TIMBER

Wood (Timber / Lumber)

*Natural material
*Dry wood required for structure – seasoning of
wood important
*Available in specific lengths – restrictions in
design
*Structural / stress efficiency:
*Resistant to both compression and tension in
the direction of the fibres (parallel to length)- a
little better in
tension
*Less resistance at right angles
*Entire timber has good resistance to bending
*Weight for weight – one of the most efficient
materials
*Can be used for both compressive and tensile
elements – beams, columns, cantilevers etc.
Disadvantages:
Choice of width restricted – only linear form in Any shape and size can be made
design
*Non homogenous material – strength not *Reusable
uniform
*Fire hazard very high
*Dampness is a cause of worry
*Destruction due to fungus and insects
*Junctions difficult
Climatic efficiency:
*Very good insulating material
*Can be used in various climatic zones
*Has to be protected from fire
*Available in specific lengths – restriction in design
*Junctions difficult to make, complexity high
*Weakest points in construction
*Design of the junctions the most critical and
important aspect
*Unsuitable for multistoried construction
Cost efficiency:
Cost high where wood not available
*Concerns of environment – decrease availability,
increase cost
*Certified wood available but cost high
*Reusable so efficient use of same material can be
made
Advantages:
*Durable if protected Strong relative to its weight
*Good natural texture – good aesthetical quality, can
be used without any extra external finished for
decorative work
*Good insulator
 SOURCES OF TIMBER
Common
Colour Density ¹ Location Characteristics, Usage and Status
name

Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh,

It is strong, hard and tough and it takes up a good
Maharashtra, Madhya
Whitish polish. It is used for such products as bodies
Babul 835 kg/m³ Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
red and wheels of bullock cart, agricultural instruments,
Karnataka,Bengal, Gujarat,
tool handles, and well curbs.
Uttar Pradesh

Reddish It is close-grained and tough. It is used for

Bakul 880 kg/m³ Some parts of North India
brown making cabinets.
Not actually a tree, but a woody grass, it is flexible,
Throughout India, especially very strong and durable. It is used for scaffoldings,
Bamboo
assam and Bengal thatched roofs, rafters, temporary bridges, and so
forth.

It is strong and durable only under water. The aerial

Banyan Brown 580 kg/m³ Throughout India roots are utilized for such items as tent poles and well
curbs.

Takes polish. Requires preservative treatment. Used

Reddish
Coconut Throughout coastal India as poles, piles, furniture and as formwork in concrete
brown
construction.
 Deodar is the most important timber tree providing soft
Himalayas, wood. It can be easily worked and it is moderately strong. It
Yellowish
Deodar 560 kg/m³ Punjab, possesses distinct annual rings. It is used for making cheap
brown
Uttar Pradesh furniture, railway carriages, railway sleepers, packing
boxes, structural work and so forth.

It takes a good polish and is easily worked. It is durable

Reddish
Mahogany 720 kg/m³ under water. It is most commonly used for furniture, pattern
brown
making and cabinet work.
It is strong, tough and elastic. It takes up a clean finish. It
can be well seasoned. It is turned and carved easily.
Mulberry Brown 650 kg/m³ Punjab
Mulberry is typically used for baskets and sports goods
like hockey sticks,tennis rackets and cricket bats.

Yellowish Oak is strong and durable, with straight silvery grain. It is

Oak 865 kg/m³
brown used for preparing sporting goods.

