The advantages of wood as a building material

When you think of building materials, you likely think of the usual suspects: concrete, steel, and other types of metals. However, wood is and has always been an excellent resource for building– primarily due to its durability, affordability, and renewable nature. If you're thinking of a project and trying to determine the best material to build, wood just might be the very best choice for you. Here's why using wood as a building material makes a lot more sense than you think.

Wood is, well, truly renewable.

There's only one commonly used construction material that is 100% renewable, and it certainly isn't steel. It's wood! When trees are removed, the land is preserved in a way that makes it easy for new growth to occur. This makes timber harvesting one of the most productive and effective ways to collect building materials. Additionally, wood, unlike other resources, can be used in a number of different ways aside from its primary use. If you've got leftover wood, there's always another project that can be started. There are simply too many uses for good wood for much of it to go to waste– and, more often than not, it doesn't. Unlike metal and concrete that can only be used for a particular project, wood can easily be repurposed for just about anything you need done.

Wood is much, much stronger than you think.

Just because you don't see many huge buildings made out of wood doesn't mean they couldn't be. Wood ranks among the strongest naturally occurring materials in the world, and to see its durability, one need only look at the millions of proud trees in rainforests. These trees endure torrential downpour, wind, and storm conditions regularly, yet live for hundreds of years with no maintenance, repairs, or support. When you combine the kind of natural strength wood has with the right infrastructure and supporting materials, you have an almost flawless material that's perfect for any sized building. In addition to the rote strength of wood, it also has a "high breaking length"- meaning it can hold its own weight without breaking. Concrete, by comparison, has one of the lowest breaking lengths around.

Wood is an insulator.

Unlike most metals that actually act as conductors for lighting and electricity, wood, insulates and thus offers very good protection against elements. In fact, wood simply doesn't absorb static electricity– you'll never get so much as a shock when dealing with wood, no matter the type. While wet wood is not quite as effective of an insulator as it is when it is dry, coating the wood with any number of professional, durable products can ensure wood stays dry no matter the season or the outside elements. The longevity of wood coupled with its insulating properties makes it the ideal choice for a project or structure that you don't want to have to worry about repairing or replacing parts for for a very long time.

Wood may not be the first choice for most when it comes to building larger structures, but it most definitely should be. The value of wood is unmatched, and partnering with a timber harvester like us here at Green Ridge Forest Products to source your wood can ensure you always have the right types and cuts for the job. Contact us today to discuss a project, or just to see what we have in stock!