03 Te Rau Karamu Marae Russell Kleyn 2

Decoding timber

Learn about the 'why' and 'how' of timber use before, during and after construction.

Arvida Park Lane Retirement Village (Stage 2)

Ally Bennett / Armitage Williams Construction

Park Lane Photo 3 external off centre view min

The cost may surprise you

Timber, particularly in mass-scale design and construction projects, is competitively priced compared to other building material choices, including steel and reinforced concrete. And since timber elements are typically lighter than concrete or steel elements, using wood as a building material can significantly lower time and costs for transportation, foundation design and construction, on-site erection and waste management. 

Learn more about how offsite manufacturing results in super-fast build times for better, quicker returns.

Geranimo qzg N45hse N0 unsplash

The environmental benefits are undeniable

Forests are New Zealand’s largest renewable resource and are vital in our move toward a more circular, zero-emissions economy. Forests provide plenty of environmental advantages, preventing surface erosion, providing fresh air, improving freshwater quality, providing wildlife habitats and supporting ecosystem health. But they also produce materials, energy, and wood products that are at the heart of the emerging bio-economy, including timber for the built environment.

Discover how mass timber and the forestry industry contribute to offsetting millions of tonnes of carbon emissions in New Zealand.

Green School - Kina

Erin Wesley / Boon Ltd

Green School Kina veranda

Reflect, absorb, and diffuse sound with timber

Timber is a versatile and easy-to-work-with product that can be designed to reflect, absorb, or diffuse sound. In combination with timber's pleasing aesthetic, this versatility means it is commonly used as a surface treatment for a range of acoustic outcomes.

The stiff and lightweight nature of timber makes it a poor sound insulator, however, this can be overcome with a range of strategies, such as structural isolation or using reconstituted wood products with more mass and damping.

Learn more about the unique acoustic properties of timber and how it can be used to your benefit.

 

St Kentigerns Preschool

Phil Smith / Smith Architects, Auckland

St Kentigerns Pre school 2

Timber is here for the long run

Durable timber construction will provide long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing, and eco-friendly solutions, reducing the environmental impact. Used across residential, commercial, and industrial construction, the durability of timber can depend on the species, construction detailing, heat & mass transfer (building physics), installation and exposure during construction, treatment, and maintenance. But with the right planning, design and construction techniques, you can be sure a timber build is here for the long run.

Get all the details on the principles of durable timber design and see how its excellent strength-to-weight ratio makes it ideal for a range of applications.

EY Tahi

Jewel Harris / Toa Architects

EY Tahi image 3 min 1

Timber can handle the heat

Because wood burns, many people assume that all timber buildings are at a higher risk of fire damage. However, timber buildings can be designed with excellent fire safety for the protection of the occupants and any adjacent properties. In fact, well-designed timber buildings can have very predictable fire behaviour that can be managed throughout the stages of a fire.

Learn more about how mass timber actually behaves very predictably during and after a fire.

Te Rauhitanga – Landcare Research

Warren And Mahoney

Landcare 3

A greener New Zealand with every build

Timber is renewable and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It requires less energy to produce and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions. It is eco-efficient, creating more value with less environmental impact by being renewable, recyclable, and reusable, not to mention the positive effects on physical and mental health.

A number of in-depth comparative Life Cycle studies have confirmed the environmental advantages of timber for large building construction.  

Find out how mass timber can substitute carbon-intensive materials and store carbon in buildings for a more sustainable impact with every build.