It contains ripe wood in the outer crust. The colour of this

1040 kg/ Throughout ripened wood is dark brown. It is strong, durable and
Palm Dark brown
m³ India fibrous. Palm is used for furniture, roof covering, rafters and
joists.
Pine wood is hard and tough except white pine which is
soft. It decays easily if it comes into contact with soil. It is
heavy and coarse grained. It is used for pattern making,
Pine
frames for doors and windows, and for paving material.
White pine is light and straight grained and is used in the
manufacture of matches.
 It is strong, tough and close-grained. It is a
Kerala, Karnataka, handsome wood that takes up a high polish. It
Maharashtra, Madhya maintains its shape well and is available in large
Rosewood Dar 850 kg/m³
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, sizes. It is used for furniture of superior quality,
Orrissa cabinet work, ornamental carvings and so
forth. Vulnerable
Karnataka, Andhra
It is hard, fibrous and close-grained. It does not
Pradesh,
take up a good polish. It requires slow and
880– Maharashtra, Uttar
Sal Brown careful seasoning. It is durable under ground and
1050 kg/m³ Pradesh, Bihar,
water. It is used for railway
Madhya Pradesh,
sleepers, shipbuilding, and bridges.
Orissa
Karnataka, Tamil It has a pleasant smell. It is commonly used for
Sandalwoo White or
930 kg/m³ Nadu, Kerala, Assam, agricultural instruments, well curbs, wheels, and
d Red
Nagpur, Bengal mallets. Vulnerable[

Tamarind is knotty and durable. It is a beautiful

tree for avenue and gardens. Its development is
very slow but it ultimately forms a massive
Tamarind Dark brown 1280 kg/m³[ All over India
appearance. Its fruit is also very useful. It is used
for agricultural instruments, well curbs, sugar
mills, carts and brick burning.

Moderately hard, teak is durable and fire-

resistant. It can be easily seasoned and worked.
Deep yellow It takes up a good polish and is not attacked by
Central India and
Teak to dark 639 kg/m³ white ants and dry rot. It does not corrode iron
Southern India
brown fastenings and it shrinks little. It is among the
most valuable timber trees of the world and its
use is limited to superior work only.
TYPES OF TIMBER
PRODUCTS
Timber

Natural solid timber Engineered timber products

Fiber Particle Block

Plywood boards Laminates Veneers
boards board
NATURAL SOLID TIMBER
• The tree logs are converted into commercialy feasible sizes
• It is easy to provide capentry joints in solid timber
• It is 100% recyclable material
• Depending upon the type of tree it is generally hard,stiff,has high strength and
durability
• The age of timber furniture is longest : more the 50 years
• Repair and maintenance is easy but regular maintenance is advisable
• It requires less labour than metallic work and is easily available
• It is likely to crack and decay if not properly seasoned and treated
• It is not advisable if there is a risk of fire or regions of high humidity and natural
storms
Plywood
• Manufacturing Process:
• manufactured from sheets of
cross-laminated veneer
• panel strength and stiffness in both
directions are maximized
• bonded under heat and pressure
with durable, moisture-resistant
adhesives
Types of plywood
(Based on wood)
• Hardwood Plywood
• made from teak wood, or
gurjan wood or birch wood
• Softwood Plywood
• made from woods like
cedar, SPF (Spruce-Pine-Fir)
or Mango wood.
Types of plywood
(Based on use)
• Regular grade plywood
o Used for temporary use
• Commercial plywood
o Also known as Interior grade or MR (Moisture resistant) grade plywood
o Used for making furniture that is unlikely to get wet

• Water proof plywood

o Also know as Exterior grade or BWR (Boiling water resistant) grade
plywood.
o Used for making furniture that is likely to get wet e.g. Kitchen furniture

• Marine Plywood
o Superior quality and also costs a lot more
o Used for making furniture or products that are subjected to prolonged
water exposure
o Used mainly for industrial purposes and boat building.
Properties of Plywood
• Leading brands of plywood in India:
• Century Plyboards (India) Ltd.
• Greenply Industries Ltd.
• National Plywood Industries Ltd.
• Sarda Plywood Industries Ltd.
• Mayur Plywood
• Kitply Industries Ltd.
• Thickness available
• MR grade (Moisture Resistant): 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 15,
18, 21, 25 mm
• BWR grade (Boiling Water Resistant): 4, 6, 9, 12,
16, 19, 25 mm
• Shuttering plywood: 6, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25 mm
• Sizes available (in sq. feet)
• 8x4 , 8x3 , 7x4 , 7x3 , 6x4 , 6x3
• Indian Standards Specifications
• IS: 303 - MR Plywood, BWP/BWR Plywood, Flexi
Ply
• IS: 710 - Marine Plywood
• IS: 10701 - Structural plywood
• IS: 5509-1980 - Fire Retardant Plywood
• IS: 4990 - Shuttering Plywood
Market Rates of Plywood
Thickness Commercial Waterproof Regular
Plywood Plywood Plywood

