What Is Wood? | What Are the Uses of Wood in Construction? | Types of Wood

What Is Wood?

Wood has been used as fuel and building material for thousands of years. Which ranks second in the world of construction after stone in terms of its history.

Wood is a fibrous, heterogeneous, and anisotropic type of natural structure derived from trees. Wood is the oldest building material used in construction. Wood has been used for human shelter and protection since ancient times.

Nowadays the demand for wood for various purposes is increasing. Due to the inability to grow new trees instead of the removed ones and deforestation for various reasons, the price of timber has gone up.

In modern times wood has been used due to its usefulness as it competes with metals, plastics, cement, and other materials. In the age of new technology, the properties of wood continue to expand through new uses.

Wood has been used in various industries in well-known products such as furniture and plywood. In addition, wood is the raw material for many chemical products. Such as in wood-based panels, pulp, and paper, etc. For years wood has been used as an important fuel in most countries of the world.

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What Are the Uses of Wood in Construction?

The various uses of wood in construction can be described as follows

1. Wood is easily available anywhere as it is a natural resource. As a result, it is economically feasible to use wood as a building material.
2. It is available in different types, in different places, in different quality. And since wood is light in weight, the work can be done easily.
3. Wood has thermal properties. Which is extremely resistant to high temperatures.
4. Wood absorbs relatively more heat than materials such as aluminum, marble, steel, or glass.
5. Due to the sound and echo absorption properties of wood, it is suitable for use in office and residential construction.
6. Wood paneling is very popular, especially for decorative ceilings, covering irregularities and simplifying the fitting of ventilation systems.
7. Wood material for building is effectively resistant to earthquakes and various climatic heterogeneous conditions. Wood has properties that can completely prevent rot by using it with a chemical liquid for the destruction of bugs.

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Types of Wood

Wood can generally be classified as softwood and hardwood. Density is the main factor of wood strength. The strength of hardwoods is stronger and more durable than softwood.

Hardwoods are used in the construction of ceilings, walls, and floors in buildings. When softwoods are used to make doors, furniture, and window frames as part of building interiors.

There are different types of softwood and hardwood available in the market. These include oak, maple, mahogany, cherry, walnut, and teak as the most popular hardwoods. Softwoods usually include pine, hickory, beech, ash, birch, and cedar.

1. Cedar Wood

Cedar wood is a knotted softwood with a reddish-brown texture with light lines. Cedar is softer than other species of softwoods.Cedar wood is commonly used as highly resistant to decay and insects This type of wood is naturally fragrant. This type of wood is found in India, mainly in Kashmir and Assam.

Uses of Cedar wood

Cedarwood is used to make closets for clothing storage. Cedarwood is used in clothing collections as it is naturally antibacterial and antifungal.

The use of cedarwood has been very prevalent since ancient times. A Mediterranean culture – Phenicia – used cedar wood to build houses and ships. In his opinion, cedar grooves are the home of their gods.

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2. Spruce Wood

This type of wood makes it suitable for construction and crafting work due to its light weight. This type of wood is durable which is used for siding construction.

Spruce wood has the highest power of any other wood weight and is suitable for use in instruments such as other music systems.

Spruce is found in various countries such as America, Europe, Asia, Alaska, and Canada. In India, such trees are found mainly in the western Himalayas and Sikkim.

Use of Spruce wood

Spruce wood is used for the body of sound instruments such as pianos and violins. Also used in the construction of boats, aircraft, and barrels.

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3. Hemlock Wood

The color of the hemlock wood structure is a pale yellow to light brown.

Hemlock wood is used in interior work due to its low weight. It has moderate power. In addition, there is less resistance to decay. This type of wood is found in various countries such as the United States, Canada, Alaska, England, and East Asia.

Uses of Hemlock wood

This type of wood is commonly used for interior timber work, building construction instead of doors, windows, roofs, and stairs, etc.

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4. Fir Wood

This type of wood is valued for its extraordinary strength and weight.

Fir wood is commonly called Douglas fir. The composition of firwood is a straight grain. And its color is red. Its texture is the non-resin type and this type of wood is not resistant to bugs.

