For years on end, brick, stone and blocks were the most common building materials. They still are. However, for a good reason, timber-framed structures are chosen over the classic structures, according to a recent MTW report.
Timber-framed structures are simple to construct with and very affordable. They’re also very adaptable, with the ability to be covered in virtually any material.
However, the major reason for the popularity of timber-framed homes is that they are considerably more environmentally friendly than classic materials. When compared to typical brick construction, a wood frame structure emits less CO2.
A building’s eco-credentials will be even more remarkable if the lumber is ethically obtained and the trees replanted.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the advantages and disadvantages of building with timber.
Advantages
- Natural materials – There are a few natural materials that offer the benefits of timber. Hence timber is a natural resource, is non-toxic and does not leak any chemical vapour into the structure, which makes it safe to handle and touch. It also implies that wood matures naturally.
- Ecology and sustainability – Timber has been used to construct dwellings for thousands of years. Timber is an environmentally friendly, long-lasting, and fully renewable resource. Timber is produced faster than it is consumed, and most major timber-supplying countries have rules that require them to re-grow more wood than is felled. Timber will still be accessible if new trees are planted to replace those that have been cut.
- Production energy – The conversion of tree wood to construction lumber requires relatively little energy. This indicates that lumber has a low embodied energy. It is, in fact, the cheapest of virtually all commonly used building materials.
- Great insulation and energy saver – When used in windows, doors, and flooring, timber acts as a natural insulator and may assist reduce energy usage. A timber frame provides a greater insulation area than a brick structure, and wood has natural thermal insulation characteristics. Of course, a well-insulated home uses less energy to heat and cool, implying reduced fossil fuel consumption. In addition, wood is more insulating than steel. The wood structure contains minute air spaces, limiting its capacity to transfer heat and assist in reducing the amount of energy required to heat and cool our eco timber houses, making them extremely energy efficient.
- Design and build time – When constructing a home, it is critical to consider the link between the materials used and the surroundings. With its limitless architectural options and unrivalled physical and technical qualities, using timber as the primary building material for a timber frame home is the perfect decision. With lumber, the construction process moves more quickly. Because a wood frame may be partially pre-cut, modulated, and constructed to be precise, it can be erected faster than a brick structure. Because there is less construction waste to clean, time is saved as well.
- Durable and easy maintenance – Timber is a long-lasting material. Wooden buildings that are well-built can survive for millennia. In comparison to other materials, it is also simple and inexpensive to maintain, especially if you don’t mind the colour changing over time.
Now that you know the advantages of building with timber, it is time to talk about the disadvantages that come with a timber building.
Sounds travel more easily – When compared to a block-built home, sound travels more easily through timber-framed walls, because of the increased density of blocks. The addition of insulation or sound-deadening materials to the timber frame during construction, on the other hand, can minimise sound transmission.4
Not solid enough – Timber-framed dwellings are sometimes criticised for feeling “lightweight” and less substantial than typical cavity-built buildings. This is probably only an issue when hanging pictures or putting up shelves since a wood stud must be found. Modern picture fittings, on the other hand, make it easy to attach objects to plasterboard.
An issue with shower units – As a construction material, timber has several advantages. It does, however, seem to change with time. Daily, you are unlikely to detect this movement, but it may be different in the restroom. Shower enclosures aren’t meant to shift, and if they do, they’re likely to fracture. If a shower is no longer waterproof, it is more likely to leak, and you don’t want water to get into the timber structure of a building. Fortunately, there is a simple solution: instead of an enclosure, construct a shower unit. Because they don’t require tiles or grout, they won’t break or leak.
As this blog post shows, building with timber has more advantages than disadvantages. From its low costs to be durable over time, timber is a great building material if you consider building a new house or making an extension to an existing building.