The advantages of wood as a building material

Having decided to build a house or other building, you definitely will not have problems with the acquisition of building materials. The main thing is that there are finances and knowledge that are needed for the correct selection of goods needed in the development process. The range of these products is huge, but today we’ll talk about one of the most popular, sought after and ancient. It's about wood.

Wood is an environmentally friendly, renewable raw material that forests provide almost indefinitely. Based on this, there is enough material, and its price does not grow too much. Compared to brick buildings, wooden buildings are cheaper and, in addition, are being built faster.

The advantages of wood as a building material

The priority of wood as a building material is trouble-free construction even in winter and regardless of the weather. Wood is one of the oldest materials that mankind has learned to use for housing, the manufacture of work tools and as a source of energy.

While the majority of currently used building materials are made from non-renewable resources, and their production is very energy-intensive, the tree grows and consumes carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to a slowdown in its growth in the atmosphere.

Wood is a renewable raw material and its use is environmentally friendly. Each European has about 1 m3 of firewood per year. Every 80 years in Europe, 240 m3 of wood is grown for each of the three family members, and from 140 m3 processed into a functional tree, it is possible to build a comprehensive family house with high-quality insulation.

Of the remaining 100 m3, furniture and many other products can be made (musical instruments, toys, leisure equipment, wooden farm buildings, stables and other rooms for keeping pets). Wood treated in this way can be recycled several times in a few years or burned, and the resulting heat is again used in various ways.

The list below outlines the main advantages of wood:

• Durability.
• Long service life.
• Ecological cleanliness.
• The beauty of the natural pattern and shade of wood.
• Positive effects on the human body.
• Availability.

Choosing wood, lumber for construction is necessary with skill. If a building beam was required, before buying it, familiarize yourself with what types of building timber are, and what are its features. The necessary information is here.

The most common wood building myths

Often you can hear the statements of uninformed people that wood is an unsuitable material for the construction of houses. To convince, they use many statements that are not based on truth. The most common wood building myths are outlined below:

1. The tree burns easily and quickly.

The static properties of wood deteriorate much more slowly under the influence of fire than the static properties of, for example, concrete poles or steel beams. Wood contains up to 15% of water, which in a fire should first turn into steam (for a ton of wood it is 150 kg of water). In addition, the burnt carbon-containing layer of wood acts as a kind of protective shell against fire.

2. Wood has a short life.

Evidence against this claim can be found in every old city, in Šumava or in Podkrkonoše (Czech Republic). Some houses in these cities have survived from the 14th century and the wooden frames of these houses are still in excellent condition.

Or Venice: as everyone knows, this whole lagoon city has been standing on wooden poles for over 800 years.

3. Wood is not solid and cannot be used for large buildings.

Wood is relatively light compared to its high strength. Therefore, today it is a building material for bridges, industrial buildings, kindergartens, etc.

4. The tree does not isolate well.

The cellular structure of wood collects heat. Therefore, wood is a poor conductor of heat and an excellent insulator. Putting your hand first on a wooden board, then on a brick, you can feel that the wood is much warmer.

5. Wood cannot be used in a humid environment.

Wood is often used as a building material in a humid environment, for example for a bath, sauna and bathroom, because it can regulate humidity depending on the environment in which it is used. It is only important that wet wood be able to dry again.

6. The use of wood as a building material is more suitable for rural buildings.

Wood, on the other hand, is used in the new modern architecture and allows you to create lightweight constructions full of fantasy. In addition, today there are wooden products of various shapes and colors.

The most popular types of wood as a building material

Wood has been widely used in construction since ancient times. In the modern world, it is still popular. The specified material is used both in the construction of the building and in its decoration.

The most popular types of building wood are the following:

• Pine. The most affordable wood in Ukraine. It is easy to process. It is characterized by high thermal conductivity, air-moisture permeability and resistance to adverse environmental influences. An important plus of pine wood is a relatively low cost.
• Spruce. It differs exclusively in a straight trunk, the length of which can reach 50-60 m. With a diameter of up to 2 m. Indispensable. If you plan to build a building from a length. It perfectly withstands horizontal loads, therefore it is valued as a beam ceiling.
• Cedar. One of the most valuable types of construction wood. He is unpretentious in processing. It is a natural antiseptic. It exudes a pleasant balsamic aroma, which positively affects the human body.
• Larch. The most durable tree species. If you build a house of larch, it will serve the owners as a reliable home for centuries. It is an ideal material for building a bathhouse, gazebo and other structures in high humidity conditions.

Wood is a living material. It is easier to breathe in a house made of wood; it is always cozy and comfortable in it.