Assignment 2 (Timber Treatment & Seasoning)

TIMBER

Timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production. (The distinction between the two terms is discussed below.)

Timber is supplied either rough or finished. Besides pulpwood, rough Timber is the raw material for furniture-making and other items requiring additional cutting and shaping. It is available in many species, usually hardwoods. Finished Timber is supplied in standard sizes, mostly for the construction industry, primarily softwood from coniferous species including pine, fir and kwila  but also some hardwood, for high-grade flooring.

TYPES OF TIMBER USED IN CONSTRUCTION

Types of timber for framing were once native timbers such as Rimu. The type mainly used for framing in NZ now is Radiata Pine.and also a small but significant number of Douglas fir and Macrocarpa is used.Their are also other types of timber available for interior finishing and flooring such as Radiata Pine, Rimu, Fijian Kauri, Oak and eucalypt species. Some imported timber can also be used externally like Kwila, Balau, Radiata Pine and Macrocarpa.

Fijian, Kauri, Radiata, Pine, Rimu, Douglas Fir

TIMBER TREATMENT

Timber treatment plays a critical part in the building industry, the atmosphere affects timber and also different insects that eat their way into wood. For timber framed buildings, huge numbers of timber used should be treated to protect it from insects and moisture. Timber treatment depends on the level of risk moisture has on it and where abouts its placed in the building frame. Timber may be treated with a preservative that protects it from being destroyed by insects, fungus or exposure to moisture. Generally this is applied through combined vacuum and pressure treatment. The preservatives used to pressure-treat timber are classified as pesticides. Due to potential hazards to humans and the environment, some are being phased out. Many newer preservatives are free of metallic compounds altogether, and are instead based on biodegradable organic chemistry. Treating timber provides long-term resistance to organisms that cause deterioration. If preservatives are applied correctly, they extend the productive life of timber by five to ten times. If left untreated, wood that is exposed to moisture or soil for sustained periods of time will become weakened by various types of fungi, bacteria or insects.