WOO

A RYA N JAI N
VANSHIK A T H A KU R
 WOOD :SUSTAINABLE
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
Wood is a renewable resource that can contribute to sustainability in the construction
industry. It may be difficult to think of wood as a sustainable material, since it is
associated with deforestation. However, man-made construction materials like
concrete and steel have a huge carbon footprint, causing even more damage to the
environment. Using wood instead of steel or concrete reduces environmental impact,
as well as construction and operation costs.
Wood is a versatile organic material, and the only renewable construction material.
Wooden structures have certain properties that make them durable and strong. With an
adequate fire retardant treatment , wood can be a reliable construction material with a
long service life.
 BENEFITS
OF WOOD
Thermal Properties: Wood does not experience a
major expansion with heat. Also, the combination of low
thermal conductivity and high specific heat provides
insulation
Acoustic Properties: Wood can amplify or mitigate
sound based on its orientation. Sound is transmitted
along the grain direction, and mitigated in the
perpendicular direction.
Electrical Properties: Dry wood is an excellent electrical
insulator and it does not accumulate static electricity.
However, note that the electrical resistance of wood is
inversely proportional to its moisture content
Mechanical Properties: Wood has a high strength and
durability. It also has a high breaking length - the length
Dry Wood
at which a material breaks under its own weight when
hanging
 Aesthetic Properties:Wood is considered cozy, rustic and decorative.
It also offers variety in color, shape, smell, and texture. Wood can be
painted to achieve the desired finishes. With this kind of versatility, this
material is also a great choice for building outdoor furniture for your
home's interior. If you're a DIY enthusiast, you can build simple wood
projects, whether for decor or practical use.
Maintenance: Wood doesn’t rust like metals, and it can be repaired
and maintained. Old wood can be restored, although the operation
can be costly
Variety: There are more than 5000 species of wood, and the
properties mentioned above vary for each type.

WOOD MAINTAINANCE
LIMITATION
S OF
WOODS
Wood has limitations like any construction material, but these
can be mitigated with several protection methods. Ideally,
wood should be used in products that take advantage of its
benefits, and where its limitations are not major issues.

Shrinkage a nd Swelling: Wood is hygroscopic,

which means it absorbs moisture from the air. This
causes wood to shrink and swell.
Biotic deterioration: Since wood is an organic
material, it is food for some plants and animals.
Biological deterioration can occur from the attack
of fungi, termites, beetles, ants, etc.
Abiotic deterioration: Non-biological
deterioration of wood can be caused by the sun,
wind, water, chemicals and fire. Using thick wood as
a structural element can help mitigate
deterioration.
PROTECTION METHODS
TO IMPROVE
PERFORMANCE
Selecting the right type of wood according to project conditions is key, making sure it
will perform properly. The main techniques to protect wood include drying, coating
and impregnation. These can help eliminate the main limitations of the material.
Coating:
Provides protection for both indoor and outdoor applications
Prevents rapid uptake and loss of moisture
Reduces shrinkage and swelling
Some coatings protect wood from ultraviolet rays
Fungicides can be added to coatings
Drying: Drying can prevent the degradation of wood, and it is typically dried with
air or a kiln. The kiln drying method is more effective because it kills fungi and
insects, while removing moisture more effectively.
Wood Preservatives: These are used in situations where wood will be
constantly exposed to liquids, insects and weather.
Flame Retardants: It is impossible to make wood non-combustible, but it can be
treated with flame retardants. The two retardant types used for wood are coatings
and chemical water soluble salts. They increase the burning point, reduce the
formation of flammable gases, and mitigate the spreading and penetration of
flames.
 WOOD AS A
GREEN
PRODUCT
Renewable
Unlike other building materials like
concrete and steel, wood is renewable. It
can be grown and harvested multiple
times.

Reduce, Reuse, a nd Recycle

Wood waste products can be recycled
and transformed into new products.
Also, innovative designs can optimize the
usage of materials to reduce waste.

