ARCILLA,

Part I. Properties of Wood

1. What is wood?
The living organism known as a tree produces wood, an organic material with a
fibrous, heterogeneous, and anisotropic texture. The oldest building materials are made of
wood. Lumber is a type of wood that has been treated and cut into predetermined sizes.
Earthquakes and various climatic conditions are not a problem for wooden materials. Using
chemical liquids, wood can be totally protected from decay and insect damage. Moreover,
Wood conserves energy. A wooden home may be heated with much less energy. Wood
maintains a chemical equilibrium with its surroundings. The environment is neither
influenced by it nor is it affected by it. An evergreen structural component is wood. Due to
its renewable structure, good heat insulation, and low energy requirements, it is a widely
used building material.
2. Differentiate between hardwood and softwood. Is hardwood harder than softwood?

Category Hardwood Softwood

Hardwood trees are
angiosperm, deciduous
Growth trees that grow more slowly
(shed their leaves annually).
Hardwood timber species
provide a long-lasting
solution for a variety of uses
Density / Durability / since they are strong, high-
Hardness quality, and durable.
Hardwood can be used for
cladding, paneling,
buildings, fencing, boats,
Application
and outdoor decks in
addition to its frequent
application for flooring.
Popular hardwood timber
species include Eucalyptus,
Balsa, Mahogany,
Species
Blackbutt, Red Ironbark,
and Spotted Gum, for
instance.
Sustainability Even though hardwoods
aren't as renewable as
softwoods, given their
longevity, hardwood timbers
Conifers and gymnosperms,
or evergreen trees that don't
lose their leaves, are what
are referred to as softwood
trees.
Softwood lumber is weaker
and less durable than
hardwood because of its
lower density, however
there are certain 'hard'
softwood choices with a
higher density, such as
Juniper and Yew.
Decorative walls, ceilings,
furniture, doors, and
windows are frequently
made of softwood timber.
Popular softwood timber
species include hemlock,
cedar, douglas fir, juniper,
yew, and pine.
Softwood trees are thought
to be a particularly
renewable source because
they grow considerably
 can be a well-considered
choice.
Almost any contemporary-
style setting will look great
with hardwood lumber,
Appearance
which is available in a
variety of colors and
finishes.
Hardwood timber is simple
to clean and scratch and
Maintenance
dent repairs are simple due
to its durability.
Due to their slower rate of
development and sturdy
qualities, hardwoods are
typically more expensive;
Cost but, because of their long
lifespan and low
maintenance requirements,
they may be advantageous
in the long term.
faster than hardwood trees.
Softwood is an adaptable
type of timber that provides
a beautiful, seamless finish.
It is very workable and
suited for a variety of styles
and applications.
Softwood timber will need
more frequent repair
because it is less resilient
than hardwood.
Due to their quicker growth
and simpler availability,
softwood timbers can be
less expensive than
hardwood timbers.

3. What are the common defects in wood caused by abnormal growth, or due to
deterioration?
They weaken the timber by
rupturing the fiber continuity.
B These flaws could be either dead
Y or living. The wooden piece will
Knots develop a knot hole where a
A dead knot has emerged. When a
B branch is severed before the tree
has finished growing, it is
N
created.
O
Timber shakes are breaks in the
R
grain that frequently originate
M from uneven seasoning. A shake
A Shakes
in which the fracture occurs
L against the grain is called an
upset or rupture.
G Twisted fibers defect in lumber is
R the name given to this flaw. The
O inclinations of the wood's fibers
Twisted Fiber
W with respect to its axis vary. They
T are no longer parallel to the
H wood's axis.
Rind gall is a defect brought on
Rind galls by the plants' atypical
development. It is the wound left
 behind on the tree after a branch
snaps off in pieces or is cut.
As a result of feeding on the sap
wood's cell contents, the sap
B wood loses its color. Fungi that
Y Sap Stain feed on the wall tissue or cell
contents of woody plants are the
D ones responsible for sap stains
E on wood.
Wet rot, also known as chemical
T
degradation of wood, is caused
E
when wood turns into a greyish-
R Wet Rot brown powder because the
I natural degradation of wood
O caused by excessive moisture
R levels.
A White rot happens as the fungus
T breaks down lignin and cellulose,
I removing the darker colors along
O the way. When the fungus
White Rot
N consumes lignin, a substance
that holds the wood's cells
together and lends it natural
stiffness

PART II. PREPARATION OF WOOD

1. Lumbering is the process of preparing wood from timber so that it can be used for
commercial applications. It involves logging, hauling, and cutting timber to sizes, a process
called sawing. Describe and illustrate at least two main methods of sawing.
PLAIN SAWING

The most typical technique is plain sawing. It entails sawing strips of boards parallel to the pith
from the wood. The boards are then sawed once more lengthwise. Each board produced in this manner
has a distinct appearance. In comparison to floors created with boards sawn using other techniques,
plain sawn floors exhibit more color and pattern variety.

