WOOD AND PLASTICS

WOOD USED IN ARCHITECTURE susceptible to blueing fungi and wood

boring insects and is not durable.
Natural wood has certain properties that make
it an attractive building material:
Natural warmth
- to the touch, wood insulates
•Workability - easily shaped with simple tools
•Infinite variety - no two trees, or even pieces B. HEARTWOOD
from the same tree, are alike  the older, harder central portion of a
tree.
•Strength - to weight ratio for bridges, boats,
 usually contains deposits of various
homes, furniture
materials that frequently give it a darker
•Flexibility - watch how huge trees bend before color than sapwood.
the wind  Is denser, less permeable and more
durable than the surrounding sapwood.
•Fire protection - wood chairs and therefore
burns slowly, doesn’t melt or crumble  The central core of the log, it composed
•Color - natural, through wood’s ability to of inactive cells and serves only as a
receive many types of stains and finishes mechanical support

CLASSIFICATION OF WOOD
 Softwoods come from the conifers
(evergreens) which have needles
instead of leaves, e.g., pine.

 Hardwoods come from the broad leaved

or deciduous trees. Most Philippine
timber are of this latter kind.

PROPERTIES OF WOOD
The terms “hardwood” and “softwood” are
often misleading because they have no direct Hardness
relation to the actual physical hardness or - measured by the compression which a
softness of the wood, so that a hardwood may piece of timber undergoes when a
actually be softer than a softwood. weight is applied to it
Flexibility
- amount of piece will bend before
STRUCTURE OF WOOD breaking. Softwoods are generally brittle
while most hardwoods are flexible.
A. SAPWOOD
 the portion of the log near the periphery Strength
which is generally lighter in color than the Durability
central portion.
 contains living cells and takes an active
part in the life process of a tree.
 Because it contains more organic matter
than the central core of the log, it is more
WOOD AND PLASTICS
DEFECTS OF WOOD
a. Decay Caused by the attack of fungi.

f. Wane
b. Checks - This is the lack of wood on the edge or
- Cracks or lengthwise separation across corner of a piece.
the annual rings of growth caused by
irregular shrinkage during drying. Checks g. Warping
are formed when the circumference - Any variation with the plane surface of
shrinks more than the interior section of the piece caused by unequal shrinkage
the log. of the board. There are several forms of
warp:
c. Shakes
- These are cracks between and parallel Crook a distortion of the board in which
to the annual rings of the growth. the edge is convex or concave
longitudinal.

Bow a distortion of the board in which the

face is convex or concave
longitudinal.

Cup a distortion of the board in which the

face is convex or concave across the
d. Knots board.
- these are irregular
growths in the body of a tree which Twist a distortion of the board
interrupt the smooth in which one corner is raised.
curve of the grain. The fibers of the tree
are turned from their normal course and
grow around the knot at that point of the
tree.

e. Pitchpockets
- These are well defined openings
between annual rings containing solid or
liquid pitch.
WOOD AND PLASTICS
commercial practice, cut with the
annual growth rings at an angle 45  to
90  .

Quartersawn lumber is desirable

because it has less shrinkage than
plainsawn lumber, and this is important
where joints must be kept tight.

LUMBER

CLASSIFICATION OF LUMBER
METHODS OF SAWING WOOD
Lumber is classified by its size or
A log of wood can be cut in two different dimensions measured in inches, for
ways to make lumber: example, a piece of lumber measuring 2
inches by 4 inches is called 2 x 4.
a. Plainsawing refers to lumber cut
tangent to the annual rings or growth Generally, they are available in even
or, in commercial practice, cut with numbered widths: 4, 6, 8, 10,12 inches.
annual rings at an angle 0  to 45 
Plainsawn lumber is preferable when a There are four available classifications of
pleasing pattern is required, as in wall lumber:
paneling.

Strips - Lumber less than 2” thick and less than 8”

wide.
Board Lumber
- Pieces less than 2” thick and at least 8”
wide.
Dimension Lumber
- Pieces more than 2” and less
than 5” in any dimension.
Timbers
b. Quartersawing
refers to wood cut radially to the annual - Pieces 5” or more on the smallest
rings of growth parallel to the rays or, in Dimension
WOOD AND PLASTICS
The two most common classifications are SEASONING OF LUMBER
1. Dimension Lumber a. AIR DRYING in which the lumber is
exposed to the air.
2. Board Lumber
Nominal size is the size of lumber when it is cut
from the log. After cutting, the lumber is dried
and then planed on all four sides to achieve
smoothness. The finished size is therefore smaller.

