Both constructors and users of wood who are constantly dealing with this subject needs to know the different wood properties in order to take advantage for them in the long run. Wood is an organic, anisotropic, and hygroscopic material. Its acoustic, thermal, electrical, aesthetic, working properties are really suitable to use in order to build a comfortable house and wood shutters in Toronto with the use of only wooden products. If you use other kinds of materials, this is not really possible. However, wood has also some disadvantages too. If you ask a lumber supply company, they will tell you that wood has a lot of benefits that come with it which far outweighs their disadvantages.
Benefits of Using Wood
- Thermal Properties. There are plenty of materials that change in volume and size as the temperature also alters. They expand with the increase in temperature. This means that linear and volumetric expansion happens a lot. The expansion will cause a decrease in the strength of the materials. Steel, which is considered as an inorganic and a non-combustible material and therefore has a great advantage against fire but when they are used in buildings, it collapses and expands because of the increase in heat. Wood shutters in Toronto do not really expand when under extreme heat. On the contrary, wood dries and additionally gains strength. The only time that wood expands a little is when there is a humidity level that is below zero percent and only in this condition is it scientifically significant. In practice, the humidity level of wood does not typically drop under 5 percent even in the driest climate.
- Acoustic properties. Sound isolation is typically based on the mass of the surface. Wood is a light material which is not really very perfect for sound isolation. However, it is ideal for sound absorption. Wood will prevent echo as well as noise by absorbing the sound. It is for this reason that it is extensively used in concert halls and wood shutters in Toronto. Sound velocity is also much faster in woods compared to liquids and gases and is also close to that of metals. Sound energy loss as a result of friction is also relatively low in woods because of its structure and lightness. Since wood has these properties, wood is extensively used in different musical instruments.
- Electrical properties. Resistance to the electrical current of a dry wood is equal to that of a formaldehyde. An oven dried wood is also a very great electrical insulator. To some extent air dried wood is also considered to be the same. However, unfortunately the electrical resistance of the wood is being lowered with the increase of the moisture content. Static electricity which is dangerous for human health is not applicable to wood unlike plastic, metal and other materials. It is for this reason that wood is typically preferred as the healthier material.
- Mechanical properties. Although wood is considered as a light material, its strength is deemed to be quite high.
- Aesthetic properties. Wood is considered a decorative material. Every tree has its own design, color and smell the design of tree which changes according to how it is sliced.