Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 10.6: Use of timber in building
Timber
Properties (1)
Areas of use
Scots pine ( Pinus
sylvestris )
Soft, elastic, strong, durable, easy
to cleave and work, denser and
more resin than in spruce, difficult
to glue and paint, can be pressure
impregnated
Soft, elastic and medium hard
wearing, sensitive to moisture,
easy to glue and paint, difficult to
pressure impregnate
Tough, strong and durable, good
moisture resistance, easy to work,
cannot be painted
Tough, firm and very durable,
difficult to split but easy to work
Dense, heavy, hard, hard wearing,
elastic and durable, tendency to
twist, quite difficult to work
moisture resistant
Moisture resistant but strongest
when dry, does not twist
Structures, floors, cladding,
windows, doors, tar, roofing,
foundations below ground level,
plugs
Norway spruce ( Picea
abies )
Structures, roofing, cladding,
laminated timber, fibreboard
European larch ( Larix
decidua )
Structures, floor plate, doors,
windows, roofing
Common juniper
( Juniperus communis )
English oak ( Quercus
robur )
Cladding plugs
Structures, floors, windows,
doors, thresholds, plugs,
cladding, roofing
Aspen ( Populus tremula )
Floors, plywood, suspended
ceiling, smaller structures,
cladding, piping for water and
gutters, piles
Floors, stairs, internal panelling,
veneer, chipboard, bark for
damp proofing, smaller
structures
Floors, balustrades, stairs, plugs
White birch ( Betula
pubescens )
Silver birch ( Betula
pendula )
Norway maple ( Acer
platanoides )
Tough, strong, elastic, low
resistance to moisture, twists
easily, easy to work
Hard, dense, tough, elastic,
flexible, hard wearing, low
resistance to moisture, easy to
work
Hard, dense, tough, elastic, low
resistance to moisture, easy to
bend under steam
Hard, strong, medium resistance
to moisture, twists easily, no
smell, easy to work
Strong, tough, elastic, durable,
moisture resistant, not particularly
easy to work
Tough, medium strong, slightly
elastic, easy to work
Common ash ( Fraxinus
excelsior )
Floors, veneer, internal
panelling, stairs, internal
structural details
Floors, balustrades, smaller
structures, veneer, internal
panelling, tar, vinegar
Floors, balustrades, piles, stairs,
panelling, internal structural
details
Smaller structures (used for log
buildings in the Carpathians),
internal panelling, veneer, fibre
for woven wallpaper and rope
Piles, gutters, veneer, internal
cladding
Common beech ( Fagus
sylvatica )
Wych elm ( Ulmus glabra )
Lime ( Tilia cordata )
Common alder ( Alnus
glutinosa )
Not particularly durable in air, very
durable under water, soft, light,
brittle, twists easily, easy to work
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search