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Harvesting Wood for Log Cabins |
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There are a few types of timber out there, to say the least!
Today most timber is harvested just like any other soft commodity, with one glaring exception. Wood takes a long time to grow!
In Sweden we have, since the early 50s, had a policy of replanting much more than we use! These enables our forests and nature a good opportunity to recover what is lost in the harvest and also give our wildlife new areas (harvested areas are left open) to grow.
The policy of letting the ground stand open is simple, the structure works like this.
A, we harvest
B, we plant new seedlings (of whatever the type we harvested)
C, leave the site alone for new wildlife to move in such as badgers, foxes and even wolfs!
Later, much later, we can harvest this forest again, a truly sustainable policy.
Currently the policy is 2.5, which translates into 2.5 new trees for each that is harvested.
This policy has lead Sweden to have much more forest areas than a 100 years ago!!
Wood from well managed forests is environmentally friendly and uniquely renewable
It reduces the effect of global warming as trees and wood products act as carbon sinks
It reduces energy use for heating because of its thermal efficiency
It is recyclable
At the end of its use, it can be used as a bio-fuel.
good performance
Wood has a high strength-to-weight ratio. Strength for strength, pine and spruce are 16 times lighter than steel and 5 times lighter than concrete
Wood has good fire performance. When timber burns it builds up a protective char layer which insulates the remaining section. This and its low co-efficient of expansion mean its mechanical properties are less affected by fire than other materials like steel, which can buckle and collapse at temperatures little higher than the ignition point for timber
Rot is caused by wood remaining wet and poor maintenance. It can easily be prevented by allowing wood to dry properly and treating with recommended stains, paints and preservatives.
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