Woods

Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic
material - a natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin that resists
compression. 

Wood is divided into two distinct kinds called hardwood and softwood, though confusingly the names don't always refer to
its actual hardness or softness:

 Hardwoods typically come from broad-leaved (deciduous) trees (those that drop their leaves each fall, also known
as angiosperms because their seeds are encased in fruits or pods). Examples include ash, beech, birch, mahogany,
maple, oak, teak, and walnut.
 Softwoods typically come from evergeen (coniferous) trees (those that have needles and cones and retain them year-
round, also called gymnosperms. Examples include cedar, cypress, fir, pine, spruce, and redwood.

Hardwood Softwood

Definition Comes from angiosperm trees that are Comes from gymnosperm trees which usually have
not monocots; trees are usually broad- needles and cones. Medullary rays and tracheids
leaved. Has vessel elements that transport water and produce sap. When viewed
transport water throughout the wood; under a microscope, softwoods have no visible pores
under a microscope, these elements because of tracheids.
appear as pores.

Uses hardwoods are more likely to be found About 80% of all timber comes from softwood.
in high-quality furniture, Softwoods have a wide range of applications and are
decks, flooring, and construction that found in building components (e.g., windows,
needs to last. doors), furniture, medium-density fiberboard (MDF),
paper, Christmas trees, and much more.

Examples Examples of hardwood trees include Examples of softwood trees are cedar, Douglas fir,
alder, balsa, beech, hickory, mahogany, juniper, pine, redwood, spruce, and yew.
maple, oak, teak, and walnut.

Density Most hardwoods have a higher density Most softwoods have a lower density than most
than most softwoods. hardwoods.

Cost Hardwood is typically more expensive Softwood is typically less expensive compared to
than softwood. hardwood.

Growth Hardwood has a slower growth rate. Softwood has a faster rate of growth.

Shedding of leaves Hardwoods shed their leaves over a Softwoods tend to keep their needles throughout the
period of time in autumn and winter. year.

Fire Resistance More Poor

Physical properties of wood

Specific Gravity (SG)

Generally, specific gravity (SG) and the major strength properties of wood are directly related. SG for the major, usually used
structural species ranges from roughly 0.30 to 0.90. Higher allowable design values are assigned to those pieces having
narrower growth rings (more rings per inch) or more dense latewood per growth ring and, hence, higher SG.

Moisture Content (MC) and Shrinkage

Undoubtedly, wood’s moisture provides more problems than any other factor in its use. Wood is hygroscopic in nature. It
picks up or gives off moisture to equalize with the relative humidity and temperature in the atmosphere. As it does so, it
changes in strength. Bending strength can increase by about 50% in going from green to a moisture content (MC) found in
wood members in a residential structure. Wood also shrinks as it dries, or swells as it picks up moisture, with concomitant
warpage potential. Critical in this process is the fiber saturation point (fsp). The point (about 25% moisture content, on oven-
dry basis) below which the hollow center of the cell has lost its fluid contents, the cell walls begin to dry and shrink, and
wood strength begins to increase. The swelling and shrinkage processes are reversible and approximately linear between fiber
saturation point and 0% MC. Seasoning of wood is performed before using in construction.

Wood decay or fungal stain do not occur when the MC is below 20%. There is no practical way to prevent moisture change
in wood; most wood finishes and coatings only slow the process down. Thus, vapor barriers, adequate ventilation, exclusion
of water from wood, or preservative treatment are absolutely essential in wood construction.

Thermal Properties of Wood

Although wood is an excellent heat insulator, its strength and other properties are affected adversely by exposure for
extended periods to temperatures above about 100°F. The combination of high relative humidity or MC and high
temperatures, in un-ventilated attic areas, can have serious effects on roof sheathing materials and structural elements because
of the potential for attack by decay organisms. Simple remedies and caution usually prevent any problems.

At temperatures above 220°F, wood takes on a thermoplastic behavior. This characteristic, which is rarely encountered in
normal construction, is an advantage in the manufacture of some reconstituted board products, where high temperatures and
pressures are utilized.

Environmentally friendly

Timber is the most environmentally responsible building material. Timber has low production energy requirements and is a
net carbon absorber. Timber is a renewable resource. Well-managed forests produce timber on a sustained continuous basis,
with minimal adverse effects on soil and water values.

In plentiful and growing supply

Timber is readily available. Australia has significant forest resources including a plantation estate covering more than 1.6
million hectares, and the area is growing rapidly.

