This document discusses various types of timber used in construction. It begins by defining timber and its uses in construction. It then discusses classifications of timber into hardwood and softwood. Specific timber types discussed include bamboo, birch, cedar, cherry, mahogany, oak, and fir. For each timber, its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages for construction are provided.

1. DEPARTMENT OF
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Conventional Constructions
TIMBER
Er.Ramprasad Kumawat
(M.Tech)

2. Constructions
• Conventional constructions:
• Masonry,
• Timber,
• Steel and
• Concrete Constructions (CC)
• Introduction to Additive Construction methods
using concrete (3D Printed Building)

3. TIMBER
• The wood suitable for construction of building
or for other engineering purposes is called
Timber.
• The wood may be seasoned and preserved
before using it in the construction work.
• It has been sawn to various market forms such
as beams, battens, planks.

4. Classification of Timber
• Hard Wood :- The trees yielding hard wood
are deciduous and having broad leaves. Teak ,
sal, shisham belong to this category.
• Soft Wood :- The trees yielding soft wood are
coniferous and having pointed leaves. Deodar,
pine,kail belong to this category.

5. • Timbers are used for the structural purpose.
Those woods which are adapted for building
purposes are timbers.
• Finished timber is supplied in standard sizes
for the industry.
• Timber is used for building houses and making
furniture.

6. Types of Timber and Lumber
• Timber can be divided into two categories - hardwoods
and softwoods.
• There are many types of timber under these two
categories. They are-
• Bamboo Birch
• Cedar Cherry
• Cross-laminated Glulam
• Green timber Lime
• Mahogany Oak
• Pine Plywood
• Sapele wood Tulipwood
• Walnut Wood ash
• Spruce Fir

7. Bamboo
• Bamboo is a natural organic material.
• It is one of the most unique plants on earth.
• Bamboo is grown in abundance in many parts
of the world, especially in tropical and
subtropical regions.
• Most timber producing bamboos are from
South Asia.
• The color of bamboo timber is pale yellow to
almost gold.
• It is an industrial material also identified as the
most promising building material.

9. Advantages of Bamboo
• Bamboos are fast growing and high yielding.
• They are easily renewable.
• Bamboos quickly reach full maturity after only one or two
years.
• Bamboo timber has a unique earthy odor while being worked.
• Bamboo timber is energy extensive, processed and glued up
imported products.
• Strong bamboo fibers have tensile strength.
• It is highly resistant to warping and cupping in ambient
humidity.
• Bamboo timber requires little fertilizer.
• Grows initially at full width.
• Bamboo timbers are used in-veneer, paper, flute, window
blinds, fishing rods, ladders, scaffolding, carving etc.

10. Disadvantages of Bamboo
• Bamboo timber is a polluting material.
• Bamboo timber requires special care.
• It is susceptible to insect attack.
• Bamboo fibers tend to split and pull out when being
cross-cut.
• Bamboo timber has been reported to cause skin
irritation.
• Decay fungi are present in bamboo timber.
• The price of this timber is much higher which exceeds
the cost of domestic hardwoods sometimes.
• It is inconsistent.

11. Birch
• Birch is a great craft-wood.
• It is an important source of hardwood timber.
Birch is of many types of like-yellow birch,
white birch etc.
• Yellow birch is commonly used which is also
known as gray birch, or swamp birch.
• It is light reddish brown color.
• Birch gives low natural luster.

13. Advantages of Birch
• Birch is economical in most cases.
• Inner birch is aromatic.
• Birch is long-lasting.
• It is usually heavy, hard and strong.
• It is always easy to work with a birch and glues and it finishes
well.
• Birch gives widely ranging appearances.
• Birch is suitable for high-quality furniture. Birch has great
durability.
• Birch is used for creating strong plywood.
• Birch is waterproof.
• Birch can easily support a large structure.
• It is used in- boxes, crates, skateboards, furniture, and other
wood items.

14. Disadvantages of Birch
• Birch is perishable, readily rot and decay.
• Birch is susceptible to insect attack.
• Birch can cause tear-outs during machine
operations.
• Birch is reported as “sensitizer” which includes
respiratory irritation.
• Birch is slow-growing.
• Birch is harder than other hardwoods.

15. Cedar
• Cedar is a timber of high quality.
• It comes from several different trees known as
cedars.
• Where both strength and appearance of the
exposed wood beams are important, cedar is
the only savior and perfect fit for this.
• It is used in for-landscape, park, garden
structure. Its moderate strength and softness
make it unique.
• Cedar offers the advantage of the natural
advantage. Basically, it is a workable material.

