How about some wood for thought?

Wood is an important aspect of construction. It is a coveted material because it is durable and lends an aesthetic touch to a house. K R Srikanta Prasad offers tips on the kind of wood to choose, the price factor and maintenance.

Wood is perhaps the most versatile material used in the construction industry from centuries. It has a role to play in most of the elements of a building. Even today, in spite of its prohibitive costs, people crave for wood like they do for gold! That is because of its qualities like workability, durability, versatility and aesthetics.

Most old homes have wood used abundantly in doors, windows; pillars and roof. With incessant deforestation and growing demand, it has become a very expensive luxury item. Users who prefer wood to other materials cut costs by using cheaper wood and optimum sections.

Many varieties of wood in different sizes, sections and forms are used in the construction of a house. Doors, windows and ventilators, supports for tiled roofs, pillars and beams, wall paneling and false ceilings, lofts and mezzanines, interior work such as wardrobes, cabinets, racks, partitions, flooring, etc, furniture, carved and decorative items, murals and centering and shuttering during the process of construction, all use wood.

Wood has many advantages. It is easily workable, can be cut, drilled, carved and polished easily. If good maintenance is ensured, wood is a highly durable element. It is convenient to use and has easy joinery detail. There is hardly any wastage and even if there is, it is bio-degradable.

When exposed and polished, wood types like teakwood and rosewood have an aesthetic appeal. Their natural grains are unique and attractive and offer value addition to a building. Also, fixing hinges, locks and other hardware is simple.

While wood has many advantages, there are several disadvantages as well, when one compares it with other material like aluminium, steel, UPVC or glass. The downside of wood is that it is fire and termite-friendly!

Inferior wood gets attacked by borers and results in slow degradation due to powdering. Wood that is not seasoned properly, i.e, with moisture content, has a tendency to warp, bend and shrink. Then, it becomes difficult to repair or replace it. It is difficult to get high quality wood these days, even if one is prepared to pay a price. Wood of reasonably good quality is far too expensive, and labour charges for skilled carpenters are high, especially for custom-made designs.

Some remedial measures that can be taken to combat certain disadvantages and the demand-supply gap are as mentioned below:

The wood should be naturally seasoned at least for two months after it is cut into logs, before actually using it. Artificial seasoning can also be done in factories by steam process. This can be done at an extra cost of about Rs 100 per cft. Anti-termite treatment should be given to wooden sections before installing them, to control termites and borers. Fire-retardant paints can be used for wooden surfaces.

Periodic painting and polishing will make the wood last long. Technically proper joinery work will also ensure quality wood work. Using appropriate wood for a specific application is very important and using right sections and sizes is also important. The architect and the engineer have a role to play here. This process will also optimise costs and space.

Also, it is crucial that a massive afforestation programme is undertaken by the authorities, and only mature and old wood is made available for construction purposes. Now that high quality glossy as well as textured polishing materials are available, wood surfaces can be well protected from weathering and cracking.

In local saw mills, hard woods such as sal, honne and teak are available and are the most used material, says Chandrakanth R Patel, a wood dealer from a depot in Bangalore.

Sal wood is mainly used for door and window frames. It is available in different grades like white, red or gum sal. It is sourced from Malaysia and South Africa. Depending on the quality, it is priced at Rs 950 to Rs 1,750 per cft for cut sizes. Honne wood is ideal for window and door shutters and it takes polish too. It is imported from Australia and costs about Rs 1,850 per cft.

Local varieties of honne are scarce. Teak wood is the most popular and in great demand. Teak wood that is available now for sale is mostly from Burma and African Guayana. Depending on the size and girth of logs, the price can vary from Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,500 per cft, cheaper than gold! Local Indian varieties of teakwood like Hunsur, Dandeli and Nagpur are also available but not in good girths and quality.

Earlier, these were one of the best in the world. Even rosewood used for high-end furniture is difficult to source. This has given way to the present-day trend of providing various shades and textures to wood either in polishes or veneers.

Other varieties of wood that are locally available are neem, jackfruit, silver oak, etc. These are economical options. Neem in particular is good for frames while silver oak is widely used for construction work. Also casurina is widely used for centering work as poles.

There are also medium density wood options such as beech wood, mahogany, American walnut, etc. These are basically from Europe and are priced from Rs 1,600 to Rs 4,000 per cft. They are ideal for interior work such as wall panelling and flooring.

Choice of wood

The choice of a particular type of wood shall be made keeping the following aspects in mind:

* The type of wood shall be selected based on the design and purpose. For example, hard woods are preferred for doors and windows and relatively soft wood is suitable for interiors. Teak wood is ideal for surfaces that are going to be polished.
* Selection of wood also depends on the budget.
* The architectural detail and combination of different woods should also be considered.
* Once the variety of wood is finalised, the quantity and sizes can be decided. You can either buy ready-cut sizes or round logs. Opt for logs without channels and internal damages. The girth i.e, the circumference of the log, matters. While inspecting a log, the concentric annular rings can give you a good indication of the age of the tree.
* If the girth is more than 4’, and if the annular rings are more, that means the tree is mature. But logs with bigger girths cost more. If the girth is less than 2’, the tree is immature and has been felled prematuredly. This often means the wood is not of a good quality. Sections of right sizes should be selected and they should be free from cracks and knots.
* Adequate seasoning of wood is very important.

The by-products of natural wood like plywood, blockboards, particle boards, etc are available and extensively used. These are available along with natural veneers. All these are ideal for interior work and flooring.

They are cost-efficient and offer a wide variety. They are used for speedy and mass construction projects. Even after the arrival of so many alternative materials, most people still vouch for natural wood for their requirements.

(The writer is a civil engineer.)