Timber or wood can be split into two categories; hardwoods and soft woods.
Hardwoods are generally slower growing deciduous trees whereas soft woods are generally faster growing evergreens.
Examples:
Hardwoods: oak, ash, beech.
Softwoods: scots pine, spruce, douglas fir.
There are two main methods used for cutting timber; slab sawn and quarter sawn.
Slab sawing: The trunk of the tree is cut into slabs this means there is no wastage, however as timber shrinks most along the annual ring it is more prone to warping.
Quarter sawing: There are different methods of quarter sawing, but they all reduce the amount of annual ring in the end piece of wood which can prevent warping and enhance the grain, however more timber is wasted.
Seasoning Wood:
Seasoning is basically a controlled drying out of timber. It can be carried out either by natural seasoning or kiln drying. Seasoning is beneficial because it:
Increases the strength and stability of the timber.
Reduces the moisture content of the timber, in turn reducing the risk of the timber causing corrosion to surrounding metal work.
It makes the timber less prone to rot and decay.
What do designers need to think about when using wood?
Physical strength
Aesthetics
Moisture content
Protection
Operating conditions
Costs
Sustainability
Size of Boards
