process.
In conclusion, if you have an upcoming construction project, consider using timber products. That is because the material offers a lot of benefits such as versatility and strength.