Timber Suppliers Melbourne | Hardwood Timber
Timber Suppliers in Melbourne
If you’re planning for a home building project, you may need the assistance of timber suppliers in Melbourne. You have many kinds of timber products to choose from, and depending on your project, you may also require fabrication services.
When choosing a timber supplier, you should make a note or list of timber requirements – whether you need structural timber, veneers, laminated panels or something else. The best suppliers in Melbourne would have all the wood needed for your building project.
Product Information
Extremely versatile, eco-friendly and lightweight, wood is well-known for its excellent high tensile strength. Timber or wood in general has been proven to outperform steel in self-support length, making it fully capable of supporting its own weight. This characteristic of timber continues to make it a superb choice for houses with wide open space designs. Since wood can carry itself, you will need fewer supporting structures such as posts and beams to achieve this type of spatial requirement.
Timber is also naturally more resistant to fire damage when compared to common stick framing. Moreover, solid wood is quite stable even at high temperatures and can create its own insulation when it comes into contact with fire. Being naturally sound absorbent, wood is also an ideal material for reducing noise and minimising echo in residential and commercial buildings.
In addition, wood is a better insulator compared to plastic or steel, so wooden houses are more energy-efficient. It also looks attractive, comes in various grains and colours and attains a smooth, glossy sheen as it ages.
Different Types of Timber
Timber is classified as either hardwood or softwood.
Almost 80% of the timber around the world originates from softwood types. The difference between the two types is that hardwood comes from flowering trees (angiosperms) and softwood comes from seed-bearing trees (gymnosperms).
The most popular timber among Australian hardwoods include:
- Myrtle beech
- New England blackbutt
- Red gum
- Silvertop ash
- Spotted gum
- Tasmanian oak
- Victorian ash
Some well-known Australian softwood varieties include the following:
- Queensland kauri
- Radiata pine
- Redwood
- Western hemlock
- Western red cedar
- White cypress
- Yellow cedar
However, there are many more types of timber. The important thing to do is that as you search for wood supplies, make sure you inquire with timber suppliers in Melbourne. They can give you recommendations for your building project, especially if you’re unsure about the materials you need.
Different Uses of Timber in House Building
Timber has numerous uses, both in and out of the construction arena. When it comes to house building, timber is generally used in the following ways:
- Joinery
- Log cabins
- Scaffolding
- Shingles
- Stairs
- Walls and dividers
There are other applications of timber in house construction that may not be listed here. So it’s no great mystery that to this day, timber is still an in-demand building construction material.
FAQs
1. Why should I opt for a timber frame home? Can I afford it?
For most people, the beauty of a timber frame home is the No. 1 reason. Wood is an aesthetically pleasing natural material and is warm and inviting. When you have exposed beams and rafters, they don't look jarring and hard like steel or other metal construction materials. Instead, they look charming and give you a sense of more space.
Of course, wood can definitely cost you some, and the total expense also depends on your timber suppliers in Melbourne. However, if you look at the lifespan of wood and its insulation properties, you could be looking at long-term savings, too.
2. How durable are timber frame homes?
Since timber frame houses are built to last, their performance and durability cannot be compared to that of conventional stick frames. By using the right approach to construction, an ordinary wooden house can last anywhere from 100 to 150 years. There are actually a lot of timber structures, including heritage homes and buildings, that have lasted through the centuries.
Developments in wood production technology can prevent certain negative wood processes, such as cracking, decay, twisting or discolouration. Moreover, there are now wood preservative treatments designed to make wood resistant to damage from fires, fungi and insects.
3. Aside from treatments, how do I build a house that’s less vulnerable to damage?
It’s best to use properly treated wood for exterior elements and accents to prevent damage. However, there are also certain types of wood that are less vulnerable to damage and you can check with timber suppliers in Melbourne for information on this.
You also need to ensure the house is sealed properly in the base of the siding and around the foundation to prevent structural damage.