Carbon Footprint
The manufacturing processes of steel and
concrete release carbon dioxide to the
environment, also transportation also
adds to the carbon emissions.
Wood harvested from sustainably-
managed forests has a smaller carbon
footprint, and trees absorb carbon
dioxide during photosynthesis
OTHE Apart from building or construction uses wood is also
used in many other things
1.Wood is used commercially worldwide for making

R
furniture, constructing homes, and fencing.
2.Wood is also in the paper industry for manufacturing
paper.
3.Wood is used for road construction.

USES
4.For households, wood is used as fuel.
TYPES OF
WOOD
There is a wide variety of woods in nature. But only
some of them can be used because of their
properties and different characteristics. There are a
few factors based on which wood is classified into
different categories such as hardness, texture, and
color.
But the major factor out of all is its density.
Mainly the wood is classified into three main
categories as Hardwood, Softwood, and
Engineered Wood.
HARDWOOD
S
Hardwood is a type of wood that is usually denser than softwood. Hardwoods are
obtained from deciduous trees.The deciduous trees produce seeds and leaves.
Generally, the hardwoods are believed to be stronger than the softwoods. But some of the
species of softwood trees tend to be even stronger than hardwoods. Some common
species of hardwoods are oak wood, maple wood, cherry wood, mahogany wood, and
walnut wood.
When in construction, the durability of the structure is to be considered, hardwoods are the
primary choice. Elements like wooden floors, beams, and high-quality furniture items are
made out of hardwood.Some commonly used hardwood species are described below.

a. Oak Wood
Oakwood has almost 500 to 600 different species of trees globally. The most common
species, which are commonly used for construction and woodworking, are red oak and
white oak.
Oak wood is a hard and durable wood. It is also known for its strength. Usually found with
straight grains and visible growth rings, oak wood is also resistant to fungal attacks. Mostly,
oak wood is used for furniture, cabinets, flooring, and paneling works.
b. Maple Wood
Maple wood is one of the most common types of hardwood used in different
works. Maple wood is commonly found in Asia, Europe, North America, and
North Africa. It is extremely strong and durable, but the hardness of maple
wood is moderate. Maple wood is generally used for different furniture items
as well as for floorings.

c. Cherry Wood
Cherry wood is obtained from the cherry fruit tree. It is light pink at first and
changes its color to reddish-brown with time. Cherry wood is known for its
flexibility. Due to this characteristic, cherry wood can be molded into any shape
and size. It is ideally used for crafting fancy and expensive furniture items.
d. Mahogany Wood
Commonly used for paneling, furniture, and
making boats, mahogany wood is known for its
beauty, durability, and color. Mahogany wood
is extremely durable and possesses great
strength. It has straight, fine, and even grains.
e. Walnut Wood
Known for its versatility, walnut wood is a strong
and durable wood. This type of wood is
resistant to shock. The density of walnut wood is
medium to light. Walnut wood is mostly used
for crafting high-quality furniture items.
f. Alder Wood
Alder wood is a type of hardwood, known for its characteristics like natural beauty, workability,
and versatility. Alder wood is more popular in some regions of Canada and California.
Alder wood is white when freshly cut. But when it is exposed to the atmosphere, its color
changes to honey-brown. It has medium-density and straight grains, which makes it easy for
carving, turning, and machining.
g. Teak wood
Teakwood is also a type of hardwood that is usually found in Asian rainforests. The teak wood trees
take long time to grow, and it is usually difficult to find them easily in the market.Due to this reason,
the price of teak wood in the market is very high. Teak wood was primarily used for making boats
out of it. But nowadays, premium, expensive, and decorative furniture products are made using it.
h. Sal wood
Sal wood is commonly found everywhere and is used widely. Sal wood is not so
expensive as compared to teak wood. Sal wood is used for making windows, doors,
wooden beams, and piles.
It is mostly used in the interior part of the structure. If sal wood is exposed to sunlight, it
may develop cracks on it. Sal wood is relatively strong and hard.
SOFTWOOD
S
Softwood is usually obtained from conifer trees, which are scientifically known as
Gymnosperms.They don’t have leaves like the deciduous trees.
Softwoods are usually less dense than hardwoods and hence their growth is also faster
compared to hardwoods. Due to the lower density of softwoods, they are easy to cut
down. The softwoods are relatively less resistant to fire.
Pine wood, cedar wood, fir wood, spruce wood, and redwood are the most common
species of softwoods used for construction activities. Some commonly used species of
softwoods are briefly described below.

