When it comes to a choice of building material, it is extremely hard to look past wood. In construction terms, it’s pretty much irresistible.

Wood is naturally beautiful, adding warmth and character to any home. But more than this, it offers exceptional value for money, especially compared with other high quality materials. And, unlike the alternatives, wood has unique sustainable credentials – the ultimate renewable product!

Since civilisation began, man has been working with wood. Whether to create shelter or rudimentary furniture, wood quickly became our friend and ally. And because it is so tough and durable, it has stood the test of time – aided and abetted with a little TLC once in a while.

Packed with Character

As a building material, wood is simple to use, maintain and repair. A good quality wood product should, with a little care and maintenance, last a lifetime. As an example, have you ever wondered why so many Victorian and Edwardian houses still have their original wood flooring and wooden window frames?
Wood’s strength and solidity means it will take hard knocks in its stride. It also has its own unique traits. That can be seen in its grain. But also, as it ages, wood develops a patina, evidence of individual character showing through.

Furthermore, wood also acts as a natural humidity regulator, absorbing it in damp conditions and releasing moisture in dry conditions. How’s that for adaptability!

Whereas steel is steel and concrete is concrete, with wood there are so many different types and variations to choose from – lightwoods, darkwoods, hardwoods and softwoods. Depending on the colour, shade and texture, wood can look modern or traditional. It’s a building material for all seasons.

An environmental star

And as for its environmental benefits, wood is unsurpassed. Did you know, for instance, that wood is the only naturally renewable mainstream building material? Furthermore, research carried out by Yale and the University of Washington in America has shown that wood based construction uses much less energy than steel or concrete.

More than 90% of the wood we use comes from European forests. And these forests aren’t diminishing, they are growing by a staggering 661,000 hectares every year – that’s an area the size of three football pitches sprouting up every hour of every day. You could create an awful lot of flooring out of all that wood! To find out more about the qualities of wood, go to http://www.bwf.org.uk/choose-wood

As you can see, as a building material, wood has few peers. For further ideas about choosing wood for your home, go to https://jlajoinery.co.uk/materials/

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