WOOD

ARYAN J AIN
VANSHIK THAKU
A R
 WO O D :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 d am a g e 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
WO O D
Thermal Properties: Wood does not experience a
major expansion with heat. Also, the combination of
low thermal conductivity and high specific heat
provides insulation
Ac ous tic Properties: Wood c an 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
M e c h a n i c a l Properties: Wood has a high strength
Dry Wood
and durability. It also has a high breaking length - the
length 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 c an 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 c an build simple wood projects, whether for decor or practical
use.
Maintenance: Wood doesn’t rust like metals, and it c an be
repaired and maintained. Old wood c an be restored, although the
operation c an be costly
Variety: There are more than 5000 species of wood, and the
properties mentioned above vary for each type.

WOOD MAINTAINANCE
LIMIT AT IO N
S OF
WOODS
Wood has limitations like any construction material,
but these c an 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.

Shrinkag e a n d 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 c an occur from the
attack of fungi, termites, beetles, ants, etc.
Abiotic deterioration: Non-biological
deterioration of wood c an be caused by the sun,
wind, water, chemicals and fire. Using thick
wood as a structural element c an help mitigate
deterioration.
PROTEC TI ON 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 c an 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 c an be added to coatings
Drying: Drying c an 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 c an
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.
 WO O D AS A
G R E E N PRODUCT
Renewable
Unlike other building materials like
concrete and steel, wood is renewable.
It c an be grown and harvested
multiple times.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Wood waste products c an be recycled
and transformed into new products.
Also, innovative designs c an 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-
manag ed forests has a smaller carbon
footprint, and trees absorb carbon
dioxide during photosynthesis
O T HE Apart from building or construction uses wood is also
used in many other things
1.Wood is used commercially worldwide for

R
making furniture, constructing homes, and
fencing.
2.Wood is also in the paper industry for manufacturing
paper.

U S ES
3.Wood is used for road construction.
4.For households, wood is used as fuel.
T Y P E S OF WOOD
There is a wide variety of woods in nature. But
only some of them c an 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.
HARDW O O DS
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. S a l 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.
SO FT W O O D 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 W o o d
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 W o o d
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. Red wood
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.
 E N G I N E E R E D 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 WOOD
In construction work, 30% of the timber or wood material is used. Wood is a naturally available
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)
THANKYOU