Description :

Definition of wood as a construction material

Wood, also known as timber, is an organic, fibrous material derived from trees and other woody plants.
It has been a primary construction material for millennia due to its unique combination of properties,
including strength, flexibility, and workability.

It is estimated that there are about 3000 species of Philippine wood that can attain a diameter of about
21 inches that can be converted into logs and finally into lumber.

Historical Significance

Wood has been a fundamental building material throughout human history, playing a pivotal role in the
development of civilizations. Its historical significance can be traced back thousands of years, across
various cultures and regions, highlighting its enduring value as a versatile and sustainable resource.

The Philippines, with its rich forests and diverse species of hardwood, has relied on wood not only as a
primary building material but also as a symbol of cultural heritage. Before the arrival of the Spanish
colonizers, indigenous Filipinos primarily used wood and bamboo to construct their homes, known as
bahay kubo (nipa huts). These traditional dwellings were elevated on stilts, with walls made of woven
bamboo and roofs thatched with nipa or cogon grass. The use of wood was integral to these structures,
providing both durability and flexibility in the tropical climate.

Types of Wood

In the construction industry, a felled or cut down tree is known as lumber whereas the word timber is
used for sawn wooden planks. There are many different types of wood available in the market that are
used in the wood architecture and construction industry .

1. Hard wood

Hardwood comes from trees that have broad leaves. These trees usually take a long time to grow, which
makes the wood dense and strong. Hardwood is often used for making furniture, flooring, and
construction because it is durable and has an attractive appearance. Despite the name, not all hardwood
is "hard"—some can be softer than certain types of softwood.

Examples of Hard woods:

Mahogany: This hardwood is popular for furniture and construction. It has a straight grain and is easy to
work with, making it a favorite for high-quality wood products.

Yakal: A very dense and strong hardwood, yakal is commonly used in construction, especially for posts,
beams, and other structural elements that need to bear heavy loads.

Molave: Known for its toughness and resistance to decay, molave is used in outdoor construction, like
bridges, railroad ties, and shipbuilding.

Kamagong: Also known as "ironwood," kamagong is extremely dense and heavy, with a dark, almost
black color. It's often used for specialty items like tool handles, martial arts weapons, and decorative
objects.

Tanguile: A common hardwood used in construction and furniture-making. It has a reddish-brown color
and is relatively easy to work with compared to other hardwoods.

2. Soft wood

Softwoods come from trees that usually have needles and cones, like pine, cedar, and spruce. These
trees typically grow faster than hardwood trees, which makes softwoods more readily available and less
expensive. Despite the name, not all softwoods are "soft"—some can be quite strong.

Softwoods are mostly used in the construction field such as in the manufacturing of doors, door frames,
architraves, panels, flooring, roofing, decking, exterior cladding, joinery, furniture, railings, stair treads,
and others.

Examples of soft wood:

Pine (Benguet Pine): Pine is one of the most commonly used softwoods in the Philippines. It's often used
for construction, furniture, and making decorative items. Pine wood is light, easy to work with, and has a
pleasant scent.

Almaciga: This is a type of Philippine softwood that is often used in the production of high-quality resins.
The wood itself is also used in construction, particularly in making light structures, as well as in furniture-
making.

Red Lauan: Though technically a tropical hardwood, Red Lauan is sometimes grouped with softwoods
because it has characteristics similar to them. It's used in general construction, plywood, and veneer.
Toog: Toog is another softwood used in construction and furniture-making. It's known for its straight
grain and relatively easy workability.

Cedar: Although less common, some species of cedar are found in the Philippines. Cedar is valued for its
aromatic scent, resistance to decay, and is often used in making furniture, cabinets, and lining closets.

3. Engineered woods

Engineered wood is a composite material that is manufactured by fixing wood fibres, particles, wood
strands or flakes, veneers, or wooden boards using adhesives or other means of binding the materials
together to make a strong unit.

Engineered wood plays an important part in the growth of the construction industry today. Products
made of engineered wood are employed in residential as well as commercial projects for structural
stability and visual importance.

Types of Engineered woods

1. Plywood

Description: Made from thin layers (plies) of wood veneer glued together, with the grain of each ply laid
perpendicular to the next

Uses: Plywood is widely used for furniture, cabinets, wall paneling, and flooring underlayment.

2. Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)

Description: Made from wood fibers combined with resin and wax, compressed under high pressure and
temperature to form panels.

Uses: MDF is used in furniture, cabinetry, moldings, and as a base for veneers.

3. Particleboard

Description: Composed of wood chips, sawdust, or wood shavings bonded together with a synthetic
resin.

Uses: Commonly used in low-cost furniture, cabinets, and as a substrate for countertops.

4. Oriented Strand Board (OSB)

Description: Made from wood strands oriented in specific directions, bonded together with adhesives
Uses: Often used for wall sheathing, roof decking, and subflooring.

5. Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)

Description: Made by layering thin wood veneers with the grain aligned in the same direction, bonded
together with adhesives

Uses: LVL is used in structural applications like beams, headers, and rim boards.

6. Glulam (Glued Laminated Timber)

Description: Composed of several layers of dimensional lumber bonded together with moisture-resistant
adhesives.

Uses: Used for large structural elements like beams, columns, and arches in buildings.

7. HDF (High-Density Fiberboard)Description: Similar to MDF but denser, made by compressing wood
fibers under higher pressure.

Uses: Used in high-strength applications, such as laminate flooring and certain types of furniture.

8. Laminated Strand Lumber (LSL)Description: Made from wood strands oriented in a parallel direction,
similar to OSB but used in structural applications.

Uses: Common in load-bearing applications, such as beams, headers, and rim boards.

9. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)

Description: Composed of layers of wood boards stacked crosswise and glued together.

Uses: Used for constructing walls, floors, and roofs in multi-story buildings.