STRIP LUMBER

b. KILN DRYING in which warm moist air or

superheated steam is used to heat the
wood and drive out moisture.

DIMENSION LUMBER
MEASUREMENT OF LUMBER
 Lumber is sold in lengths from 6’ up to 20’
in increments of 2’. Special lengths
greater than 20’ are also available but
cost more per board foot than the
standard lengths.

 Lumber measure is the board foot which

may be described as the measure of a Seasoned lumber has many advantages over
piece of wood 1” thick, 12” (or 1’) wide green lumber:
and 12” (or 1’) long.
a. It lessens the liability of the wood to be
Board Feet = Thickness (in.) x Width (in.) x Length (ft.) attacked by the fungi causing bluing and
12 decay, and by some wood boring insects.
b. Reduction of weight.
c. Increased strength.
d. Minimum shrinkage after the lumber is in
place (thus avoids opening up of joints in doors,
windows, siding, etc.).
e. Reduced checking and warping.
WOOD AND PLASTICS
f. Increased nail holding power of the wood
(nails do not
hold well when driven into green or unseasoned
lumber because of its softness).
g. Improvement of the wood for the application
of paint and to receive wood preservatives, fire
retardants.

c. Insects

Subterranean termites which live in the

ground and build earthen tubes to reach
their food cellulose
which includes wood primarily but also
The advantages of kiln drying over air drying paper and pulp products. The channels
are: formed as they eat all the wood
substance tends to follow the grain.
a. Greater reduction in weight.
b. Control of moisture content to any desired
value.
c. Reduction in drying time.
d. Killing of any fungi or insects.
e. Setting the resins in resinous wood. In general, a complete barrier must be
f. Less degrade (Degrade is the loss in quality made between the wood and possible
during seasoning of the lumber through earthen tubes of the termites by:
unequal shrinkage which causes checks and
loosening of knots, warping).  Installing a shield made of metal
or special termite proof materials.
DETERIORATION OF LUMBER
 Termite proofing the wood used
a. Decay
for construction
 Molds, stains and decay in wood are  close to earth;
caused by fungi. Their growth depends
on mild temperatures and dampness.  Poisoning the soil adjacent to the
building.
 Most decay occurs in wood with a
moisture content above the fiber
PRESERVATION OF LUMBER
saturation point. Usually wood
maintained at 20% M.C. or less is safe Wood can be treated to prevent or at least
from fungus damage. delay destruction by fungi, insects, bacteria,
marine organisms, and fire.
 Wood that is constantly under water or
continuously dry will not decay. Care
should be taken not to use wood where
moisture can collect and remain.
WOOD AND PLASTICS
Wood preservatives used to forestall attack by b. Water-borne Wood Preservatives
decay, Fungi, harmful insects and marine borers
are divided into two general groups.
a. Oil-Type Wood Preservatives

• Coal tar creosotes

 Black or brownish oil made from distilling
coal tar. Advantages are highly toxicity
to wood destroying organisms; insolubility
in water; ease of application.
Disadvantages are its strong, unpleasant
odor, cannot be painted, easily ignited
when first applied. • Chromated Zinc Chloride (CZC)
- Gives protection against decay, insects
and fire can be painted on has no
objectionable odor. Disadvantage are
wood cannot be used in contact with
the ground or water
• Ammoniacal Copper Arsenate (ACA)
- CCA and ACA are dissolved in water for
pressure treating, producing a product
• Creosotes derived from wood, oil, and that is clean and odorless
water gas - Both preservatives bond with the wood
 Has same advantages as coal after pressure treating in a chemical
tar creosote but is less effective. process known as fixation producing
treated wood that is highly leach
• Creosotes solutions resistant and safe to use in applications
 a mixture of coal tar or petroleum with regular human contact
oils and 50 to 80% by volume of - Provides good protection against decay
coal tar creosotes. Has same and insects can painted on has no
advantages as coal tar creosotes objectionable odor
but is less effective - Wood can be used in contact with the
• Pentachlorophenol ground but generally recommended for
contact with water.
 A mixture of petroleum oils and 5
The methods of applying preservatives are:
 Pentachlorophenol Has high
protection against decay fungi  Pressure treatment - Consists in placing
and termites can be painted has the wood in cylinders into which the
no unpleasant odor is less easily preservative is pumped under pressure
ignited than coal tar creosotes.
 Provide less protection against  Hot and Cold Bath Method - This consists
marine borers. first in placing the wood in a bath of hot
 Pentachlorophenol is also preservative for an hour or more. It is then
dissolved in oil, leaving a withdrawn and quickly placed in a bath
 clean brown colored surface It of cold preservative. This is generally
was used extensively for lumber used for creosote preservative
and posts when introduced in the
1930 s, but now is specified  Dipping or immersing the wood in a hot
almost exclusively for the preservative for a short time
treatment of utility poles and
cross arms  Brushing
WOOD AND PLASTICS
• PERMANIZED Lumber and Plywood
TREATMENT OF LUMBER Preservative – B-S-25.
1. Covering the wood with a compound or • BOLIDEN Lumber and Plywood.
material

