Wood

ARC 041
Building Technology 1
WOOD
WOOD USED IN ARCHITECTURE
CLASSIFICATION OF WOOD
Softwoods come from the conifers (evergreens) which have needles
instead of leaves, e.g. pine
Hardwoods come from the broad leaved or deciduous trees. Most

Philippine timber are of this latter kind.
The terms “hardwood” and “softwood” are often misleading because

they have no direct relation to the actual physical hardness or softness
of the wood, so that a hardwood may actually be softer than a
softwood. It all has to do with the seeds of the tree it’s produced.
HARDWOOD VS SOFTWOOD
Pine is a very common and versatile softwood which has many
practical applications. Pine typically is considered to be economical,
sustainable and durable, which makes it a popular choice for a number
of different projects.
With pine, you can decide whether to stain it, paint it, or simply finish it
with a clear coat of protectant sealant. Pine behaves very well for
staining a wide variety of colors and tones as long as you properly
prepare the wood beforehand.
Most pine is best suited for indoor use only, unless it has been specifically
treated to be used in outdoor applications, as in the case of pressure
treated lumber, which is also covered in this list of types of wood.
Uses of the Pine
Manufacture of indoor furniture of medium quality. Normally of rustic
appearance when the wood is seen.
Interior carpentry: doors, windows, platforms, friezes, etc.
In some cases, it is also used in exterior carpentry but not especially

exposed. For example in doors and windows.
Construction: beams and ceilings.
Laminated wood.
Enlisted and plywood boards.
HARDWOOD
KAMAGONG
One of the most beautiful types of wood, kamagong, is known for its color
that ranges from dark brown to deep black. It is known for its hardness
and resistance to impact and is one of the rarest and most expensive
woods locally because of its commercial unavailability. This is due to the
fact that kamagong is an endangered tree species and is protected by
Philippine law.
Deep root make it an effective windbreaker.
ideal for: Small, decorative pieces and combat tools like arnis sticks and
eskrima
MOLAVE /TUGAS
is valued for its strong and durable yet finely textured wood. Mature
trees can reach a height of 15 meters, but they have become
increasingly rare due to over-harvesting and excessive logging. Like the
kamagong, the molave is also on the list of endangered trees.
Ideal for: window frames, shipbuilding, structural posts, railroad tracks,
and other outdoor applications
Ideal for: window frames, shipbuilding, structural posts, railroad tracks,

and other outdoor applications
Yakal
Shorea astylosa or yakal reaches heights of about 25-30 meters when

mature, and is commonly found in low altitude forests in Quezon,
Camarines, Zamboanga, and Davao. This type of wood is mostly used
for construction because of its strength and ability to withstand pressure
or damage.
Ideal for: furniture, surface finishes, small weapons, and outdoor

constructions
Tanguile
Although not considered as real mahogany because of its wavy grain
and coarse texture, Shorea polysperma or tanguile is popularly known as
Philippine mahogany. It has a beautiful, reddish sheen that stands out
when used on doors, cabinetry, and furniture pieces.
Ideal for: interior finishes, cabinets, boat building

Narra
Considered our national tree, narra is known for its sturdiness and
resistance to termites and decay. While it is often yellowish to purplish
in color, it can be stained in a variety of finishes for use in furniture and
accessories, and as a furnishing material for interiors.
Ideal for: furnishings, floor planks, wall panels

WOOD USED IN ARCHITECTURE
PROPERTIES OF WOOD
Hardness
This is measured by the compression which a piece of timber undergoes
when a weight is applied to it.
Flexibility
The amount of piece will bend before reaking . Softwoods are generally
brittle while most hardwoods are flexible.
Strength
Wood is very strong in tension and compression parallel to the grain
direction. However, the properties perpendicular to the grain direction tend
to be poor.
Durability
Wood has the ability to absorb and release moisture, and is resistant to
many of the chemicals and conditions that adversely affect steel and
concrete, such as corrosive salts, dilute acids, industrial stack gases, sea
air, and extreme climate variances.
DEFECTS OF WOOD
Decay Caused by the attack of fungi.
Checks Cracks or lengthwise separation across the annual

