INTRODUCTION OF TIMBER

Wood is a hard and fibrous substance which forms a major part of the trunk
and branches of a tree. It can also be defined as a natural polymeric material
which practically does not age.

Timber is the wood suitable for building or engineering purposes and it is

applied to trees measuring not less than 0.6 m in girth.

The terms timber and wood are often used synonymously, but they have
distinct meanings in the building industry. Wood is the hard, fibrous material
that makes up the tree under the bark, whereas timber may be defined as a
wood which retains its natural physical structure and chemical composition
and is suitable for various engineering works.
Wood has many advantages due to which it is preferred over many other

building materials. It is easily available (this won't be true after some years)

and easy to transport and handle, has more thermal insulation, sound

absorption and electrical resistance as compared to steel and concrete. It is

the ideal material to be used in sea water. Wood is a good absorber of shocks

and so is suitable for construction work in hilly areas which are more prone to

earthquakes. It can be easily worked; repairs and alterations to wood work

can also be done easily. Owing to these advantages, wood is very widely used

in buildings as doors, windows, frames, temporary partition walls, etc. and in

roof trusses and ceilings apart from framework.

Important technical terms relating timber

• Standing timber: It is the timber available in a living tree.

• Green timber: It is the freshly felled tree which has not lost much of its
moisture or the timber which still contains free water in its cells.
• Rough timber: It is the timber obtained after felling a tree.
• Converted timber: It is the timber which has been sawn into various market
sizes such as beams, battens, planks etc.
• Dressed timber: It is the timber which been sawn, placed and worked to the
exact required condition.
• Structural timber: It is the timber used in framing and load bearing structures.
• Clear timber: It is the timber free from defects and blemishes (stains).
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOFT-WOOD AND HARD-WOOD
SR. PROPERTY SOFT WOOD HARD WOOD
NO.
1 COLOUR LIGHTER DARKER

2 Growth Faster Slower

3 Weight Lighter Heavier

4 Density Low High

5 Annual rings Distinct Indistinct

6 Heart wood and Cannot be distinguished Can be distinguished

sap wood

7 Strength Strong along the grains Strong along and across the grains

8 Conversion Easy Difficult

9 Resinous material Exists in pores Does not exist

10 Examples Chir, fir and other conifers Teak, sal, sheesham, and other deciduous trees
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD TIMBER
1. Narrow annual rings, closer the rings greater is the strength. (It should have regular
annular rings.)
2. Compact medullary rays.
3. It should have a uniform Dark colour and Uniform texture.
4. Sweet smell and a shining fresh cut surface.
5. When struck sonorous sound is produced.
6. Free from the defects in timber (shakes, flaws, dead knots or blemishes of any kind).
7. Heavy weight.
8. No woolliness at fresh cut surface.
9. There should be firm adhesion of fibres and compact medullary rays.
10. A good timber should be durable. It should be capable of resisting the actions of fungi
insects, chemicals, physical agencies and mechanical agencies.
11. A good timber should possess the property of elasticity. The timber is elastic when it
regains its original shape and size when the load is removed. This property of timber
would be essential when it is to be used for bows, sports goods, carriage shafts etc.
12. It should be fire-resistant. Wood having dense texture offers great resistance to fire.
It should not contain resins and other inflammable oils which accelerate the action of
fire.
13. A good timber should be hard
14. A good timber should be strong for working as structural member such as joint,
beam, rafter, etc. It should be capable of taking loads slowly or suddenly.
 ADVANTAGES OF TIMBER

It is relatively easy to handle and can be planed, sawn and jointed.

