Why Is Wood Mostly Used As Building Material?

Last Updated on February 27, 2023 by

The environment’s long-term viability has become a worldwide issue. Countries are becoming more conscious of the harm they create and seek methods to reduce it. Environmentally destructive construction processes and materials have sparked an incentive to develop eco-friendly approaches and components. Wood’s characteristics are pretty suited for usage, and it is helpful to create a lovely home with it. Wood has been and is being utilized as building materials for millennia, next only to stones because of its long and illustrious construction history.

The Benefits of Using Wood

Thermal Properties

As you may be aware, as the temperature changes, many materials grow and shrink and volume. When the temperature rises, they expand. It entails both temporal and volumetric growth. Material strength is reduced as a result of the expansion. Wood does not expand much when exposed to heat. Heat, however, causes it to dry out and acquire strength. Only when the moisture content is below 0 percent does wood expand a bit, which is only technically meaningful. Even in the driest climates, the humidity content of the wood does not go below 5% in practice.

The wood has a very low coefficient of heat conductivity. As a result, wood is utilized to make matches, hardware equipment handles, ceilings, and wall coverings. Wood has high specific heat. That implies it takes a lot of energy to raise and lower the temperature of one kilogram of wood. Wood takes about double the amount of thermal energy as rocks and cement, while steel requires three times the power to heat or cool. As a result, wood is one of the most popular building materials in Dubai.

Acoustical Characteristics

The bulk of the surface acts as a sound barrier. Wood is not great for sound isolation since it is a light material, but it is excellent for sound absorption. By absorbing sound, wood reduces echoes and noise. As a result, people frequently use it in concert venues. Woods have a quicker sound velocity than gases and liquids, and it is comparable to metals. Because of its lightness and structure, wood loses very little sound energy due to friction. Wood is often utilized as building materials in Dubai homes and musical instruments due to these characteristics.

Electrical Characteristics

The electrical resistance of fully dry wood is the same as that of phenol-formaldehyde. An excellent electrical insulator is an oven-dried wood. Air-dried wood is similar in several ways. Unfortunately, increasing the moisture content of wood reduces its electrical resistance—the water-saturated wood’s resilience. In contrast to metal, plastic, and other substances, wood does not produce hazardous static electricity. As a result, people prefer wood as healthy building materials.

Aesthetic Features

When viewed as an aesthetic substance, wood is a decorative material. Each tree has its own color, shape, and scent. The shape of a tree changes depending on how it is cut. Depending on one’s style and color preferences, you may choose various wooden materials. It can be lacquered and painted in deeper hues with bright or matte accents.

Properties of Oxidation

Although wood does oxidize in some ways, it does not oxidize in the same manner that metals do. Rust occurs in metals but not in wood. When such properties are required, wood is preferable to avoid corrosion.

Variation

There are about 5000 different types of wood on the globe. Their specific gravity, as well as their macroscopical and microscopical structures, vary. As a result, they have varied physical, thermal, acoustic, electrical, and mechanical characteristics. Because of the diversity, it is possible to select wood that meets your requirements. For example, lightweight timbers are utilized for heat insulation and sound absorption. Hefty ones are also utilized as building materials in Dubai.

Safe for the Environment

One of the biggest advantages of utilizing wood as building materials for Dubai homes is that it is renewable, which is readily available and affordable. It has a surprising amount of strength for its weight, and it provides excellent insulation from the cold. Wood is also a great example of an ecologically friendly product because it is biodegradable, with the lowest carbon footprint. Furthermore, unlike other typical construction bricks, metal, or plastic, wood does not need the use of high-energy fossil fuels.

An Overview

Wood has been a popular building material for centuries, and for a good reason. From traditional log cabins to modern skyscrapers, wood has been utilized in countless construction projects worldwide. In this article, we will explore the reasons why wood is mostly used as a building material.

1. Availability and Sustainability Wood is a renewable resource that is abundant in many parts of the world. Trees are grown and harvested specifically for the purpose of building, ensuring a consistent supply. When responsibly sourced, wood is a sustainable building material that can be replenished naturally.
2. Versatility and Adaptability Wood can be shaped and cut to fit a variety of designs and applications, making it a versatile building material. It can be used for everything from framing to flooring, walls, and roofing. In addition, wood can be stained, painted, or treated to enhance its appearance and durability.
3. Durability and Strength Wood is surprisingly strong and durable, with some species lasting for hundreds of years. It can withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions, making it a reliable building material in both hot and cold climates. When properly maintained, wood structures can last for generations.
4. Cost-Effective Compared to other building materials, wood is relatively inexpensive. It is widely available and easy to work with, reducing construction costs. In addition, wood is a natural insulator, helping to reduce energy costs over the structure’s lifetime.
5. Aesthetic Appeal Wood is a warm and inviting material that adds natural beauty to any structure. It can be used to create a rustic or modern aesthetic, and its natural patterns and textures can be showcased or hidden, depending on the design.

Conclusion

Wood has several advantages that make it an ideal choice for various building projects. Wood stands out among other building materials available as one-of-a-kind and incredibly flexible commodities. Its attractive appearance, tensile strength, insulating properties, and manufacturing simplicity make it a popular choice for many building projects. Overall, when choosing a material with both environmental and aesthetic appeal, wood has certain “built-in” benefits. With the appropriate application of wood management, wood may keep those qualities for centuries.