 Such superficial coatings or layers WOOD COMPOSITES

protective materials retard the normal
increases in temperature under fire  Wood Composites are those products
conditions and thereby decrease the made from a mixture of wood and other
rate of flame spread. This in turn lessens materials. Most wood composites are
the rate of flame penetration and produced in large sheets, usually
therefore the destruction of wood in 1220mm (4’) x 2440mm (8’).
contact with fire.

 Coatings or layers of protective material Plywood

over the surface are good only for interior
is the most common wood composite. It gets its
purposes because they are not durable
name from its construction: it is made of several
when exposed to the weather. These are
thin plies , or veneers , of wood that have been
water-soluble, fire-retardant chemicals
glue d together. Each ply or veneer is glued so
generally are trademarked formulation
that its grain is at right angles to the grain of the
of ammonium phosphate, borax or
previous ply.
sodium silicate combined with other
materials to provide adherence to the The outside plies are called the face and the
wood, brush ability, appearance and back, and the center plies are called the core.
color. The cross layering make plywood very stable
and strong.
 There are also chemicals with low water
soluble such as zinc borate, chlorinated Advantages of Plywood:
paraffin and chlorinated rubber which  the approximate equalization of strength
are used for fire retardant coatings. properties along its length and width;
 greater resistance to checking and
 splitting; and less change in dimension
2. Impregnating the wood with a chemical due to moisture content
Which the wood itself does not support Types of Plywood:
combustion. The chemicals commonly used
for impregnation are: • Ordinary Plywood
• Form Plywood
 monobasic ammonium phosphate • Marine Plywood waterproofed
 dibasic ammonium phosphate • Fancy Plywood:
 ammonium sulfate
 borax, boric acid and  Narra bookmatch
 zinc chloride  Kalantas Rotary cut

PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER AND PLYWOOD:  Tanguile Ribbon-grain

• WOLMANIZED Lumber and Plywood  Lauan Rotary cut

 Dao bookmatch
Preservative : Wolman salts.
 Rosewood
• TANALIZED Lumber and Plywood
Preservative - Tanalith G Wood  Tanguile
Preservative salts.
WOOD AND PLASTICS
CHIPBOARD
HARDBOARD Chipboard is made by bonding together wood
particles with an adhesive under heat and
- This is a paneling material made by
pressure to form a rigid board with a relatively
reducing and refining wood chips into smooth surface, often faced with veneer. It is
small, threadlike fibers, and then pressing
made by binding phenolic resin or urea
them under heat in hydraulic pressure formaldehyde glue.
into dense, smooth, and very rigid
panels. In the production process the
pulp is exploded under pressure.
- Heat and steam are applied to leave
fine, fluffy brown fibers. These fibers are
transformed into mats, which are held
together with lignum and other glues.
- The mats are than pressed between • FIBERBOARDS and MEDIUM DENSITY
steam heated metal plates to give grain FIBERBOARDS
less sheets with one smooth, glossy - Fiberboards are finishing materials made
surface and one textured surface. To from vegetable fibers such as corn or
prevent warping, moisture is added in a sugarcane stalks pressed into sheets. It is
humidification chamber. not very strong but has good insulating
- Hardboard has a smooth surface on one properties therefore it is usually used for
side and a screened surface on the ceiling only.
other. It is sometimes known as Masonite, GYPSUM BOARDS
after the man who invented.
- This is a non-combustible building board
Standard hardboard with a gypsum core enclosed in tough,
- is light brown in color and has a fairly smooth paper. It is designed to be used
hard, smooth surface on one side and a without addition of plaster for walls,
screened impression on the other. It is ceilings, or partitions. It is extensively used
flexible and easy to bend. It is suitable for in “dry wall” construction, where plaster
interior use only and where it is not is eliminated
subject to moisture.
Panel hardboard
- is somewhat denser than the Standard
but not as dense as Tempered.
Tempered hard board
- is the densest type, made by
impregnating standard board with
tempering compound of oils and resins
and baking it to polymerize the Square Edge (S.E.) for coverstrip jointing; visible
tempering materials. It is dark brown in butt jointed panelling with clamp fixing and free
color, brittle and stiff, with improved suspension.
machining qualities and greater
resistance to moisture and water
penetration, making it ideal for exterior
use Tapered Edge (T.E.) for smooth seamless
jointing; jointless wall and ceiling panelling
WOOD AND PLASTICS
The types of Gypsum Board are: mineralized cellulose fibers derived from
recycled materials, and 8% calcium
a. Wall Board carbonate.
This type is used for surface layer on interior walls
and ceilings. The regular wallboard comes with
grey liner paper backing and special paper
finish on the facing and edges suitable for
decoration. The foil backed gypsum board has PARTICLE BOARD
aluminum foil bonded to the liner paper to serve Particleboard is made of small wood chips and
as vapor barrier and thermal insulation. Pre- base materials including cotton stalk, rice
decorated gypsum board comes with a straw, bagasse, conventional wood chips and
decorative vinyl or paper sheet on its face. sawdust that have been pressed and glued
b. Backing Board together.