1
2 It is easily available and can be quickly transported by simple means.
3 It is light in weight yet strong.
4 The individual units of wooden dwelling are light enough so that they may be assembled
by a small crew of men without special machinery.
5 Boards may be cut rapidly by a saw and fastened firmly together with nails.
6 It is a good insulator of heat and sound.
7 When properly protected timber structures may give good service for hundred of years.
8 It stands shocks and bumps, a good deal better than iron and concrete.
9 Because of its light weight, timber is generally preferred for building works in earthquake
regions.
10 Repairs, additions and alterations to timber construction are easy.
11 It is considered to be an ideal material of construction in sea water or marine works as it
can resist corrosion.
 DISADVANTAGES OF TIMBER

1 The greatest disadvantage is its ready combustibility, which can be

diminished but lot eliminated even by expensive treatment.
2 Frame buildings built closely together present a serious,
conflagration hazard.
3 Timber is destroyed by decay induced by fungi, and by insects that
feed upon the timber under favourable considerations. Decay may,
however, be prevented by various methods that produce an
environment unfavourable for the growth of the causative
organisms.
4 Timber swells and undergoes shrinkage with changing atmospheric
humidity.
 USES OF TIMBER
1. It is generally used in the form of piles, posts, beams, lintels, door-window frames and leaves, roof

members, e.g., rafters, purlins, trusses etc.

2. It is employed for flooring, ceiling, panelling and construction of partition walls.

3. It is used for formwork for concrete, for the timbering of trenches, centering for arch work, scaffolding,

transmission poles and fencing.

4. It is used in wagon and coach building, marine installations and bridges.

5. It is also used in making furniture, agricultural implements, sports goods, musical instruments, well curbs,

motor bodies carts and carriages, railway sleepers, packing cases etc.
 CLASSIFICATION OF TIMBER
Timber may be classified as follows:
• On the Basis of its Position
• On the Basis of Grading
• On the Basis of Modulus of Elasticity
• On the Basis of Availability
• On the Basis of Durability
• On the Basis of Seasoning Characteristics
• On the Basis of Treatability
 Classification Of Timber
on The Basis Of Its Position

Standing Timber : It implies a living tree.

Rough Timber : It forms a part of the felled tree.

Converted Timber or Lumber : They are logs of

timber sawn into planks, posts, etc.

 Classification Of Timber
on The Basis Of Grading

Selected Grade should not contain defects, the estimated effect of which
tends to reduce the basic strength of timber by more than 12.5 per cent.

Standard Grade should not contain defects, the estimated effect of which
tends to reduce the basic strength of timber by more than 25 per cent.

Common Grade should not contain defects, the estimated effect of which
tends to reduce the basic strength of timber by more than 37.5 per cent.
 Classification Of Timber
on The Basis Of Modulus Of Elasticity

Group A: Modulus of elasticity in bending above

12.5 kN / mm2
Group B: Modulus of elasticity in bending above
9.8 kN/mm2 and below 12.5 kN/mm2
Group C: Modulus of elasticity in bending above 5.6
kN/mm2 and below 9.8 kN/mm2
 Classification Of Timber
on The Basis Of Availability

1.X-Most common : 1415 m3 or more per year

2.Y-Common : 355 m3 to 1415 m3 per year

3.Z-Less common : below 355 m3 per year

 Classification Of Timber
on The Basis Of Durability
Test specimens of size 600 x 50 x 50 mm are buried in the
ground to half their lengths. The condition of the specimen at
various intervals of time are noted and from these observations
their average life calculated. Timbers are classified based upon
such observations as of:
1.High durability average life of 120 months and over.
2.Moderate durability average life of less than 120 months but
of 60 months or more.
3.Low durability average life of less than 60 months.
 Classification Of Timber
on The Basis Of Seasoning Characteristics
Timbers are classified depending upon their behaviour to cracking and
splitting during normal air-seasoning practice in three categories.

•Highly refractory (Class A) are slow and difficult to season-free from

defects.
•Moderately refractory (Class B) may be seasoned free from surface
defects, etc. if some protection is given against rapid drying.
•Non-refractory (Class C) These can be rapidly seasoned free from
defects.
 Classification Of Timber
on The Basis Of Treatability
This classification is based upon the resistance offered by the heartwood of
a species to preservatives under a working pressure of 1.05 N/mm2 as

(a) Easily treatable.