Fir wood is found in various countries such as North and Central America, North Africa, Europe, and Asia. This type of wood is also found in Himachal Pradesh in India.

Use of Fir wood

This type of wood is preferred for heavy structural purposes such as post and beam construction in buildings. Also done for doors, general millwork, etc.

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5. Pine Wood

Pine wood is a common type of durable softwood. Pinewood is economically selected for various projects. These types of trees grow very tall and fast.

Many species of pine have very different characteristics. White pine and sugar pine are also known as clear pine.

Exposure to soil easily causes pine wood to rot. Pinewood is found in India mainly in the western Himalayas, Assam, and Nagpur.

Uses of Pine wood

Pine wood can usually be used in indoor and outdoor furniture. It is especially used for doors, windows, and flooring. Notty pine-type wood can often be used for decoration.

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6. Rose Wood

Rose wood is very hard and requires a lot of polishing. The color of its composition is dark reddish-brown. This type of wood has a unique aroma. This type of woodwork is difficult to do.

There are different types of rosewood such as Brazilian rosewood, East India rosewood, Honduran rosewood, Amazon rosewood, Madagascar rosewood, etc.

This type of wood is found in India mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mysore, Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Orissa.

Uses of Rose wood

Rose wood is used in various musical instruments, piano cases, tool handles, etc. It is also used in art projects, decorative furniture.

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7. Teak Wood

This type of wood is the most popular type of hardwood. It is yellow to dark brown in appearance. This type of wood is heavy, strong, durable. It is weather-resistant, warp-resistant.

The natural oil obtained from teak wood makes the wood long and insect resistant. This type of wood cannot burn easily due to the oil in it. This type of wood is much more expensive than other types. This type of wood is commonly found in central and southern India. This type of wood is the wood used for furniture in India.

Uses of Teak wood

This type of wood can be used structurally for wooden framed houses, doors, windows, and partitions. It can also be used as outdoor furniture. This wood is an excellent choice for garden benches and lounge chairs.

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8. Oak Wood

This type of wood is most commonly used as hardwood. Oak wood is available in the market in two basic varieties. Commonly known as white and red. Also known as black oak due to the red variety in oak wood.

This type of wood has a very distinct grain and finish type. Oak wood is a heavy, strong, light-colored hardwood. This type of wood has good resistance to moisture, fungus, and yeast.

This type of wood is found in different countries of America, Asia, North Africa, and Europe. This type of wood is found in the north eastern parts of India.

Uses of Oak wood

This type of wood is the best choice for bookshelf and cabinets as household and office furniture. It is also widely used for outdoor furniture.

Due to its moisture-resistant quality, it can also be used in ships and boats. In modern times specialists use this type of wood for flooring, veneer production.

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9. Maple Wood

Maple wood also has good strength with fine texture. This type of wood is hard enough to resist vibration. It can be used to create pathways. This type of wood is highly durable and easy to clean.

Maple wood is found in Asia, North America, North Africa, Europe, and Canada. This type of wood is found in the foothills of India and in other hilly regions.

Uses of  Maple wood

This type of wood is used in furniture, flooring, cabinetry and kitchen accessories, etc.

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10. Ash Wood

Ash wood structure hard, heavy, ring porous wood. This type of wood has good elasticity and strength. It has a unique grain composition. This type of wood has a white to light brown texture.

This type of wood is easy to use with screws, nails, and glue. It helps to give the building an attractive finish.

Ashwood is in low demand in the market as compared to other hardwoods. So this type of wood is more economical than other types.

Uses of Ash wood

Ash is widely used for structural frames and furniture. It is used in various products such as making guitars, drum shells, frames, sports equipment, stairs, bats, etc. The ring in its structure gives an attractive look.

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11. Mango Wood

Mango wood is a dense and strong type of hardwood. In appearance, its structure has very attractive grain patterns. This type of wood is lighter than other types. And it has the ability to resist water.

It incorporates many tones and colors due to the unique grain in its body. Sometimes light shades such as light pink or dark brown with hints of green are also found in its composition.

Uses of Mango wood

It is used in room and bedroom furniture, tables, kitchen cabinets, entertainment units, and bookshelves, etc.

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