Rs.84 Rs.46
18mm Rs.54

Rs.51 Rs.78 Rs.42

16mm

Rs.42 Rs.57 Rs.38

12mm

Rs.38 Rs.48 Rs.33

9mm

Rs.29 Rs.39 Rs.24

6mm
Laminates
• Manufacturing process:
• made of brown base paper and decorative paper
• use of resins make the paper hard and brittle
• the two papers are hard pressed together
• Types of laminates:
• HPL : High pressure laminates
• commonly fixed by carpenters over plywood while
making the furniture
• LPL : Low pressure laminates
• directly bonded to Particle Boards or Fiber Boards
 Laminate Sizes and rates
o Standard size : 8'x 4‘
o Special sizes : 3’ x 7’ and 5’ x 12’
o The market rates of laminates ranges from Rs.28
– Rs.390/per sq.ft.
 Leading Laminate Brands in India
o Sunmica,Formica,Greenlam Laminates,Merino
Laminates,Century,Sundek,Asis,Virgo,Durian,Delt
a Laminates,Kitvista
• Types based on thickness
• Regular laminate sheets
• Thickness ranges from 0.6-1.5mm
• Glued using fevicol or other
adhesives
• Compact Laminates
• Thickness ranging from 3 mm to 30
mm
• These are self-supporting and hence
do not need to be glued
• Types based on usage
• Decorative use
• Importance is given to Look and feel
• Industrial use
• Importance is given to high
strength , durability, and resistance
to scratches ,wear and tear
Veneers
• Properties:
• Thinner than 3mm
• Available in standard sizes same as laminates
• Gives wood finish using much lesser solid
wood
• Due to its flexibility wooden finished
furniture can be made in such shapes and
sizes which were not possible using solid
wood
• Types:
• Rotatory cut veneers
• Logs are horizontally rotated and peeled
• Sliced veneers
• logs are sliced instead of being rotated and
peeled
• Comparatively Costlier
• Gives better quality veneer
Veneers vs. Laminates
• Based on maintenance:
• Laminates are easier to maintain.They
are scratch proof,water-proof, long age.
• Veneers need to be polished from time
to time and can be scratched
• Based on Cost:
• High quality veneers are generally
costlier than laminates.
• The market rates of veneer ranges from
Rs.30 – Rs.550/per sq.ft.
• Based on look:
• Veneers give natural look and feel of
wood
• Laminates provide both natural and well
as artificial patters.
Blockboards
• Make:
• Core is made of solid elongated blocks of soft
wood
• hardwood veneer for the surfaces

• Classification Based on the wood used

• Softwood
• Hardwood

• Classification Based on use:

• Exterior Grade
• Also known as BWP or BWR grade blockboard
• Better water resistance
• Interior Grade
• Also called MR grade (Moisture Resistant) blockboard
• Suitable for indoor use
• Uses
• For making long book shelves
• For making tables and benches
• Blockboard Doors and Solid core flush doors
• Single and double beds, and Settees (Diwan) for
sitting.
• ADVANTAGES
• Lighter in weight (use of
softwood)
• Good dimensional stability
• Lesser tendency to sag or bend
• Costs Less
• Better than Particle Board and
even MDF