(b) Treatable but complete preservation not easily obtained.

(c) Only partially treatable.

(d) Refractory to treatment.

(e) Very refractory to treatment, penetration of preservative being

practically nil from the sides and ends.

The Timber is converted into suitable commercial sizes. Following are
various forms in which the Timber is available in the market.
Batten

Baulk

Board

Deal

End

Log

Plank

Pole

Quartering

Scantling
 Batten : This is a timber piece whose breadth and
thickness do not exceed 50mm.
 Baulk : It is a roughly squared timber piece and it is
obtained by removing bark and sap wood. One of the
cross-sectional dimension exceeds 50 mm, while the
other exceeds 200 mm.
 Board : It is a plank i.e. a timber piece with parallel
sides. Its thickness is less than 50 mm and width
exceeds 150 mm.
 Deal : It is a piece of soft wood with parallel sides. Its
thickness varies from 50 mm to 100 mm and its width
does not exceeds 230 mm.
 End : This is a short piece of batten, deal, scantling,
etc.
 Log : It is the trunk of the tree obtained after removal
of branches.
 Plank : It is a timber piece with parallel sides. Its
thickness is less than 50 mm and its width exceeds 50
mm.
 Pole : It is a sound long log of wood. Its diameter
does not exceed 200 mm. Its is also known as a spar.
 Quartering : It is a square piece of timber, the length
of side being 50 mm to 150 mm.
 Scantling : This is a timber piece whose breadth and
thickness exceed 50mm, but are less than 200mm in
length. These are the pieces of miscellaneous sizes of
timber sawn out of a log.
The timber which is prepared scientifically in a
factory is termed as the industrial timber and
such timber possesses desired shape,
appearance, strength, etc. Following are the five
varieties of industrial timber.

Veneer

Ply woods
Fibreboards

Impreg Timbers
Compreg Timbers
Veneers : These are thin sheets or slices of wood of superior
quality. The thickness of veneers varies from 0.40 mm to 6 mm
or more. They are obtained by rotating a log of wood against a
sharp knife of rotary cutter or saw. The veneers after being
removed are dried in kilns to remove moisture.
Ply woods : The meaning of term ply is a thin layer. The plywoods
are boards which are prepared from thin layers of wood or veneers.
The three or more with direction of grains of successive layers at
right angles to each other. They are held in position by application of
suitable adhesives. The placing of veneers normal to each other
increases the longitudinal and transverse strengths of plywoods.

The plywoods are available in different commercial forms such as

battenboard, laminboard, metal faced plywood, multi-ply, three-ply,
veneered plywood, etc.
 Advantages of plywoods

1. As plies are placed at right angles to each other, the

expansion and shrinkage are comparatively very low.
2. They are available in a variety of decorative appearance.
3. They are available in large sizes.
4. They are elastic and hence they are not liable to split or
crack due to changes in atmosphere.
5. They are light in weight.
6. They are not easily affected by moisture.
7. They are strong than solid boards.
8. They posses uniform tensile strength in all directions.
 Fibreboards : These are rigid boards and they are also known
as the pressed wood or reconstructed wood. The thickness varies
from 3 mm to 12 mm. They are available in lengths varying from 3
mm to 4.50 mm and in widths varying from 1.20 m to 1.80 m. The
weight of fibreboards depend on the pressure applied during
manufacture.

USES OF FIBREBOARDS :
1. For internal finish of rooms such as wall
panelling, suspended ceilings, etc.
2. To construct formwork for cements
concrete.
3. To construct partitions.
4. To prepare flush doors, tops of tables,
etc.
5. To provide an insulating material of
heat and sound.
6. To work as paving or flooring material.
 Impreg Timbers : The timber which is fully or partly covered with
resin is known as the impreg timber. The usual resin employed is phenol
formaldehyde which is soluble in water. The veneers or thin strips of woods
are taken and they are immersed in resin. The resin fills the space between
wood cells and by chemical reaction, a consolidated mass develops. It is
then cured at a temperature of about 150c to 160c. the impreg timber is
available under trade names such as Formica, Sungloss, Sunmica, etc. and it
is used for moulds, furniture, decorative articles, etc.