QUARTER SAWING

The term "quarter sawing" refers to the process of cutting a log into wedges with a straight angle
that end about in the middle of the original log after being first quartered lengthwise. Then, each
quarter is cut individually by being tipped up on its point and sawing boards one at a time along the axis.

2.     What is seasoning of wood? Differentiate between Natural or Air Seasoning 

and Artificial Seasoning?
Seasonng of Wood

Drying or seasoning wood is the act of removing moisture from it so that it can be used for
construction and other purposes. As a result, there is a decreased risk of decay, an increase in load
bearing capacity, a decrease in weight, and more advantageous characteristics like thermal & electrical
insulation, glue adhesive capacity, and ease of preservative treatment, among others. The process of
seasoning timber lowers the moisture content of a freshly cut tree to a desirable level. Seasoning wood
is the process of correctly drying wood in order to remove moisture from the cells of the wood walls,
increasing the wood's longevity. Producing seasoned timber is a critical step in ensuring that it burns
cleanly.

KINDS DEFINITION ILLUSTRATION

Natural or The term "air seasoning" refers to
Air the old practice of stacking wood in
Seasoning the air to dry it out by letting the
heat of the sun and the movement
of the air evaporate the moisture.
Over time, the procedure has
undergone a number of
improvements that have increased
its efficiency and decreased the
amount of wood that was harmed
by air seasoning's tendency to dry
wood too quickly near the ends.

Artificial The most efficient and cost-effective

Seasoning option now available is likely
artificial seasoning or Kiln drying of
lumber. Drying rates may be
precisely managed, and defect
losses can be kept to a minimal.
Moreover, drying time is drastically
cut down and is predictable, which
frequently enables inventories of
dry lumber to be decreased. If
chemical dips are not utilized, kiln
drying is frequently the only
practical solution when staining is an
issue. With this technique, wood is
dried out in a controlled
environment with regulated
temperature, humidity, and airflow.
Seasoning can only be finished in 4
to 5 days. The various techniques of
seasoning include: (a) Boiling, (b)
Kiln seasoning, (c) Chemical
seasoning and (d) Electrical
seasoning.
Part III. Wood in construction Explain the differences (and similarities, if any):
     a. Timber vs Lumber
In one sense, the word "timber" refers to
T wood that has not yet been harvested,
meaning that it is still in the shape of an
I intact, erect tree with firmly planted roots.
The process of turning a tree into different
M processed forms of wood products starts
once the tree has been felled and
B separated from its root system. Dressed
timber, often known as the best of the
E best in timber finishes, is at the top of the
scale due to how thoroughly and well it
R has been polished. Dressed wood is
exceedingly smooth in its ultimate state
after being meticulously dressed on both
sides.
     b.     rough lumber vs dressed (or surfaced) lumber
Timber that has been rough sawn is
timber that has been shaped and sized
R from logs. Simply put, it's wood that has
been sawn and dried before treatment,
O not after. With this kind of technique, you
end up with wood that has a gorgeously
U rustic appearance and is still present in
one of its most natural states. If you
G require a material for solid wood beams
and rectangular timber sections, you
H should definitely take rough sawn timber
into consideration.
Lumber is the general term for all
harvested wood, including logs,
L large timbers, and members used in
light-frame buildings. Hardwood or
U softwood are the two categories of
lumber. The phrase is frequently
M used to refer specifically to the
goods made from wood in a sawmill.
B Wood that has been milled and cut
into boards or planks for use as a
E building material is often referred to
collectively as lumber. A lumberyard
R sells the finished product after this
cutting has taken place.
Dressed timber is regarded as
D having a more upscale finish. This
timber has been dressed on all
R sides and is not raw, giving it a
considerably smoother surface.
E After treatment, the item is dried to
further minimize shrinkage. This
S wood is perfect for applications that
call for a more polished appearance.
S Pergolas, patios, and decks are a
few examples of this.
E
D
     c.     slab vs plank vs board

A flat slab of wood With parallel faces A board is a

called a "Wood Slab" that are higher and rectangular, flat
is distinctive and longer than wide, a piece of wood or
shows organic plank is a flat, plastic that is used
character. Wood
P elongated, and for a specific task,
slabs, which are rectangular piece of B like building walls or
S frequently used as L wood. Planks, which floors and so on.
tabletops or bench are largely used in O
L tops, inherently raise A carpentry, are
the area they are essential to the A
A placed on. We don't N building of ships,
consider mass- homes, bridges, and R
B produced furniture to K numerous other
be wood slabs. constructions. Planks D
Particleboard S are often produced
covered in laminates from sawn wood, and
and veneers does not they are typically
count as a wood slab. broader than 2+12 in.
and more than 1+12
in. thick (38 mm) (64
mm).

