The numerous advantages of wood make it an apt material for various aspects of house construction and designing. The use of this natural material not only brings uniqueness but also adds grandeur with a touch of timeless beauty to the house.
Wood has been used as an interior design accessory since times immemorial. The versatility, great visual appeal and the wide variety available in solid wood derived from special tree trunks is processed and polished for various purposes.
Lumber is bifurcated into two broad categories – hardwood and softwood. However this does not mean that hardwood is harder than softwood. Hardwood is a term applied to the lumber derived from trees that produce seeds with a covering, also called angiosperm trees. These are denser, which makes them immensely sturdy. These are also very expensive due to their scarcity. Deciduous trees like Oak, Mahogany, Cherry, Walnut, Teak, Rosewood and Maple are some of the examples. These have perfect texture and their patterns add richness and class to your home design.
Softwood on the other hand is from trees that produce seeds without a covering and are also called gymnosperm trees. These are less dense and can be cut into desired shapes with ease. This kind of lumber is derived from coniferous trees like Pine, Cedar, Beech, Redwood and Fir. Each of these possesses a distinct characteristic and need to be used appropriately. Mahogany, teak, pine, oak and maple work best for furniture whereas Cedar and Redwood are used largely for outdoor projects. Depending on the quality, these are classified into two major grades – Select Lumber for the best quality and Common Lumber which comes with slight defects. Each of these undergoes further gradation to provide a perfect description of the quality.
Solid lumber is used for designing the interior of a house, especially for beautiful furniture and cabinets. Door panels, window frames, floors, walls, ceilings, staircase, decks and even an entire house can be built with it. The toughness and durability of this naturally occurring building material has lured interior designers to create exotic house designs. Being resilient to heat, erosion, dust and frost and a bad conductor of heat and cold, it is durable and acts as a natural insulator. The patterns and designs of the exotic lumber pieces are exquisite and can be further carved to create beautiful designs.
Woods with various shades, scales and grain alignment can be patterned to create unique house designs. Lumber houses and doors prevent sound from outside penetrating into the house and allow a peaceful ambience. In earthquake prone zones, lumber houses are the safest option as they are lighter than concrete houses and can be easily rebuilt. Wood frames are the most common building element mainly because of their low cost and easy maneuverability during construction.
Lumber can be maintained for a long time quite conveniently by periodic cleaning. It is highly porous in nature, which leads to water absorption. In order to prevent this undesirable occurrence, these furniture pieces should be kept moisture free. When used for exteriors, lumber must be treated with extra varnishing to prevent moisture penetration. Timely polishing can help retain luster for a longer duration. You can design wood to suit any kind of home design, be it traditional, contemporary or any other style.