Wood is the Material of the Future
- For every cubic metre of wood used instead of other building materials, 0.8 tonne of CO2 is saved from the atmosphere.
- Wood grows naturally. Unlike other materials, Stratalam manufacture needs very little energy and is in fact almost carbon neutral.
- Wood products act as a carbon sink throughout their life.
- Wood has the lowest energy consumption and the lowest
CO2 emission of any commonly used building material.
- Wood’s thermal insulation properties means that buildings using wood consume less energy through their life cycle.
- Wood is uniquely renewable.
- Using wood encourages forest planting increasing the carbon sink effect.
- Wood can be recycled
- Wood is bio-degradable
Engineered timber manufacturing is substantially less damaging to the environment that aluminium, steel and cement based products.
Wood is the fundamental construction material of mankind for good reasons. It can do things that few other materials can't do. Those that think the current drive for energy efficiency and sustainability are just a passing fad should realise that sustainable design will become one of the most significant drivers of engineering and construction over the coming decades. New Zealand Pine and Douglas Fir are a renewable resource. Plantation forestry has changed the source of timber over the last fifty years, replacing the use of natural forests with New Zealand plantation grown trees that are totally sustainable like Pinus Radiata and Douglas Fir.
During the past fifty years, ongoing research and experience in genetic selection, silviculture and method of conversion of New Zealand logs, has resulted in many unique properties. These properties are used in New Zealand engineered timber like Stratalam.
More Durable, Less Maintenance
Structurally engineered timbers such as Stratalam are as durable and low maintenance as steel and masonry products. However, Stratalam offers true sustainability. Green design is no longer an alternative design. It is rapidly becoming mainstream for architects and other design professionals to specify a quality, sustainable, clean, friendly and natural product.
Texture and Appearance
The fast growth of plantation timber has no adverse effect on its machining properties. Sanding, boring, planing and turning with machine tools produces excellent results.
Finishing
New Zealand engineered timber does not require special primers. All types of interior and exterior stains, oils, varnishes and paints may be used.
Fastening
New Zealand engineered timber has good resistance to splitting. It can be nailed and screwed particularly well. Uniform density allows for excellent finger jointing.
Dimensional Stability
New Zealand engineered timber has low shrinkage and this stability is increased by the use of finger jointing. As a result glulam products are used widely in Japan where maximum stability is required.
Durability
New Zealand engineered timber must be preservative treated for exterior uses however, it is one of the most permeable wood species and treatments are very successful. Stratalam has service life guarantees for its products in external situations. (Stratalam has a warranted service life of 50 years in accordance with the New Zealand Building Standards Authority)
