4 Fantastic Reasons to Consider Using Structural Timber Products for Your Construction Project
Structural timber is any wood capable of being used for structural purposes in construction. Timber has been used as a structural material for many centuries, and there are several reasons to consider using timber for today's structures.
Here are some of the top benefits associated with using structural timber products for construction purposes.
Strength of the Timber
When compared to other structural materials, timber has a relatively higher strength-to-weight ratio. The strength of timber stems from the way the tree grows. Hence, some wood species naturally have greater strength than others.
Timber intended for structural use must be checked to ensure it can deliver the required structural performance. This is achieved through strength grading of the timber. Strength grading of timber can be done by using a grading machine or by visual inspection in accordance with strictly defined standards.
Possibility for Prefabrication
Many of today's buildings require structural elements that have been made with tight tolerances. Structural timber lends itself to use in prefabrication, where structural timber parts or products are made under factory conditions at an offsite facility.
Prefabrication in a factory is essential to ensure quality control and also helps to avoid adverse weather and site conditions, which may affect the quality of the installation. Plus, prefabricated structural timber generally requires less site labour to install, which reduces labour costs.
Workability
Structural timber is always easy to work on. It is easy to cut the wood onsite with a saw, so the material can be easily modified. The material can be easily joined together using structural fixings, such as screws, bolts, nails and nail plates, dowel connectors, universal brackets, angle brackets and many more.
Under factory conditions, adhesives and glues can be used to bond timber components together. Plus, the finishing doesn't require top-notch skills in woodcraft to do correctly.
Reuse and Recyclability of Timber
Upon reaching the end of its expected lifespan, structural timber doesn't go to waste. The material can be recycled for use in other applications. For example, structural timber from an old demolished building can be used as recycled material for the construction of new structures. This helps to make building with wood an environmentally friendly and sustainable option.
These days, there are several different types of structural timber products available on the market. The right products for your construction project will depend on the specific requirements of your job. Make sure you know the particular needs of your project so you can purchase products that will match those needs.