Say yes to timber.
Building performance
Log buildings benefit from natural climate control and air quality. Solid log walls provide high thermal mass with low embodied energy. This means log walls absorb and retain heat and as the room begins to cool, the walls release heat back into the room This maintains room temperatures and reduces energy costs.
Timber also helps to regulate air humidity, which increases the comfort of occupants by absorbing moisture when humidity is high and releases it when it is low.
Sustainability
Sequestered carbon: As trees grow they sequester carbon locking it within the wood structure. The carbon remains there until the wood rots or is burnt upon which some or all of the carbon is released back into the atmosphere. As a result the committee on climate change has proposed increasing the number of timber framed buildings in the UK in an effort to reduce the construction industries carbon footprint. Log buildings lock up considerably more carbon than timber framed buildings due to the large volumes of timber used for their structure, thermal mass and insulation. This carbon is then locked up for the duration of the building's life.
Reduced carbon footprint: Log buildings use natural products, minimal material processing, and local materials minimizing the carbon footprint. They also typically use fewer energy intensive materials.
Reduced toxicity & waste: We use natural building materials while minimizing synthetic ones. Many modern materials used in the construction industry today are toxic to the environment and humans.
Health and well-being
Research shows that the health and well-being of humans is increased by an increased connection with the natural environment. With more and more patients suffering from mental health issues, opting for ecotherapy solutions is the way to go!
Natural forms, solid walls and warm earthy colours found in log buildings provide the occupant a protective quality, unlike other construction styles. The organic curves and grain patterns of hand draw-knifed logs are inviting and tactile, helping to relax occupants creating buildings that are homes and not just houses.
As well as the thermal advantages of log walls they also insulate from outside noises or between rooms by absorbing some frequencies. Within rooms, the shape of log walls help to evenly distribute sound waves, reducing echoes.
A number of studies conducted show that increasing timber in our buildings has positive health benefits. These range from reducing heartrates and stress to increasing patient interactions at care homes.
For more reading on the benefits of timber in construction check out TRADA’s healthy buildings.
Structural
Circular sectioned timber has a bending capacity between 2 and 4 times that of any rectangular section that could be sawn within it. This allows us to use smaller trees which would otherwise go for pulp, firewood or be left on the ground.
There is also growing acceptance that timber in its natural form is significantly stronger due to several factors possibly most notably fibre continuity. The symmetry of Roundwood without juvenile wood being present at critical location makes it less susceptible to warp , more dimensionally stable, and stronger than most lumber sawn from it.
