Timber is one of the oldest construction materials and has been used for thousands of years to build everything from small huts to large modern buildings. Keep reading to understand what exactly timber is, its pros and cons, types of timber woodworking and the applications of timber in construction.
What is Timber?
Timber is a processed form of natural wood that is specifically used in building projects and other related fields. Tree barks are stripped of their branches and exterior layers, then cut to specific sizes and shapes to enable their usage as timber in buildings. Timber structures are typically strong, extremely durable and beautiful, making timber in construction a popular material even thousands of years after its original usage for this purpose.
Difference Between Timber and Wood
Wood and timber both refer to the same material but have different forms. While wood is said to be the hard, rough, brown material found on the bark of trees and shrubs, timber is wood that has been processed for use in construction or related activities. This processing involves cutting, sawing, machining, sanding, planing and other such steps that help bring wood to a usable form in building processes. On the other hand, wood is the naturally formed material in trees in its original form. The terms timber or lumber are more commonly used in Europe and USA, but wood and timber are generally used interchangeably across the world to denote the same material.
Benefits of Using Timber in Building Construction
- Environmental Impact: Although trees have to be cut to obtain timber wood for construction, most countries now mandate the planting of additional trees in their place. Unlike other conventional building materials, such as concrete and structural steel, timber production does not cause harmful emissions, high energy consumption or resource depletion, thus encouraging sustainable construction methods.
- Earthquake Resistance: Timber framing has extremely high tensile strength, enabling its components to be used for load-bearing applications. Such components also have flexible joints which can absorb seismic waves during earthquakes and reduce their impact significantly. Many ancient earthquake-proof buildings have been made using this material.
- Thermal Efficiency: Timber products do not conduct heat or allow it to enter or escape spaces easily. Their natural insulation property enables optimal thermal comfort in buildings in most climates, making them vital parts of climate responsive architecture.
- Quick Construction: Unlike the erection of RCC or masonry structures, which require intense labour and are time-consuming, timber construction is quick and simple. Joints between different components, as well as their processing, can quickly be executed on-site.
Types of Timber Woodworking
Mass timber can be cut to the required shapes and sizes through several methods, including:
- Plain/ Ordinary Sawing: This method involves cutting timber according to the required shape and size without following any specific pattern. Cuts made are random and neither parallel nor perpendicular to the tree’s annual growth rings and produce differing grain patterns.
- Tangential Sawing: Here, cut lines are made tangential to the trees’ circular growth rings. Such timber generally exhibits curvilinear or interlocking grain patterns with repetitive crested mountain shapes.
- Quarter Sawing: In this method, a log is first sawn into four quarters. After this, cuts are made parallel to the two straight edges. Fairly uniform grain patterns are obtained here.
- Rift/ Radial Sawing: The log is cut into four quarters in this method too. Cuts are then made at an angle of 30- 60° against the growth rings. At one end, linear grains which slowly transform to slanting grain lines towards the other end are typically obtained here.
Construction Timber Sawing Methods
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Sawn timber can also be obtained by a combination of two or more of the above methods and this is called combination sawing.
Types of Timber Used for Construction
Timber used in construction is available in numerous forms in the market and the most common ones are:
- Timber Logs: This is the least processed form of timber and consists of cylindrical tree barks whose branches and top hard layers have been removed. They can be used to make columns and beams, depending on their strength and quality.
- Battens: These are long strips that are 2-4 inches in thickness and 5-8 inches in width. This size and shape offer high strength, enabling them to be used for small structural purposes like rafters, purlins and tie beams.
- Planks: Planks are more flattish forms of timber battens, with a thickness of less than 2 inches and a width of more than 2 inches. They are commonly used to make floors, subfloors and roofing panels.
- Baulk: A baulk is a long timber element with a roughly square profile of more than 2 x 2 inches. It is commonly used to make railway sleepers and traffic demarcators.
- Boards: They are flat timber forms with a thickness of less than 2 inches and a width of more than 6 inches. Timber cladding and subsurface preparation (for laying tiles, stone flooring or other such components) are generally done with this shape.
- Scantling: These are pieces with non-standard sizes, but their widths and thicknesses are generally less than 8 inches. Their exact size depends on the purpose for which they are required.
Uses of Timber in Construction
Structural Uses of Timber
The high tensile strength and lightweight nature of structural timber mean that it can be used in load-bearing applications to make building components like:
- Columns
- Beams
- Rafters, purlins and other components of sloping roofs
- Roofs and floors
- Trusses and space frames
- Timber stairs
Non Structural Uses of Timber in Building
- Doors and Windows: The low mass of timber, along with its aesthetic quality, enables its usage in making doors, windows and other such building components.
- Interior Components: Apart from making solid floors, timber in construction is also used to make wall, floor and ceiling panels, partitions and other interior components. Its high strength, low weight and refined aesthetics have made it a popular choice for such usage.
- Furniture and Storage: Timber is the most commonly used material for making most furniture and storage items, including cupboards, kitchen cabinets, shelves, tables, chairs and other interior decor elements.
Apart from these direct uses in buildings, timber is also commonly used to make engineered wood products, which are further utilised for making diverse building components.
Limitations of Timber in Construction
- Biological Resistance: Timber is extremely vulnerable to pests like termites and wood borers, which infest wood when it has excess moisture. This is very common in warm and humid climates and can severely affect the structural integrity of the material.
- Fire Resistance: With extremely low fire-resistance, timber in construction materials is one of the most flammable elements. It catches fire easily and can also help in spreading flames quickly across a building.
- Cost: Although timber prices can vary based on the type and quality, its initial cost—especially when needed for structural applications—is generally high. Constant maintenance, including repolishing, recoating and anti-pest treatments, also adds to the expense.
- Climatic Adaptation: With changing climates, timber can undergo expansion and contraction. This can lead to misaligned doors, windows and structural frames and also cause water seepage and leakage from roofs.
Finding Timber Near Me for Construction Projects
Timber is available in the market in various types of wood and qualities, making its selection and procurement challenging. Preservation of timber to ensure its durability also requires many complex processes. Thus, it is advisable to consult construction experts, such as Brick & Bolt, which streamline all these processes efficiently. This company deals with the top timber yards, manufacturers and brands to ensure the best building materials supply, guided by advanced construction services. To ensure that top quality timber in construction is used for your project, reach out to Brick & Bolt today!
Hemali Patel