TIMBER - CONSTRUCTION

MATERIAL AND DETAILS

FOR FIRST SEMESTER, FY – 2022-23

CLASS FACULTY:
AR. PARIJA ANAVADYA
AR. RUCHITA PATEL
AR. NIDHI MEHTA
AR. URMIL
TOPICS
 Introduction to Wood, Timber and Lumber
 Classification of Trees
 Structure of Timber
 Characteristics of Good Timber
 Defects in Timber
 Seasoning of Timber
 Preservation of Timber
 Uses of Timber
 Disadvantages of Timber
 Joinery in Wood/ Timber
 INTRODUCTION TO WOOD, TIMBER/
LUMBER
 The organic matter obtained from trees is called Wood.
 The wood which is suitable or fit for engineering construction or
engineering purpose is called Timber.
 The sawed wood meant for construction in the form of boards is
called Lumber.
 In the United States and Canada, milled boards are called lumber,
while timber describes standing or felled trees. In contrast, in
Britain and many other Commonwealth nations, the term timber is
used for both senses.
STRUCTURE OF A TREE
 CLASSIFICATION OF TREES
 Trees are classified into two groups depending upon growth pattern.
 Endogenous Trees: The trees which grow inwards in longitudinal
fibrous mass are called Endogenous trees. Examples: Palm, Coconut,
Cane, etc. Usually found in regions with heavy rainfall.
 Exogenous Tress : The trees which grow in out wards across
horizontal section of stem are called Exogenous trees. These trees
are only fit for engineering construction.
Trees
 Exogenous trees are again subdivided into two types:
(Based on
Conifers or Evergreen: growth
pattern)
• They give soft wood.
Exogeno Endogenou
• They have pointed leaves. s
us
Examples: • Deodar • Pine • Chir • Kail, etc. Grow Grow inwards
outwards Palm, Bamboo,
Found in Cold mountainous Regions. etc.

Deciduous: Conifers/ Deciduous

Evergreen
• These have hard wood. Hard wood
Soft wood Broad leaves
• These have broad leaves. Pointed leaves Teak, Sal,
Deodar, pine Shisham
Examples: • Teak • Sal • Shisham, etc.
Endogenous
tree growth
 STRUCTURE OF TIMBER
• Pith or Medulla:
It is the first formed portion of the stem of tree. It
consists of entirely cellular tissues. The pith, which
when the plant is young contains a large amount of
fluid and nourishes the plant.

• Annual Ring:
The rings of woody fiber arranged in concentric
circle around the pith are known as annual rings
because one such ring is added every year.

• Heart wood:
Innermost ring surrounding the pith constitute the
heart wood. The wood is darker in color, stronger
more compact and durable.

• Sap wood:
Outer annual rings of the tree constitute the sap
wood, which transmit the sap from roots to
branches. Compared with heart wood sap wood is
lighter in color, weaker and more liable to decay.

• Bark:
It is outermost protective covering of cells and
woody fibers on a tree. In course of time older
 STRUCTURE OF TIMBER

• Cambium Layer:

Outermost ring between the bark and

sap which is not yet converted into
wood is known as cambium layer. If
the cambium layer is exposed by
removing the bark, the cells cease to
be active and results in death of tree.

• Medullary Rays:

These are thin horizontal veins radiating

from the pith towards the bark. They carry
sap from outside to the inner parts of tree
and nourish it. They keep the annual rings
tightly gripped together.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD
TIMBER
• Sap: It should be free from sap.

• Fibres: It should have straight and close fiber. It should have firm adhesion of
fibers.

• Colour: It should be of uniform color. Out of same variety of timber darker

and heavier pieces are stronger.

• Sound: It should give a clear ringing sound when struck. Dull heavy sound is
a sign of internal decay.

• Annual Rings: It should have regular annual ring. Timber with narrow annual
rings are generally the strongest. Should have compact medullary rays .

• Smell: Freshly cut surface should give sweet smell.

• Cut Timber: It should have bright and smooth surface when planed.
 DEFECTS IN TIMBER
• Heart Shakes:

These are splits occurring in the center of the tree and

running from the pith (inner most part) to wards the sap
wood from the medullary (vascular tissues) rays. In some
timbers, these splits are hardly visible and in some timbers
these are quite permanent. Heart shakes are caused due to
shrinkage of interior parts due to age. A heart shake
straight across the trunk is not a serious defect.

• Star Shakes:

These are splits which radiate from the center of the timber
or from the bark (outer side), running in the planes of
medullary rays. These occur due to severe frost or
scorching heat of the sun.

• Cup Shakes:

These are curved splits which separate the whole or part of

one annual ring from another. These are caused due to the
 DEFECTS IN TIMBER

Wind Cracks:

These are shakes or splits on the

sides of a bark of timber due to
shrinkage of exterior surface exposed
to atmospheric influence.

