Timber And Its Application In House Construction
Timber is one of the oldest and most versatile construction materials out there. It is a natural insulator which is five times better than concrete.
Timber is strong, flexible, and durable. It makes our house worth living and maintaining. Because of its insulating properties and affordability, timber is preferred by most builders and architects for construction.
Timber is a crucial material for producing beams, planks and furniture making. It plays a significant role in making sturdy, sustainable and environmentally friendly houses and furniture as it is the world’s most eco-friendly building solution.
Thus, timber is the most reliable and secure building material with many advantages.
Here is all you need to know about timber.
Table of Contents
- 1. How Is Timber Processed?
- 2. Types Of Timber
- 3. What Are The Uses Of Timber?
- 4. Benefits Of Timber In Construction
- 5. Uses Of Timber In House Construction
- 6. Services Of Timber In House Interiors
- 7. How To Buy Good Quality Timber?
- 8. Best Quality Timber In Melbourne
How Is Timber Processed?
The steps followed in the processing of timber are:
1. Felling
The felling process involves cutting down matured individual trees or when they fall to the ground naturally.
2. Seasoning
A newly felled tree contains about 50% or more of its dry weight as water. The seasoning process involves removing that excess water content. After seasoning, a tree is less likely to warp or deform.
3. Conversion
The timber is cut and sawed into specific sections during conversion. The conversion process is carried out in a timber yard with appropriate equipment.
4. Preservation
The timber is treated with preservatives to protect it from fungi and insects and increase its longevity in the preservation process.
5. Secondary Processing
Secondary processing involves the timber getting made into a refined product like door or window frames, furniture, etc. The wood is prepared to be sold on the market after all modifications have been made.
Types Of Timber
There are two categories of woods in broader terms: softwood and hardwood. Softwoods are lighter and coarser than most hardwoods. Softwoods are comparatively weaker than hardwoods but are still used for specific jobs in woodwork because of their availability and affordability.
Hardwoods, on the other hand, are heavier, stronger and more stable. Most hardwoods are used for flooring, piers, decking and timber furniture. There are various timber species for all budgets, depending on their quality and longevity.
Types of softwood Timber used in building construction:
Pine
The main varieties of pine in Australia are Radiata, Cypress and Hoop Pine. Timbers are often prone to decay and termites. To prevent their rotting and enhance longevity, companies use chemically treated pine.
Cypress
Cypress Pine is a popular flooring material in Australia as it has anti-termite properties. It is famous for its golden-brown hue, dark brown streaks, light yellow highlights, and delicate texture.
Types of hardwood timber used in building construction:
Vic Ash
Vic Ash is a solid and dense hardwood which is smooth to the touch. It is physically appealing and is highly used in woodworking projects as it accommodates glueing, stains and polishes well. Ash is suitable for making furniture and construction because of its straight-grained, appealing and shock-resistant nature.
Tas Oak
Tasmanian Oak Timber is a dense and resilient hardwood preferred for many uses. Tas Oak is light in colour, has great staining qualities and provides an excellent finish. It is a popular Timber for furniture and is used in all forms of construction like panelling and flooring.
Iron Bark
Iron Bark is an Australian hardwood that has been used as structural timber for a long time. It has a deep and rich red-brown colour and is used for flooring, decking, and furniture making because of its beautiful finish. Iron Bark is highly dense and durable and has external applications, including poles, marine structures, and heavy engineering.
Silvertop Ash
Durable and visually appealing, Silvertop Ash is commonly used in exterior projects like timber cladding and decking. It has features like pin holes and is brown with a pink or blonde tinge.
Spotted Gum
A naturally adaptable and robust timber, Spotted Gum has various uses. Usually used as structural timber, it is also used for aesthetic and architectural applications. Spotted Gum is famous for its versatility and durability, which comes into use in building and construction, flooring, cladding, furniture making, etc.
Jarrah
Jarrah is renowned for its use in various interior and exterior applications because of its durable and versatile nature. Jarrah has a range of structural and design applications and comes in colours ranging from blonde to deep red.
Karri
Karri comes in attractive shades of red-brown and golden pink. It is suited to a broad range of applications. Used primarily on construction for its strength and appealing visuals, Karri is also used in flooring, panelling, and internal joinery.
Merbau
Merbau is a heavy, hard, durable wood that is highly resistant to termite attacks. It is used to construct furniture and flooring, especially in outdoor settings. This type of wood has a long life and is sustainable.
Benefits Of Timber In Construction
Timber is an amazingly versatile product used in various construction projects. Timber has thermal properties that help it to resist high temperatures. The wood becomes stronger as it dries out when the heat increases.
The heat conductivity in timber is lower than in steel, marble or glass, which gives the wood an advantage for being used in various applications.
