Timber - it grows on trees!

Timber Queensland was formed in July 2003 from the merging of the QLD Timber Board and the Timber Research and Development Advisory Council. They aim to support and encourage the development of the industry and its members. Sustainable Pty Ltd is currently involved in the construction of a display house on the MIRVAC estate in Moggil showcasing the diversity and adaptability of timber products as well as its inherent warmth and beauty.

The current trend in Queensland construction is for homes to have a concrete slab, brick or block work over timber framing with a metal or concrete-tiled roof, often with small or no overhang. Houses are often built right to the edges of small blocks leaving no room for shading vegetation. This can mostly be attributed to the desire for low cost and high speed of construction.

There are many advantages to using timber instead of cement, bricks and steel:
- 60% of timber used in Australia is from renewable plantation sources, and that figure is set to increase to 75% by 2010.
- Timber plantations are carbon sinks, can rejuvenate ex-agricultural land and retain more native vegetation than agricultural land.
- Timber production consumes less energy and produces less toxic waste than other construction materials.
- Timber is light and easy to handle.
- Timber building components can be moved, re-used and recycled.
- If damage occurs to part of a house, timber components are much easier to replace than other materials.
- Timber is biodegradeable provided it’s not treated with toxic substances.
- A raised timber house accommodates a sloping or difficult site without major cutting and filling and increases air flow around the house.
- Timber’s flexibility allows some soil movement without major structural damage.

Like any material, timber also has its disadvantages:

- Some plantation methods are damaging to the soil.
- Timber requires protection from the elements.
- It is not fire resistant.
- Engineered timber products require processing and forming.

In fact timber is often perceived as a high-maintenance and pest prone material, an attitude that is somewhat dated. The range of engineered timber products now available is broad and diverse. Using products such as laminated veneer lumber, glu-lam beams and engineered I-beams can greatly increase spanning capacity, overcome swelling and shrinkage, avoid imperfections such as knots and splitting and cause beam strength to be uniform. They also utilise wood that is otherwise unsuitable for sawn timber, reducing wastes.

A recent report by the Centre for Subtropical design (QUT) on sustainable housing in Queensland recommends timber to replace concrete slabs and brickwork. Our designers at Sustainable use timber in many innovative ways in our constructions. With timber’s lower embodied energy and toxic waste products, it’s a building material that makes sense. We’re happy to be working with Timber Queensland and supporting the Australian timber industry.

Check out www.timberqueensland.com.au