• Rind Galls:

These are typical enlarged swellings

and occur due to branches cut-off.

• Knots:

These are the roots of the small

branches of the tree. These are not
harmful.
 DEFECTS IN TIMBER
(AFTER THE FALLING OF TREE)
• Dry Rot:

It is attack on timber by fungus. The

fungus reduces the timber to a dry
powder. To prevent dry rot only well
seasoned timber should be used.
There should also be free access to
fresh air to all parts of timber.

• Wet rot:

It is decay of timber due to alternate

wetting and drying. To prevent wet
timber should be prevented against
alternate wetting and drying. It
should be so used that it should be
wholly submerged in water or it is
always dry.
 SEASONING OF TIMBER
Newly felled tree contains a considerable amount of sap. If this sap is not
removed, the timber is likely to warp, crack and shrink. It may even decay.

The art of seasoning is to extract the moisture under controlled

conditions as nearly as possible at a uniform rate from all parts of timber
and to leave the remaining moisture, that cannot be extracted, uniformly
distributed throughout the timber.

OBJECTIVES OF SEASONING OF TIMBER:

• Wet timber is an easy prey to decay by fungi, borers, termites etc.

Seasoning, thus makes timber resistant to decay.
• Seasoning makes timber lighter.
• It becomes easier to paint and polish seasoned timber.
• It is easier to treat seasoned timber with preservatives.
• Seasoned timber becomes stronger and more stable.
• Seasoning stops shrinkage of timber on drying.
• Seasoned timber has better electrical resistance.
NATURAL SEASONING

Air seasoning Method:

• As soon as after felling, the log is converted by

sawing into battens and planks.

• These are then stacked on a well drained

place in the shade.

• There should be free circulation of fresh air

all around each piece of timber.

• The stacking should be done on masonry or

concrete supports a few inches above the
ground.

• Care should be taken not to expose the

freshly converted timber stacked for
seasoning to severe wind or to sun.

• This process of seasoning timber is the best as it

gives very strong and durable timber.

• But it is extremely slow process. It takes more

NATURAL SEASONING

Water Seasoning:

• In water seasoning, timber logs are kept

immersed whole in the flowing water. The
sap present in timber is washed away.

• After that logs are taken out from water and

are kept in open air, so water present in
timber would be dried by air.

• The time required for this type of seasoning

is 2 to 4 weeks.

ARTIFICIAL SEASONING

Electric Seasoning:

• In this method electric current is passed

through the timber logs.
• The time required for this seasoning is 05 to
08 hours.
ARTIFICIAL SEASONING

Kiln Seasoning:

• In kiln seasoning timber is placed in a chamber

with some special heating arrangement.

• In this process one thing should be kept in

mind that heating system should be under
control, other wise timber will be crack or
warp.

• The time required for this seasoning is 3 to 12

days. This is quick process.

Chemical Seasoning:

• In chemical seasoning carbon dioxide,

ammonium carbonate or urea are used as
agents for seasoning.

• They are applied in dry state, the inner surface

of timber dries first than outer side. This
ensures uniform seasoning.
METHODS OF SEASONING TIMBER:

The main types of timber seasoning are as under:

• Natural Seasoning:

a) Air Seasoning,
b) Water Seasoning

• Artificial Seasoning:

(a) Kiln Seasoning,

(b)Chemical Seasoning,
(c) Electric Seasoning.
 PRESERVATION OF TIMBER
Preservation of timber means protecting timber from fungi and insects
attack so that its life is increased. Timber is to be seasoned well before
application of preservatives. The following are the widely used
preservatives:
1. Tar
2. Paints
3. Chemical salt
4. Creosote
5. ASCO : Powdered Preservative for Timber
 USES OF TIMBER AS A BUILDING
MATERIAL
Timber from well-managed forests is one of the sustainable
resources. Timber is categorized amongst the world’s most eco-
friendly building solution. It ages naturally and is not degraded into
toxic product that damages the environment. In addition, timber is
renewable as it continually grown in plantations and forests. The
various uses of timber are:

• It has good strength and hence used for making load-bearing

members like beams, columns, trusses and piles.

• It is naturally available, ready to use and economically feasible.

The rough timber is used for temporary works like scaffolding,
centering of an arch etc.

• It can be easily cut and converted to any size and shape.

Hence it is used for frame and shutters of doors and windows,
roofing materials, furniture etc.

• It has a very high strength to weight ratio, the capability of

transferring both tension and compression forces and is naturally
 USES OF TIMBER AS A BUILDING
MATERIAL
• It is also used for temporary bridges and boat construction.