• DISADVANTAGES
• Not as strong as plywood or
good quality solid wood
• The nails may sometimes enter
the gaps
 Particle Boards
• Make
• made from very small particles
of wood (sawdust and small
wood flakes)
• wood particles are mixed with
glue (Urea
formaldehyde resin)
• mixture is firmly pressed
together using a hot-press
machine
• Uses
• Used to make ready-made
furniture, kitchen cabinets, false
ceiling, wall panels, and
partitions
• Classification:
• OSL: One sided lamination.
• Only one side of the (the top surface or show surface) is laminated,
• BSL: Both sided lamination.
• Both the top and bottom surfaces are laminated .
• BSL is costlier than OSL.
• Properties
• Age usually not more than 5yrs
• Very sensitive to water and even moisture
• Very light weight
• Eco-friendly as it is made up to waste wood particles
• The Indian Standards quality specification: IS:3087 and IS:12823
Fiber boards
• There are two main types of fiber
boards
1. HDF : High density fibre
board
• Density: 700-1450 kg/m³
2. LDF/MDF : Low/medium
density fibre boards
• Density: 600-800 kg/m³
• Mdf is more common out of the
two.
• Made from wood fibres
• Wood fibres are mixed with glue
and go through a hot-press
machine.
• The Indian Standards quality
specification: IS:12406 and
IS:14857
• Uses:
• Used for making better quality
ready made
• often used
in loudspeaker enclosures
• used for custom-made
requirements such as for
making wardrobe doors and for
the shutters of kitchen
cabinets.
• Benefits of MDF
• Some varieties are less expensive than many natural woods
• Isotropic (properties same in all directions) ,so no tendency to split
• Consistent in strength and size
• Flexible. Can be used for curved walls or surfaces.
• Shapes well.
• Stable dimensions (won't expand or contract like wood)
• Easy to finish (i.e. paint)
• MDF boards are stronger, and hence costlier than plywood,particle boards and block boards.

• Drawbacks of MDF
• Low grade MDF may swell and break when saturated with water.
• May warp or expand if not sealed.
• Dulls blades more quickly than many woods
• Weaker compared to plywood,
• Subject to significant shrinkage in low humidity environments.
• Similar to particle boards, MDF boards are also not nailed. Screws are used instead
 EXAMPLES OF
PARTITIONS
WITH DIFFERENT
MATERIALS.
 Timber partitions
 wooden framework either supported on the
floor below or by side walls.

 The framework consists of a rigid arrangement

of timber members which may be plastered or
covered with boarding etc from both the sides.

 not fire-resistant
Glass partitions: Glass sheets or hollow blocks

 Glass sheets:
 Wooden frame work –
glass sheets are fixed into
it.
 Timber beading.
 Light weight, sound proof
and damp proof.
Glass partitions: hollow block
 Translucent units of glass.
 Sqaure:14cmx14cm or 19cm
x19cm
 Thickness 10cm.
 reduce thermal and sound
transmission.
 glass block are not used as
load-bearing walls.
 Laid in cement lime mortar
(1:1:4).
lock walls are tied into surrounding wall(s) using panel anchors or vinyl stack
anchors every 3rd course

Anchors and vinyl stack material for wall assembly.

Anchors and vinyl stack material for wall assembly.
 Asbestos sheet or GI sheet
Partitions
 These walls are economical,
light and fairly rigid if
constructed properly.
 Fixed to frame of wood or
steel.
 Each slab consists of core or
corrugated asbestos cement
sheet(5mm) with the plain
asbestos cement sheet
(10mm) attached to it on
either side.
 Metal lath and plaster
thin, strong, durable and is
partitions


considerably fire resistant.

