Although it has other purposes as well, wood has been used as a construction material for thousands of years.
In a living tree, wood performs a mechanical-support function, enabling trees to grow large and to stand by themselves. It serves a similar role in construction, as well as for aesthetic and other purposes.
Wood is a highly durable building material that can last centuries when properly maintained. Wood absorbs and releases moisture, expanding and contracting without damage. Decay protection involves treating wood with preservatives that resist fungal and microbial deterioration. Common preservatives are copper azole, alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), and chromated copper arsenate (CCA). ACQ-treated lumber lasts more than 25 years above ground and more than 40 years in ground contact. CCA-treated wood can survive more than 100 years, even in harsh environments.
Buildings using wood as a construction material date back ten thousand years. Built around 6000 BC, a Neolithic long house in Europe is an example of early wooden construction. In Kalambo Falls, Zambia, logs were used to build structure dating back more than 475,000 years ago, showcasing the oldest structural use of wood.
Lumber, known as timber or fine wood in some countries, is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), such as beams, planks, and boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing, as in floors, wall panels, and window frames.
In the United States, milled boards are known as "lumber," while "timber" refers to standing or unprocessed felled trees. In Britain and some other Commonwealth nations, as well as Ireland, "timber" is used to refer to both processed and unprocessed trees. In the United Kingdom, "lumber" is rarely used to relation to wood.
Lumber can be supplied as rough-sawn, or surfaced on one or more of its faces. Rough lumber is the raw material used in furniture-making and in the manufacture of other items requiring cutting and shaping. Lumber is made from several species of trees, including softwoods and hardwoods.
Composite woods are engineered materials made from a blend of wood fibers and other materials, offering durability and low maintenance. It is created by combining wood fibers, sawdust, or wood particles with adhesives and other materials, such as plastics or cement. This results in a versatile product that can be used in various applications, including decking.
Finished lumber is supplied in standard sizes, mostly for the construction industry, primarily softwood from species such as pine, fir, spruce, and hemlock, although hardwoods are used for high-grade flooring. However, 80% of lumber comes from softwood.
Wood building materials are sold in standard dimensional sizes through lumber yards and home improvement retailers. Softwood lumber like pine, fir, and spruce is commonly available as boards, planks, and timbers, with thicknesses from 1 inch up to 12 inches, widths from 1 to 12 inches, and lengths from 8 to 20 feet. The species, grade, moisture content, and treatment are specified for structural lumber.
Appearance grades classify the quality and number of visual defects. Treatment with preservatives protects against decay and insects. Engineered wood like plywood, OSB, glulam, and LVL are factory-made composites with set panel sizes up to 64 feet long and performance ratings. Mass timber products, such as cross-laminated timber and nail-laminated timber used in multi-story buildings are prefabricated off-site into modules and shipped ready for assembly.
Special structural adhesives and mechanical fasteners join panels during construction. Custom millwork and architectural woodwork like doors, windows, stairs, and cabinets are built to order from hardwoods, softwoods, or composites. Reclaimed, recycled, and sustainably certified lumber is also available through some suppliers.
Timber framing and post-and-beam construction are traditional methods of construction with heavy timbers, allowing for the creation of structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs. When the structural frame of load-bearing timber is left exposed on the exterior of the building, it is referred to as half-timbered, sometimes used for aesthetic purposes.
Hardwood flooring is highly sought after for its durability, aesthetics, and warmth. Made from solid wood planks or engineered wood layers, hardwood floors are available in various species, each with unique grain patterns and colors. The characteristics of hardwood flooring include a long lifespan and its ability to withstand sanding and refinishing.
Wood is also used in doors, windows, decks, patios, and decorative elements.
Recommended Resources
BSW Timber is the United Kingdom's largest sawmilling and timber products business. Founded in 1848, it has its head office in Dunfermline, Fife, and is part of Binderholz, operating as the BSW Group, the UK's largest integrated forestry business. Its main product categories are sawn timber, decking, fencing, cladding, treated timber, construction timber, and landscaping products. Its products, services, stockists, and career opportunities are published on the website, along with contacts.
https://www.bsw.co.uk/
Known as APA for American Plywood Association, an early name for the Engineered Wood Association, the non-profit trade association represents North American manufacturers of structural engineered wood products. It provides quality auditing, testing, applied research, and market development for products such as plywood, OSzb, glulam, CLT, wood I-joists, rim board, and structural composite lumber. Its publications, technical resources, and training platform are highlighted.
https://www.apawood.org/
Claiming over 75 years of "combined experience" in the matting and lumber industry, Legacy Timber Products is a U.S. manufacturer and distributor of heavy-duty timber matting, industrial lumber, and specialty products used in construction, energy, and utility jobsites. Based in Indiana, the company's website emphasizes its experience, job-site safety, and manufacturing across more than thirty states, and delivery across North America. Contact details are provided.
https://legacytimberproducts.com/
Roseburg Forest Products is a privately owned wood-products company headquartered in Springfield, Oregon. Founded in 1936, the company operates mills throughout Western Oregon. It is a vertically integrated wood products company that manages timberlands and manufactures a wide range of forest-to-finish products. Its website emphasizes sustainable land management, responsible production, and community impact. Information on where to buy its products can be found on its website.
https://www.roseburg.com/
Positioning itself as a long-standing, high-volume provider focused on value, quality, and personal service, Southland Log Homes sells pre-cut log cabin kits and log home plans, offering custom designs and kiln-dried logs. The company emphasizes long experience (since 1978), individualized cutting and numbering of logs to simplify construction, and energy-efficient, eco-friendly log homes. Logs are kiln-dried, and each home is assigned a mill number. Contacts are provided.
https://www.logcabinkits.com/
Made in the United States by craftsmen in Michigan, Stikwood offers real reclaimed and sustainably sourced wood products for walls and ceilings, including peel-and-stick wood planks (Stikwood), acoustic Slatwood panels, Woodwöl mosaic tiles, and DIY kits called Stikits. Its products are Indoor Advantage Gold certified for air quality and contain no VOCs. The website includes a visualizer tool to preview finishes in your space and installation guidance for professionals and DIYers.
https://www.stikwood.com/
With multiple production and distribution locations throughout the United States, Timber Products is headquartered in Grants Pass, Oregon. Founded in 1918, the U.S. manufacturer and distributor of wood products (lumber, plywood, MDF, decorative wood panels, veneers, laminates). Included is a profile of the company, its teams, affiliations, certifications, events, and contact detils, as well as its products, operations, log purchasing facilites, and career opportunities.
https://timberproducts.com/
Based in Johnson City, Tennessee, Twin Creeks is an online and in-store retailer specializing in materials for building and maintaining log homes, including lumber, log siding, beams, stains, caulk, chinking, and related supplies. Key offerings include materials packages for log home construction, lumber and specialty timbers, and roofing products (cedar shakes and shingles), and other construction materials. Its location, contact details, and store hours are posted on the site.
https://www.twincreeksloghomes.com/