- This is used as base layer in multiply

construction, where several layers of gypsum
boards are desired for high fire resistance,
sound control and strength in walls.
c. Core Board MILLWORK

- To save space, this type is used as a base in a Millwork consists of finished lumber which is
multiply construction of self-supporting (studless) further cut and processed at a lumber mill.
gypsum walls. It comes in 1” (25mm) thickness or Millwork includes doors, windows, moldings, trim
2 factory laminated, ½ “thick layers of backing and other ornamental forms of wood.
board . TYPES OF WOOD MOULDINGS
d. Type X Gypsum Board Types of wood mouldings are:
- For use in fire rated assemblies, this may be a. crown
wallboard, backing board, or core board made b. bed
more fire resistant by addition of glass fiber or c. cove
other reinforcing materials d. quarter round
e. WaterResistant Backing Gypsum Board e. half round
f. nose and cove
- This type comes with water resistant gypsum g. stop
core and water repellant face paper. It may be h. astragal
used as base for walls of bathrooms, showers, i. Screen moulding
and other areas exposed to wetting. j. panel strip
f. Gypsum Sheathing k. picture moulding
PLASTICS USED IN ARCHITECTURE
- This type is used as fire protection and bracing
of exterior frame walls. It must be protected - The term PLASTICS is essentially a
from the weather by an exterior facing. commercial classification to which no
g. Gypsum Formboard strict scientific definition can be applied.
It is used to describe a product of
- This type is used as a permanent form in the synthetic origin which is capable of
casting of gypsum concrete roof decks. being shaped at some stage of its
manufacture, but is not rubber, wood,
FIBERCEMENT BOARDS
leather, or metal.
- Fiber reinforced cement board is
comprised of 72% Portland Cement, 20%
WOOD AND PLASTICS
thermoplastic used in construction as
pond or lagoon lining, and water vapor
CLASSIFICATION OF PLASTICS barriers and damp proofing
In a broad sense, there are three (3) types of
Plastics:
- Cellulose plastics
- Synthetic resin plastics
- Plastics derived from proteins and natural
resins .

Synthetic resin plastics are subdivided into two

(2) classes: 4. POLYSTYRENE
a. Thermoplastics - Despite its sensitivity to solvent action, its
is one of most important thermoplastics
- soften when heated and harden when cooled because of its excellent transparency
regardless of the number of times the process is and rigidity and its easy moldability. It is
repeated. They have a molecular structure non water absorbent, it is found in
which is essentially linear or threadlike in form. colorful, but brittle wall tiles. It is one of
several plastics used in lighting fixture
b. Thermosetting plastics
diffusers. In foam form, it has become an
- Thermosetting plastics, sometimes called important thermal insulator. Also found in
thermos curing plastics, set into shape paint for concrete.
permanently when heat and pressure are
applied during the forming stage. They have a
molecular structure in a 3-dimensional
arrangement

5. POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)

EXAMPLES OF THERMOPLASTICS - is a largely amorphous, rigid, tough,
solvent resistant, flame-resistant
1. ACRYLIC
thermoplastic. Used for resilient floor tile,
- Popular brands are “LUCITE” and
films, pipes, and for paint lacquers,
“PLEXIGLASS”, this material combines the
adhesives, and safety glass.
transparency of glass (but not scratch
proof quality) with plastics’ shatterproof
quality.
- Used principally for skylights, sky domes,
safety glass, paints, adhesives, finish
hardware, & lighting fixtures
6. POLYCARBONATES
2. CELLULOSICS
- a family of linear polyesters, is a white,
- primarily cellulose acetate or butyrate,
substantially amorphous, very tough,
used principally for paints and lacquers,
and strong material with good heat
and transparent sheeting.
resistance up to 150 deg C and excellent
3. POLYETHYLINE (PE)
dimensional stability. It is injection
- Ziegler PE is a hard, strong, tough, and
molded to produce plates, rods, gears,
rigid thermoplastic for household and
and other shaped parts that
industrial applications. ICI PE developed
advantageously replace die cast metal
by Imperial Chemical Industries of Britain
parts. Used for skylights.
is a high-pressure, low-density PE that is
flexible, tough, and slightly resilient
WOOD AND PLASTICS
10. ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE (ABS)
- is a styrenic resin with improved
toughness and heat resistance. ABS
exhibits high gloss, low shrinkage, and
good dimensional stability, is widely used
in injection molding of appliances,
furniture, and automotive parts. ABS also
7. POLYPROPYLENE
has high melt strength suitable to
- tough plastic with good resistance to
produce extruded sheet, some of
heat and chemical action.
considerable size and thickness.
Applications include panels for large
appliances and thermoformed items
such as hot tubs and recreational vehicle
parts.

8. NYLONS
- The term nylon refers to a family of
polymers called linear polyamides. It is
desired for the following properties: EXAMPLES OF THERMOSETTING PLASTICS
exceptionally strong, elastic, abrasion
resistant, easy to wash, resistant to 1. MELAMINE and UREA
damage from oil and many chemicals, - hard, durable, and dimensionally stable,
can be pre-colored or dyed in wide these similar plastics are resistant to
range of colors, and resilient. chemicals, electric potential, and heat.
Melamine is well known for its use in
molded dishes, while urea is useful for
incandescent light diffusion and for
baked enamels.
2. EPOXY
9. FLUOROPLASTICS - used in buildings for its remarkable
- are a class of paraffinic polymers that adhesive qualities. It may also be used
have some or all the hydrogen replaced
for special paints that are chemically
by fluorine. The fluoroplastic group is
resistant and for special caulking
characterized by excellent chemical
resistance, excellent heat resistance, compounds.
good electrical properties, and excellent 3. ALKYDS
wear resistance. However, despite these - appear chiefly as molded electrical
attributes, perhaps the most desired parts, and as the vehicle in paints,
characteristic of this group of plastics is lacquers, and enamels.
their ability to resist abrasion. 4. PHENOLICS
- used for paints, baked enamels,
adhesives, impregnating resins for paper
and wood, and finish hardware.
5. POLYESTER
- the plastic most commonly used in large
glass-fiber reinforced translucent panels
that are strong, rigid, and impact-
resistant. Also used for impregnating
WOOD AND PLASTICS
paper and wood, as laminating material, LAMINATES
and for contact adhesive.
Lamination
6. URETHANES
- used in paint coatings, and as foams, are - is the process applied to paper or fabric
self-adhesive. impregnated with thermosetting resins.
7. SILICONES - Cotton cloth and paper are used as filler
- used for clear, water-repellant paints for materials, usually in sheet forms, that are
concrete and masonry surfaces above bonded together by heat and pressure
to form an integral body.
grade.
- The thickness of the laminate is
PLASTICS SHEETS, FILM AND FOAM determined by the number of sheets
placed between the two steel pans or
a. SHEETS platens of the press used in the process.
- Usually made of acrylate, polyester, or - Decorative laminates of various wood-
polystyrene plastics, either plain or grain, marble, and colored patterns are
reinforced with glass-fiber, are available extensively used for tabletops and wall
in flat or corrugated sheets and various facings.
deformed shapes.
- Thicknesses vary from 1.5mm to 2.38mm
(1/16 to 3/32 inches).
- Plastic sheets can be used to replace
glass in any type of windows or doors,
skylights, shower enclosures, or in any
area where a translucent, transparent or
opaque material in a wide variety of
colors is needed in the interior.
- As corrugated sheet, plastics make good
roofing material and other similar uses as
sheet plastic.

b. FILM SHEETS
- As water barrier or damp proofing
material, it is generally made of
polyethylene and polyvinyl and comes in
thicknesses ranging from 1 to 10 mils
(0.001 to 0.01 inch) and in rolls of 50’
length and 3’ to 40’ width.
- For building construction, 2, 4 and 6 mils
are most used.
- Over tamped earth or sand fill, use 4 mil.
- Over gravel and stone, use 6 mil.
- Use the widest width possible and lap 6”
(150mm) where necessary.

c. FOAM
- Used as flotation material, thermal
insulators, and shock-resistant mountings.
Offers possibilities for lightweight
materials of high strength.