 requires a framework of steel or
timber for the purpose of fixing it in
position.
 lath is generally tied by galvanized
iron wire to mild steel bars or
channels spaced 15 to 30 cm apart.
 Plastered on both sides  improved insulation against heat and

sound.
 metal lath and plaster partition walls-
cavity.
 metal lath on both sides of specially
shaped steel channels spaced at 30 to
45 cm apart.
 channels are generally 3 to 10cm deep.
Steel Partitions
Studs (6.25 cm to 9cm)
“C” shaped channels installed
vertically, usually 40cm.
Steel track :“U” (6.25 to 9cm)
shaped channels installed to
ceilings and floor to hold studs.
framing door & window openings
 Workstations
1.Ceiling: 2x2 Tiles / Gypsum
2.Flooring: Wooden
3.Electric: One data point, One telephone point, One 5 amp point
on top of work station. One 5 / 15 amp point each under the work
station.
Furniture:

Consisting of 52mm thick low height partition of 1200mm height.

Worktop of size: 1200mmx 600mm made of 25mm thick prelim
particle board with 2mm thick PVC edge banding supported on
steel leg made of MS duly powder coated. Pedestal unit
(supporting worktop) having 2 box drawers & 1 filing Drawer
made of prelam board. Metal Key board tray & CPU trolley duly
powder coated. Filler worktops in between workstations made of
prelam board. Workstations adjacent to full height partition
will not have low height modular partition.

Storages: (as per layout)

Made of pre-laminated particle board with hinged shutters.
Storages of
725mm height will have MP lock whereas, storages of 1200mm H
& 2100mm Height will have 3 way bolting cyber lock.

Overhead Storage in creative studio: (as per layout)

Made of MS casing with pre laminated particle board shutters
 Tables
1.Ceiling: Gypsum Board
2.Flooring: Wooden

3.Front Door: Glass Door

4.Furniture: DIRECTOR CHAIR,

FRONT DESK, STORAGE, 2 SEATER
COUCH BUILT TO SUIT SEPERATLY

5. Electric: One data point, Two

telephone points, Two 5 amp
points, Two 5/15 amp points
 Concrete
*Consists of stone chips, sand and
binding material
*Binding material – lime and cement
Concrete
*Wet concrete – in situ
*Dry concrete – pre cast
*Process of construction – time
consuming and expensive Functional characteristics:
*Curing of concrete *Homogenous material
Structural efficiency *durable
*Strength depends on proportion of Advantages:
constituents, kind of binding material, Very high compressive strength
drying time. *Hard, durable
*Stronger in compression * Variety of forms can be explored
Climatic efficiency *Fire proof
Not as impervious to water as stone *No damage by fungus or insects
*Cracks can form on drying Disadvantages:
*Heats up faster Expensive
*No fire hazard *Good workmanship required
*Poor insulator *Poor insulator
Cost efficiency *Water proofing required
*Cost of shuttering *aesthetically not very pleasing
*Cost of labour
40
*Cost of material and transportation
 Steel Advantages:
Structural Efficiency: Good tensile as well as
Iron – strong in compression, weak in
compressive strength
tension Highly resistant to both
*Available in various lengths
*Steel – manufactured from iron ore tension and compression and sizes
Molten state and can be molded, Climatic efficiency: *Malleable
rolled, pressed, drawn, hammered Has an associated fire *Allows precision work
*Industry developed form hazard *Efficient junctions
*Commonly used members – rods, *Rusts easily and loses *Homogenous
flats, angles, T-sections, I-sections, strength *Quick erection on site,
Cost efficiency: modular construction
mesh and sheet
*Reusable material
*Exposed steel work for construction High cost of manufacture Disadvantages:
– members fixed by bolting, riveting *Cost of transportation *Expensive material
or welding *High cost of *Rusts easily
*Used as reinforcement maintenance *Poor insulator
*Fire hazard
41
*Good workmanship
Reinforced concrete
Concrete + Steel – compression + tension
*Reinforcement
*Non homogenous
*Strength varies
*Can be used for complex stress situations
*Varied structural forms possible
*Tensile junctions critical
*More expensive than concrete
*Lime concrete not reinforced with steel and lime
attacks steel and weakens it

42