Timber is one of the oldest materials used in construction and it remains a popular choice for today's structures because of the many striking advantages it offers building owners and contractors.
Here are some of the practical benefits of using structural timber products for your project.
1. Timber is a sustainable choice for building and construction.
A common misconception of structural timber is that it's detrimental to the environment because its supply involves the felling of trees. To maintain the ecological capacity of forests to produce timber, structural timber supplies are typically sourced from managed forest plantations. That way, timber supplies can be replenished by simply planting more trees to replace felled ones.
2. Timber structures require a lot less embodied energy.
Compared to other structural materials such as steel and concrete, timber generally has lower embodied energy. The embodied energy of a building material refers to the total energy resources used in converting the material from its raw form to a finished product ready to be used for building construction. This includes the energy used to harvest trees. The less embodied energy used, the more desirable a building material is from a green construction point of view.
3. Timber structures can be built fast.
Timber is much lighter than steel and concrete. This allows for faster construction of structures due to the relative ease of lifting and installing structural wood elements.
4. Timber structures help to save energy.
As a natural building material, timber has excellent thermal properties that increase the efficiency of insulation. This makes a great option for building owners looking to build more efficient structures and save on their energy bills.
5. Timber is a strong building material.
Timber framing can stand strong on the foundation of a building without losing its strength. This means shifts in the foundation of your building won't affect the stability of the structure. Plus, timber frame structures may not require interior walls for support, thus leaving you with a large open interior.
6. End-of-use structural timber can be recycled.
When timber structures reach the end of their useful life, they can be recycled to be used for other purposes. This helps to extend the lifespan of material that would otherwise be regarded as construction waste.
Structural timber offers a lot of practical benefits to building owners as well as builders. If you need structural timber products for your project, get in touch with a reputable timber supplier close to you. They can provide more information regarding timber products.