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| Characteristics Of Timber |
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Wood has long been used naturally as a building material. Wood has a many outstanding characteristics such as thermal insulation, noise control, high firmness with good elasticity, high load absorption capacity, corrosion resistance, easy handling and many more. However, one must also appreciate woods special characteristics:
- Branches and the grain of wood
A tree never grows straight. The grain and number of branches does vary.
- Resin extraction
When processing and storing wood, its volume and density vary. As a result, resin exists on the surface of the wood. This is perfectly normal and can be scrapped off or carefully removed with turpentine.
- Mould and blue spots
Usually during warm periods the wood can be struck by blue stain mould. These mushrooms are not wood-destructive and therefore do not influence the firmness of the wood.
- Swelling and shrinking
The straws that make up wood structure absorb or lose moisture with changes in humidity. The moisture content of wood will always gradually equalize with the moisture of its surrounding environment. All wood expands when it takes on moisture and shrinks when it loses it. When it does, it changes size across its width and thickness, but only slightly in its length. This expansion and contraction continues forever, no matter how long ago the tree was cut down.
- Wood colour change
Wood is a natural product and some degree of color variation is inevitable. Some species have a much higher degree of color variation than others. The only real ways to achieve uniform color in wood are to select out much of the material, which is a poor environmental choice, or to apply a stain. Some wood species change color dramatically as they age (oxidize). Others change color when exposed to light (UV radiation). Some do both, and sunlight generally accelerates the oxidation process. People who use wood products should expect the wood to change color over time unless it is heavily stained. In conditions of prolonged, intense direct sunlight, some species that normally darken with time will actually bleach to a lighter color.
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