b. Cedar Wood
Cedar wood is known for its strong aroma, which is a special feature of cedar wood. The
aroma of cedar wood is so strong that it can repel insects and moths from it.
It is lighter in weight with a hard texture. It is rot-resistant and is also weather- resistant. It is
a great choice for decorative furniture and fencing work. Also, for outdoor elements like
patio furniture and outdoor wooden furniture, cedar wood is a great choice.
c. Fir Wood
Fir wood is generally known for its great
strength, durability, and performance. These
types of wood are extensively used for
woodworking and are also the primary choice
for food working and construction work. The fir
wood does not deform easily as its strength is
higher.

d. Spruce Wood
Spruce wood is a lightweight softwood used for
making ladders, crates, aircraft works, and ship
masts. Like fir wood, spruce wood is also very
strong and durable. The hardness of spruce
wood is usually moderate.
Generally, fine grains are found in spruce
wood.
e. Redwood
Redwood is a premium-quality wood used for making high-quality and premium wooden
furniture. Redwood trees are very tall. They can grow up to a height of 300 ft. Superior
quality redwood is obtained from the inner part of the tree trunk, known as the heartwood.
The redwood tree contains a chemical that makes it resistant to insects and weather. The
durability of redwood is also great.
 ENGINEERED
WOODS
Engineered woods are the types of woods that are not found naturally or straight from the
trees. Engineered wood means it is a kind of artificial wood manufactured in factories. This
kind of wood is made up using wood found naturally, but the difference is that some
admixtures, such as adhesives are added to it.
Engineered woods have a variety of applications in areas like residential, commercial, and
industrial construction as well. Plywood, Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF), composite board,
and Cross-laminated timber (CLT) are some examples of engineered wood that are widely
used across the globe.

a. Plywood
Plywood is a type of engineered wood. This means it is not found naturally anywhere;
instead, it is manufactured in factories. Plywood is a material made up of thin layers of plies
of wood veneer that are stuck together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated
up to 90 degrees to one another.
Plywood is usually available in sheet form in the market. Plywood is used for making
furniture items and also for making doors and windows. Plywood is also used for
shuttering purposes in construction.
b. Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
It is also a type of engineered wood. Medium-
density fibreboards are usually denser than
plywood. It is made by breaking down the natural
wood into wood fires and combining it with wax and
resin binder.Medium-density fibreboard is found in
the paneled form. The uses and applications of
Medium- density fibreboards are similar to plywood.

c. Composite Board
Composite board is also a type of engineered wood
used for various purposes such as home interiors,
furniture items, exterior furniture, etc. It is available in
a variety of colors and types. It is also known for its
durability, so the products crafted made of it last
longer.
 PRICING OF
In construction work, 30% of the timber or wood material is used. Wood is a naturally available

WOOD
material that has good strength, toughness, and durability.
Building materials cost for modern home materials are shown here. Prices of different types of
wood are shown in the table given below.

Type of Wood Wood Prices (per cubic feet)

Teak Wood ₹7800/-Cft
Sheesham Wood ₹1000/-Cft
Pure Sal Wood ₹1750/-Cft
Deodar Wood ₹680/-Cft
Vengai Wood. ₹7200/-Cft
8′ x 4′ Plywood (18mm thick) ₹2900 to 3400/-pcs
8′ x 4′ Plywood (12mm ₹2000 to 2500/-pcs
thick) 8′ x 4′ Plywood (9mm ₹1700 to 2200/-pcs
thick)
THANKYO
U