rings of growth caused by irregular shrinkage during drying. Checks are
formed when the circumference shrinks more than the interior section of
the log.
Shakes These are cracks between and parallel to the annual rings of the
growth.
Knots These are irregular growths in the body of a tree which interrupt
the smooth curve of the grain. The fibers of the tree are turned from
their normal course and grow around the knot at that point of the tree.
Pitchpockets These are well defined openings between annual rings
containing solid or liquid pitch.
Wane This is the lack of wood on the edge or corner of a piece.
Warping Any variation with the plane surface of the piece caused by
unequal shrinkage of the board. There are forms of warp:
Crook
a distortion of the board in which the edge is convex or concave
longitudinal.
Bow
a distortion of the board in which the face is convex or concave longitudinal.
Cup
a distortion of the board in which the face is convex or concave across the
board.
Twist
a distortion of the board in which one corner is raised.
CLASSIFICATION OF LUMBER
Wood that is used in construction is called LUMBER.
Lumber is classified by its size or dimensions measured in inches, for

example, a piece of lumber measuring 2 inches by 4 inches is called 2 x 4.
Generally, they are available in even numbered widths:
4, 6, 8, 10,12 inches.
There are four available classifications of lumber:
a. Strips . Lumber less than 2” thick and less than 8” wide.
b. Board Lumber . Pieces less than 2” thick and at least 8” wide.
c. Dimension Lumber . Pieces more than 2” and less than 5” in any dimension.
d. Timbers . Pieces 5” or more on the smallest dimension
The two most common classifications are
1. Dimension Lumber and
2. Board Lumber
It is important to realize that the stated size of lumber is not its actual
finished size.
Nominal size
is the size of lumber when it is cut from the log. After cutting, the lumber is
dried and then planed on all four sides to achieve smoothness. The
finished size is therefore smaller.
MEASUREMENT OF LUMBER
Lumber is sold in lengths from 6’ up to 20’ in increments of 2’. Special

lengths greater than 20’ are also available but cost more per board foot
than the standard lengths. Lumber measure is the board foot which may
be described as the measure of a piece of wood 1” thick, 12” (or 1’) wide
and 12” (or 1’) long.
Board Feet = Thickness (in.) x Width (in.) x Length (ft.)

12
Examples:
Compute the number of board feet in (a) a piece of ¾” x 8” x 10’; (b) 10
pcs. of 2” x 6” x 14’; (c) 5 pcs. of 1” x 4” x 10’
1 x 1 x 8 x 10 = 6 2/3 or 7 bd. ft.

12
10 x 2 x 6 x 14 = 140 bd.
12
5 x 1 x 4 x 10 = 16 2/3 or 17 bd. ft.
12
All lumber is sized according to its rough dimensions as it comes from the
saw, its size, however, is reduced after being surfaced or dressed by a
planer.
Thus, for example, 2 x 4 surfaced on four sides (S4S) will only be 1 3/4 x
3 -3/4. Dressed lumber costs slightly more than rough.
WOOD COMPOSITES
Wood Composites are those products made from a mixture of wood and
other materials. Most wood composites are produced in large sheets,
usually 1220mm (4’) x 2440mm (8’).
Plywood is the most common wood composite. It gets its name from its
construction: it is made of several thin plies, or veneers, of wood that
have been glued together. Each ply or veneer is glued so that its grain is
at right angles to the grain of the previous ply.
The outside plies are called the face and the back, and the center plies
are called the core. The cross layering make plywood very stable and
strong.
PLYWOOD
Coatings or layers of protective material over the surface are good only for
interior purposes because they are not durable when exposed to the
weather.
These are water soluble, fire retardant chemicals generally are trade
marked formulation of ammonium phosphate, borax or sodium silicate
combined with other materials to provide adherence to the wood, brush
ability, appearance and color.
There are also chemicals with low water soluble such as zinc borate,
chlorinated paraffin and chlorinated rubber which are used for fire
retardant coatings.
P1 EXAM
COVERAGE: WOOD
DEC. 21,2023 @ 1PM
ROOM : TBA

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ARC 041

Hardwoods come from the broad leaved or deciduous trees. Most

The terms “hardwood” and “softwood” are often misleading because

Interior carpentry: doors, windows, platforms, friezes, etc.

In some cases, it is also used in exterior carpentry but not especially

Ideal for: window frames, shipbuilding, structural posts, railroad tracks,

Shorea astylosa or yakal reaches heights of about 25-30 meters when

Ideal for: furniture, surface finishes, small weapons, and outdoor

Ideal for: interior finishes, cabinets, boat building

Ideal for: furnishings, floor planks, wall panels

Checks Cracks or lengthwise separation across the annual

Wood that is used in construction is called LUMBER.

Lumber is classified by its size or dimensions measured in inches, for

Lumber is sold in lengths from 6’ up to 20’ in increments of 2’. Special

Board Feet = Thickness (in.) x Width (in.) x Length (ft.)

1 x 1 x 8 x 10 = 6 2/3 or 7 bd. ft.

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