d.     fine grained vs straight grained

F Fine grain refers to wood species with
incredibly minute, tight grain patterns.
I Another name for it is a smooth grain.
Natural lines that run through wood
N with a fine grain are minute and
spaced closely together. This happens
when the tree's cellulose fibers are
E A
pretty consistent. After being sanded,
wood with a fine grain becomes
extremely smooth and has fewer knots.
Moreover, the density of a single piece
of wood is less variable.
S Wood with a single-directional grain is
said to have a straight grain. It has
T hardly any waves or curls. When
referring to wood grain, a straight
R grain is one that parallels the tree's
axis. Cherry, hard maple, and cedar
are examples of woods with straight
grain. Straight-grain wood is
significantly simpler to deal with and
I typically stronger than other forms of
grain. Cutting, drilling, and nailing are
G made simpler because of the direction
of the grain.
 H

3.     When purchasing lumber, the pricing based on board foot. Explain how to compute the
board feet of a piece of lumber.
To compute the board feet, the term "BOARD MEASURE" denotes that the board foot is the standard
unit of measurement for most lumber products. A component that is nominally one inch thick,
nominally one foot wide, and nominally one foot long, or its equivalent, is referred to as a board foot.
For example, a 2 x 6 has a board foot equivalent for each foot in length. By summing the notional
thickness in inches (T), nominal width in inches (W), and actual length in feet (L), then dividing by 12,
one can determine the board footage.

The formula is: T x W x L divide 12 = Board ft.

Where: T = nominal thickness in inches ; W = nominal width in inches and L = length in feet

4.     Plywood is the most common type of manufactured boards. What is it exactly?

Differentiate between these types of plywood:

  

PLYWOOD - A substance known as plywood is created by adhering thin "plies" or layers

of wood veneer together while rotating the wood grain of the neighboring layers by up to
90 degrees. It belongs to the family of produced boards, which also includes particle
board, oriented strand board, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) (chipboard).

KINDS DEFINITION ILLUSTRATION

 a.     Soft plywood Spruce-pine-fir, or SPF, is another name for
plywood, which is a softwood constructed of
spruce, pine, and fir. Nonetheless, it can also
be made from Douglas fir and cedar (Cedrus
sp (Pseudotsugan menziesii). When made of
spruce (Picea sp. ), the obvious grains are
concealed using a method to make the
plywood more useful and as hard as concrete
when used for construction and shuttering
 strands. gymnosperms, or non-flowering
plants with unenclosed seeds like pinecones,
are the source of softwoods.
b.     Hard plywood Plywood is made from hardwood
angiosperms. This type of plywood can be
identified by its resistance, rigidity, surface
hardness, and hardness. This can support a
lot of weight. Hardwood plywood made from
wood from dicot trees (oak, beech, and
mahogany) is used for demanding end uses.
Hardwood plywood has exceptional strength,
stiffness, durability, and creep resistance.
Because of its excellent planar shear
strength and impact resistance, it excels in
making heavy-duty floor and wall structures.
c.     Marine Marine plywood, sometimes known as
plywood marine-grade plywood, is not what it is
frequently represented to be. It isn't
watertight, in other words. Although it is
comprised of high-quality hardwood plywood
and waterproof glue, it is not rot-resistant
because it has not been chemically treated.
Marine plywood uses high quality modified
resin; They are used for exterior and high
water-exposure applications; Marine-grade
plywood has unmatchable strength; They are
heavy on the wallet.
     d.     Hardboard Hardboard, also known as high-density
fiberboard (HDF), is a kind of fiberboard, an
item made of engineered wood that is used in
the building and furniture industries. In order
to create a thin, slightly flexible sheet of
hardboard, extremely tiny bits of wood are
compressed very closely together. Because it
is manufactured from highly compressed,
exploding wood fibers, hardboard is denser
and more stronger and tougher than medium-
density fiberboard and particle board.
 e.     Particle The engineered wood product known as
Board particle board, also known as chipboard or
low-density fiberboard, is made from wood
chips and a synthetic resin or other
appropriate binder that is pressed and
extruded[1]. Oriented strand board (OSB), a
different type of fiberboard that uses
machined wood flakes and provides more
strength, is frequently confused with particle
board. Particle board is used instead of
conventional wood and plywood when cost is
more essential than strength and look
because it is less expensive, denser, and
more consistent.