A-Z of Self Build Guides Materials Sourcebook: Wood

Date Published:

03/06/2008

There's such a huge choice of building materials out there that it can be a mammoth task deciding what to use where. We guide you through the materials maze to help you pick the best ones for your new home.

Ebony & Co

Natural, sustainable, environmentally friendly and available in a wide variety of species, colours, and finishes, it's no wonder that wood is perennially popular. It is also very versatile; its functions include rafters, studwork, joists, floors, doors, windows, decking and staircases, solid timber construction and timber frame - the fastest growing method of house building in the UK - and it is increasingly competing with steel and concrete in larger structures.

What are its Eco Credentials?

Wood literally does grow on trees, which naturally absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and produce oxygen. Once harvested, it continues to store carbon for the rest of its life. Although it is a renewable resource, demand exceeds supply and you should buy products that derive from accredited, sustainably-managed forests, where new trees are planted to replace the ones cut down. Check that there's a certificate from the Forest Stewardship Council or a similar body, and buy from a local source if possible, so that it doesn't have to travel far and its impact on the environment is reduced. If you are watching the carbon footprint of your build, don't forget that exotic woods, like teak, have to travel a long way to be here, whereas woods such as English oak are local, and will have to travel a fraction of the distance.