Strong and lightweight

Timber is strong, light and reliable making timber construction simpler and safer than steel or concrete construction. A
comparison with steel and concrete shows that radiata pine structural timber, for example, has a strength for weight ratio 20
percent higher than structural steel and four to five times better than un-reinforced concrete in compression.

The lightweight structures possible in wood confer flow-on advantages in terms of reduced foundation costs, reduced
earthquake loading and easier transport. Building components and complete constructions are simple and safe to erect, and
cheaper to deconstruct or reuse at the end of a building is useful life.

Additionally, timber must be:

Safe

Timber has low toxicity and therefore requires no special safety precautions to work with it, other than normal protection
from dusts and splinters. Timber frame construction requires little in the way of heavy lifting equipment making building
sites safer work places. Timber being non-conductive has obvious benefits in terms of electrical safety. Modern timber
construction has increased fire resistance due to incombustible linings protecting light frames.

Easy to install

Increasingly specialist timber frame and truss manufacturers use high tech prefabrication enabling accurate and speedy
installation. Recyclable - Timber is a forgiving material that can be easily disassembled and reworked. If demolition or
deconstruction of a wooden building is necessary, many wood-based products can be recycled or reused. Timber trusses and
frames, factory fabricated from sawn timber and toothed metal plate connectors, have come to dominate roof construction for
small buildings such as houses and large industrial buildings where clear spans up to 50 metres are required. Timber trusses
compete with other roof structural systems on cost, high performance, versatility and ready availability, supported by design
software packages supplied by the plate manufacturers to the fabricators.

Cost effective
Comparative studies of the economics of different wall framing systems indicate that, in terms of direct building expenses,
timber frames are consistently the most cost-effective solution. There are many factors to consider when comparing the
economics of different construction systems including the complexity of the layout, site, builder experience, and relative
material prices at the time of building. However, comparative studies of the economics of different wall framing systems
indicate that, in terms of direct building expenses, timber frames are consistently the most cost-effective solution.

In the medium to long term, the forecasts for the Australian wood supply indicate a stable and growing supply. This means
that prices for framing timber are likely to be more stable for builders in the long term. However, this price stability is
questionable for materials such as steel, which consume considerable amounts of fossil fuels in their manufacture. The
smelting of steel is heavily reliant on the continued availability of cheap sources of fossil fuels, a scenario which is becoming
highly uncertain in an increasingly energy and security conscious world.

Durable

Properties of timber also include durability. Good detailing, coating and maintenance ensure that timber structures last for
lifetimes. Although many buildings become obsolete and are demolished long before the end of their natural lives, timber
buildings correctly designed and maintained can have an indefinite life. The key to long life is protection from weather,
insect attack and decay, through well-established design detailing, surface coating systems, selection of durable species, and
preservative treatment processes. In all countries of the world, and Australia is no exception, historic timber buildings testify
to these principles.

In termite-prone areas, all buildings are vulnerable to termite attack of contents, so protection is needed regardless of
construction materials. Protection systems rely on physical or chemical barriers, or both, and their effectiveness depends on
the quality of the design, construction, inspection and maintenance. The risk of termite attack should be assessed after
consulting with local building authorities and an appropriate termite management system should be implemented.

The system may include physical or chemical barriers or in higher risk areas, a termite resistant treated timber or naturally
termite resistant frame may also be chosen. In any case any management system should include regular inspection to ensure
that barriers have not been breached. It is therefore critical that the system type and inspection schedule are understood by all
future householders. Importantly, termites are an integral part of the ecology of Australia, however, with awareness, planning
and using cost effective systems, they can be effectively managed.

Comfortable

Well-designed Timber structures are comfortable to live in all year round no matter where you are.

Flexible

Of the best properties of wood, flexibility of design forms and finishes is an most sought. This flexibility also extends to the
ease with which existing buildings can be added to or modified to suit changing circumstances. User friendly versatile timber
gives building designers creative freedom providing homeowners with flexible design choices.Timber is simply the best
building material for builders, designers and homeowners and can be used to construct the homes we love, structures we
admire and warehouses, commercial buildings and other structures. The timber frame method of building gives designers
flexibility in both layout and external appearance. High levels of thermal insulation are incorporated within the construction,
reducing heating costs and conserving energy.

Compression Strength

An important property of timber is that it should have adequate compression strength to be used for different purposes in
construction industry