ADVANTAGES OF IMPREG TIMBERS :

1. It is not affected by moisture and
weather conditions.
2. It is strong and durable.
3. It possesses more electrical
insulation.
4. It presents a decent appearance.
5. It resists the acidic effects.
 Compreg Timbers : The process of preparing

compreg timber is same as that of impreg timber

except that during curing is carried out under

pressure. The strength and durability of compreg

timbers are more as compared to the impreg

timbers. The sp. Gravity of compreg timber is about

1.30 to 1.35.
Things that attack timber

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 Defects in timber

Timber is a natural material that is

prone to defects.
One of these is the tendency to split if
it is put under stress from rapid
drying, poor felling or de-lamination
of the growth rings.
These defects are all known as
‘Shakes’
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 Shakes

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What other defects
occur in timber?

Dry rot

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 What other defects
occur in timber?
sap
Blue stain

heart

pith

juvenile

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What other defects
occur in timber?

Insect attack

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 What other defects
occur in timber?

Shrinkage

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 Preservation of Timber

 Objects : The preservation of timber is carried out

to achieve the following three objects:

1. To increase the life of timber structures.

2. To make the timber structures durable.

3. To protect the timber structures from the attack of

destroying agencies such as fungi, insects, etc.
 Requirement of a Good Preservative
1. It should allow decorative treatment on timber after being
applied over timber surface.
2. It should be capable of covering a large area with small
quantity.
3. It should be cheap and easily available.
4. It should be durable and should not be affected by light,
heat, etc.
5. It should be free from unpleasant smell.
6. It should be non-inflammable.
7. It should be quite efficient in killing fungi, insects, etc.
8. It should be safe and harmless for persons and animals.
9. It should give pleasant appearance to the timber after being
applied over it.
10. It should not affect the strength characteristics of timber.
11. It should not be easily washed away by water.
12. It should not corrode the metal with which it comes into
contact.
 Types Of Preservatives
 Ascu Treatment
 Chemical Salts
 Coal Tar
 Creosote Oil
 Oil Paints
 Solignum paints
 Ascu Treatment : The ascu is special preservative
which is developed at the Forest Research Institute,
Dehradun. This material is available in powder form.
To prepare a solution of this material, six parts by
weight of ascu are mixed in 100 parts by weight of
water. The solution is then sprayed or applied on
timber surface. This preservation gives timber
protection against the attack of white ants. The
surface treated with this preservative can be painted,
polished, varnished or waxed. The solution is
odourless.
 Chemical Salts : These are water – borne preservatives and they are mostly salts

dissolved in water. The usual salts used are copper sulphate, mercury chloride,

sodium fluoride and zinc chloride. Theses preservatives are odourless and non-

inflammable.

 Coal Tar : The timber surface is coated with hot coal tar with the help of brush.

The coal tar becomes workable when heated. The process is known as the tarring.

The coal tar has unpleasant smell and appearance. It makes timber unsuitable for

painting. Hence the tarring is adopted for frames of doors and windows, rough

timber work, etc. and it is found to be most useful for parts embedded in ground

because of its cheapness and effective resistance. The coal tar is fire-resistant.

 Creosote oil : In this case, the timber surface is coated with creosote oil. The

process is known as the creosoting or Bethel’s method of preservation of timber.

The creosote oil is obtained by the distillation of tar.

 Oil paints : The timber surface is coated with 2 or 3
coats of oil paint. The wood should be seasoned.
Otherwise sap will be confined and it will lead to the
decay of timber. The oil paints preserve timber from
moisture and make it durable.
 Solignum paints : These paints preserve timber
from white ants as they are highly toxic in nature.
They can be mixed with colour pigments and
applied in hot state with the help of brush. The
timber surface may therefore be given the desired
colour or appearance.