Offering many great benefits, timber has been used for centuries to build strong, durable, and long-lasting buildings and structures. But what makes timber the ultimate building material? Timber is the building blocks of any DIY project, whether you’re a professional or beginner. So understanding the basics of timber will help you to envision exactly how and why you should be incorporating it into your projects. 

To help you understand the many benefits and advantages of timber, we thought we would put together our top 10 facts on timber for you to explore. 

The terms hardwood and softwood refer to the type of tree the timber comes from, and they have nothing to do with the strength of the material. However, softwood is less dense than hardwood, but this does not determine the category of which the timber falls under. Hardwoods come from tree types which flower plants and keep seeds in an outer casing, for example, a fruit or an acorn. In contrast to this, softwoods come from evergreen trees that spread their seeds on the ground through cones or nuts. 

Although it depends on many external factors, such as weather, climate, maintenance, and location, a timber house can easily last just as long as a brick building. This might be surprising, but timber performs better than brick, especially in locations that are prone to strong winds or earthquakes. 

Contrary to some beliefs, you shouldn’t feel guilty about using timber in your DIY projects. As previously mentioned, trees are a valuable renewable resource as long as we do our best to plant and harvest them responsibly. The European Timber Industry plants more trees than they harvest, so you can use timber in your DIY without reservations. 

Homes made from timber are much more efficient in energy consumption compared to their brick or concrete counterparts. Wood is a natural energy conservationist that is capable of storing heat and is a good insulator due to space in between its cells. In fact, during the night when the temperature lowers, wood will release the heat it has stored back into your home until the temperature is equalised again. 

Timber is a vital material for most DIY projects and can be used for a wide range of uses. Timber from Timberworld is perfect for many applications throughout the home. These include a plethora of projects from roof trusses to architraves, and staircases, plus much more. 

If you’re looking for high-quality materials for your project, you shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking timber is just for construction. Timber is often used to build many types of sport and leisure equipment, as well as garden furniture. So, let your imagination run wild with the kinds of projects you can achieve with high-quality timber from our collection.

Wood contains highly sought after acoustic properties, which means it can absorb sounds and echoes. This makes timber the number one choice for the construction of buildings where the acoustics are of high importance, such as concert halls. If you have a DIY project in mind, such as a garden shed where you may be conscious of keeping volume levels low for the neighbours, then timber is the perfect option for you. 

Finally, as well as being a natural thermal insulator, and amazing for acoustics, timber is also resistant to electrical currents. This makes timber an optimal material for electrical insulation. When thinking about electrical safety, timber is the best material for projects of this nature due to its non-conductive properties.