• Timber also benefits from its natural growth characteristics. For

example, grain patterns, colours and its availability in many timber
spices, sizes and shapes, makes it a remarkably versatile and
aesthetically pleasing material.
ADVANTAGES OF TIMBER

• Timber can be easily shaped and modified. Remaining waste can be

recycled.

• Timber generates very few pollutants compared to other building

products.

• Timber can be easily connected using nails, screws, dowels, bolts

and connectors. Also, under controlled conditions of temperature and
humidity, adhesives may be used to connect the timber element.

• Timber is light in weight and easy to handle in manufacture,

 DISADVANTAGES OF TIMBER
• It is likely to crack, warp, bend and decay, if not properly seasoned
and not treated with the preservatives.

• There are many applications for which timber is unsuitable due to

durability issues.

• It requires careful regular maintenance.

• It is subjected to risk of fire. Timber can burn making it a less than

ideal material to use in applications where fire safety is a concern.

• If not readily available, it proves to be costly.

• It is also susceptible to termite attack if not maintained properly.

 WOOD JOINERY
• The process of connecting or
joining two pieces of wood together
through the use of various forms of
wood joints.

• Used to create furniture,

structures, toys, and other items.
Joinery used to build a house is
different from that used to make
puzzle toys, although some
concepts overlap.

• In basic materials processing,

common forms of joinery include
dovetail joints, mortise-and-tenon
joints, biscuit joints, lap joints, and
spline joints.

• Some wood joints employ

fasteners, bindings, or adhesives,
 JOINERY REINFORCEMENTS
 Key (or Biscuit)
A small, flat lozenge-shaped dowel for
edge or corner-jointing. Wood biscuits
are fitted into slots that are created
with a biscuit jointer.

 Dowel pin
Pegs of wood that fit into two matching
holes to strengthen a joint.

 Spline
A thin piece of wood that fits in the
mating grooves cut into two pieces of
wood.
1. BUTT JOINT

• An easy but often weak

technique for joining two boards
together simply by gluing and
pressing two flat surfaces
together.

• Typically made by gluing an end to

an adjoining flat surface.
 2. DADO JOINT

 A joint where one piece is

grooved to receive the
piece which forms the
other part of the joint.

 Dado (definition):
A groove which is cut
across the grain to
receive the butt end or
edge of a second
piece.
 3. BISCUIT JOINT
 A butt joint that is reinforced
with football- or oval-shaped
wooden "biscuits."
 Biscuits are usually made from
compressed wood, frequently
birch wood.
 When the biscuit comes into
contact with glue in the biscuit
slot, it swells thus creating a
tighter joint.
 Sometimes called a plate joint.
4. LAP JOINT
 A joint where one piece of
wood is crossed over
another.
5. MITERED JOINT
 The woodworking joint
created when two boards
are cut at an angle to one
another.

 The most common miter

joint is the 45-degree
miter such as the cuts used
to build square or
rectangular picture frames.
 6. RABBET JOINT
 A joinery technique where an
“L” groove across the end of
the edge of one piece of wood
fits into a edge or end of
another board with an “L”
groove.

 Rabbet (definition)
A rectangular, stepped recess cut
along the edge of a section of
wood.
 7. SCARF JOINT

 A joinery technique
where two wedge-shaped
pieces have been cut to
correspond to one
another.
8. MORTISE-AND-TENON JOINT
 A joinery technique where
the cut end (tenon) from
one board fits into the
matching opening
(mortise) of another.

 Mortise (definition)
The opening or socket that
receives the tenon in the
classic woodworker's
mortise-and-tenon joint.

 Tenon (definition)
The end of a board, cut to a
specific size and shape, that
is inserted into the mortise,
or opening, in a second
board.
9. TONGUE AND GROOVE JOINT

• A tongue and groove joint is a

unique woodwork joint that is
attached edge to edge with two or
more pieces of timber.

• It is made with one edge consisting

of a slot that runs down the entire
length of the timber and a tongue
which fits into the slot.

• This groove and tongue feature

creates a reasonably strong and
aesthetically pleasing joint that can
be used in areas such as
floorboards, lining boards, wood
paneling and table tops.
 10. DOVETAIL JOINT

 Joining two boards in

which alternating slots (or
tails) and protrusions (or
pins), each resembling in
shape the v-shaped outline
of a bird's tail, are snugly
fitted together, thus
increasing the gluing area.

 Produces a joint that, even

without glue, can be difficult
to pull apart.

 Regarded as one of the

strongest and most reliable
forms of wood joinery.
11. FINGER JOINT
 A joinery technique used
mostly in industry where small
“fingers” are cut into
corresponding pieces that will
be joined together.

 Finger joints are used to making

wide boards, in extending the
length of dimensional lumber,
and in laminated construction.