Timber also has highly sought-after acoustic properties as it absorbs and echoes sound. It is used for places where proper acoustics are needed, such as concert halls.
Timber is optimal for electrical insulation as it is resistant to electrical currents and its durability and strength make it the perfect construction material. Timber is biodegradable, ages naturally and is eco-friendly; thus, it is the most eco-friendly building solution in the world.
What Are The Uses Of Timber In House Construction?
Timber has several uses as raw material. It is used in a wide range of applications. They are often used as a fuel source and for extracting timber oils. But aside from these, timber is also used in construction and other related applications. The standard services of timber are
Construction Material:
Timber has been used in home-based construction on a large scale because of its durability and resilience. Timber is used to make dimensional products built into walls, ceilings and floors of houses, such as plates, studs, beams, supports, etc., for home and timber hardware, and is also used for architectural or custom woodwork.
Furniture:
The beauty of the natural grain patterns and high timber density makes it the primary choice for making furniture or cabinets.
Because of their slow-growing nature, these woods are reliable as they are heavier and more durable but can be more expensive than softwoods.
Timber Beams:
There is widespread use of timber in home construction and in supporting heavy loads. Other services include landscape Timbers for retaining walls and other decorative benefits.
Timber is very useful in building and construction processes. Since timber is durable and has good strength, it is used for making load-bearing things like piles, trusses, beams and columns.
Aside from load-bearing members, timber is also used for temporary works like centring an arch or scaffolding, as it is readily available and affordable.
Timber is used for making window frames, shutters of doors and furniture as it is easy to cut and change into any shape and size. Because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and tensile strength, timber is the best material for house construction.
Uses Of Timber In House Interiors
Timber is durable, lightweight and easy to use, and with the appealing colours that it comes with, it is perfect for the exterior as well as the interior of the house. Here is how timber can be used in a house’s interior:
Doors and Stairs:
Wooden doors are usually furnished with a coat of paint or used without any natural structure coating. Wooden staircases are very aesthetically pleasing and low maintenance.
Furniture:
All furniture in your house is made of wood; everything is wooden, from the dining table to your wardrobes. But the wood for furniture comes in various colours and formats, which enables you to choose the kind of furniture you want for your house that will suit its interior.
Flooring:
Engineered timber flooring in your house gives it the extra warmth it needs. Usually, Oak planks that are treated with oil or varnish are used for wood floors. The flooring brands and the planks vary in thicknesses, lengths and widths and come in different shapes.
Panelling:
Wooden panels or wall cladding in your house may sound old-fashioned but give your home a classy and vintage look.
Separating Wall:
Separating timber walls are usually seen in office spaces and provide a divider between two rooms while also allowing contact between both areas. The timber fence is made of vertical planks that are at equal distances from each other.
Lighting and Decoration:
Various wooden light fittings also incorporate other materials. They are better alternatives for metal or plastic light fittings. Decorative objects ranging from photo frames to hatstands and wooden bowls, there is a lot of wooden variety in this area.
Fencing:
The picket fencing around your house and its exterior wall can be lapped and capped with hardwood timber cladding for your safety, and you can choose from other cladding options and cladding products for the paling fencing.
How To Buy Good Quality Timber?
Since quality is a priority while buying timber products, you must research it before purchasing wood. Please don’t go for the wood based on its looks alone; consider its quality first. Buy the timber in appropriate sizes to avoid wastage and save your money.
While buying home timber and hardware products, you need to take a quick survey at wood and hardware stores, compare the prices, and make sure you buy the best quality at the best price. To ensure the safety and usability of your structure, check for any signs of damage or warping beforehand.
Best Quality Timber Supplies in Melbourne
We at Melbourne Timber Supplies have the best quality products and services for our customers in Australia. We stock and supply a range of high-quality timber that will cater to any of your interior and exterior Timber needs.
As your premier Timber supplier in Melbourne, we have the best timber experts in the field and the most convenient deliveries and payment system to make your Timber orders easy, smooth and hassle-free. Get a free quote from us at our website now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which timber is best for construction?
Ans:- Australian Native Hardwood Timbers are ideal for internal and external construction. Hardwood Timbers are tough, durable and beneficial in the long run.
Q. What is the difference between timber and wood?
Ans:- Wood refers to the complex, fibrous substance of trees that constitutes its branches and trunks, and timber refers to the prepared or processed wood used for building and carpentry.
Q. Why is it called timber?
Ans:- The term originated from an Old English word that means ‘house’ or ‘building’ that also eventually meant ‘building material’, referring to considerable squared lengths of wood used to build boats and houses.
Q. What are the most common trees used for timber?
Ans:- The most common timber species used for making timber frame homes are cypress, Vic ash, tas oak, spotted gum and ironbark.
This post first appeared on Selecting Reliable Plywood Suppliers In Melbourne, please read the originial post: here