17. Advantages of Cedar
• It is weather resistant.
• Cedar gives a natural wood look.
• Cedar is light in weight.
• It works easily.
• It is dimensionally stable.
• Cedar has long-time durability.
• Cedar has exceptional resistance to insects and decay.
• It is smooth to the touch.
• It has a high quality of consistency.
• It exhibits fairly prominent growth.
• Cedar shows high resistance to warping and twisting.
• Cedar helps to reduce noise in specific areas.
• It is sustainable.
• It is used in-cladding, decking, roofing, fencing.

18. Disadvantages of Cedar
• Cedar dust may be irritant.
• Cedar has low strength.
• Cedar can cause splintering during some
operations.

19. Cherry
• Cherry timber is grown as a tree plantation
timber.
• Among different types of cherry timbers, black
cherry timber is the largest of the native cherries
and the only of commercial value.
• It is found throughout the Eastern United Nations.
In cherry timber, the grain is generally straight. It
is a hardwood.
• It has medium density and moderately durable.
And used for small pieces of furniture's-veneers,
handles, cabinets, scientific instruments etc.

21. Advantages of Cherry
• Cherry timber is firm and strong.
• It has a fine and uniform texture.
• It works well and finishes smoothly.
• Cherry timber can contain pith flecks and gum pockets.
• It has a good workability.
• Cherry timber is easy to machine, nail, and glue.
• It is an excellent timber for turning and carving.
• It has good bending properties.
• It has low stiffness.
• Cherry timber is shock resistance.
• The best feature is it is used for high-end applications
like furniture, cabinet making.
• Boat making and musical instruments.

22. Disadvantages of Cherry
• It is highly prized.
• Cherry timber is sensitive to UV.
• It can tear on cross-grain.
• Cherry timber doesn’t have a grand dimension.
• If stained, it gives blotchy results.
• The sawdust of cherry timber has been
associated with respiratory effects such as
wheezing.

23. Mahogany
• Mahogany is a high-quality timber.
• It is grown commercially almost in every continent.
• Mahogany is widely used in the furniture and cabinet
building industry.
• It is made into plywoods and all kinds of trim.
• It displays hard grain.
• It is one of the softer of all the hardwoods that are
commonly in use.
• It is moderate natural luster.
• The color of mahogany timber darkens with age.
• The texture is medium and uniform.
• The price of this timber is in mid-range.

25. Advantages of Mahogany
• Mahogany timber is very stable.
• It is resistant to termites.
• It is very easy to work with tools in mahogany timber.
• It cuts and machines easily.
• Mahogany timber sandy very easily.
• It turns glues, stains, and finishes well.
• It can bend without splintering or shattering.
• It possesses a slightly flexible quality.
• Mahogany timber can resist warping and twist for many years.
• It is long lasting, strong and beautiful.
• It contains high density.
• Each piece of timber is long.
• Mahogany timber is used for-veneers, musicals instruments,

26. Disadvantages of Mahogany
• Mahogany timber is vulnerable to insects.
• It can tear out or chip during machining.
• It is reported as “sensitizer”.
• When mahogany timber gets in touch with water,
a strong mahogany color comes up.
• Slight dulling of cutters can occur in this timber.
• Mahogany timber includes respiratory irritation in
eye, skin which includes boil, nausea, dizziness,
asthma type symptoms etc.
• It is vulnerable.

27. Oak
• Oak timber is a type of hardwood from the oak
tree.
• It has been used as timber for thousands of
years.
• It is straight grained.
• It is used for light construction most of the
time.
• Oak timber is used for –home-ware, wine
barrels, firewood etc.

29. Advantages of Oak
• Oak timber is exceedingly strong.
• It is durable.
• It has a long living nature.
• Oak timber is used for cladding.
• Oak timber is resistant to fungal attack.
• It takes glues, nails, and screws well.
• It is lighter in weight.
• Oak timber is resistant to decay.
• Oak timber is extremely resistant to preservative
treatment.
• It is workable with machine or hand tools.

30. Disadvantages of Oak
• Oak timber is heavy.
• It is hard.
• It has low-moisture content.
• Oak timber is unsuitable for external use.
• It is difficult for oak timber to treat acid
content.
• Oak timber reacts with iron, galvanized or
copper nails.

31. Fir
• Fir is one of the world’s best-known timber
species.
• It is a premier building product for a wide range
of applications.
• It is a softwood species.
• Fir has a very straight grain.
• Fir has become the standard woods of choice for
timber framing.
• Fir timber is used tin-housing, framing, flooring,
lining fascias, bargeboards, and pergolas.

33. Advantages of Fir
• Fir timber ranges in color.
• Fir machines and turns well.
• Fir is moderately durable.
• It is permeable.
• It Is moderately resistant to decay.
• Fir timber has a low shock resistance.
• It has a good strength.
• Fir can be satisfactorily bonded using the standard
procedure.

34. Disadvantages of Fir
• Fir timber lacks tensile strength.
• It is extremely difficult to treat.
• Fir timber is very stiff.

35. • THANKS!