Timber Cladding - Why Wood?

For centuries, Architects and Designers have chosen to build with wood because of it's unique characteristics and everlasting appeal. In all it's forms, timber has always been a supremely versatile natural resource which is available in endless combinations of species & finishes. One of it's many advantages is the excellent strength-to-weight ratio inherent within timber, which lends itself to most building applications, whether internal or external, hardwood or softwood. The terms "softwood" and "hardwood" are in fact misnomers as they bear no relation to the physical hardness of the timber, they simply determine the type of tree. "Softwoods" are evergreen cone-bearing trees with tough needle like leaves such as pine, spruce and fir. "Hardwoods" are the timber of deciduous broad-leaved trees ranging from the extremely hard, such as ebony, to a lightweight, soft species such as tulipwood.

Wood and the environment...
As an environmentally friendly resource, wood has no equal. Unlike many of the earth's other natural resources such as coal or iron ore, there is very little energy involved in it's production and little or no toxic or chemical waste. Wood is in fact nature's only "truly natural" renewable resource. All timber supplied by BCL is certified as having originated from "renewable" sources, where responsible forest management policies are adopted, in accordance with the supply country's relevant laws as well as the regulatory guidelines established within the industry.

Wood and fire...
Despite it's many qualities, wood is a combustible material and as such, like many other building materials, is susceptible to the risks of fire. When timber is exposed to fire, non-combustible gases and water vapours are produced and a layer of protective "char" forms on the surface. This inherent resistance prevents combustion and insulates the material against further change. The behaviour of wood in a fire is extremely predictable and it's structural integrity is maintained longer than many other materials such as steel and concrete, which are prone to buckle or collapse.