From hotels and multi-storied apartment buildings to the house that your family calls home, wood framing has come a long way. It's no wonder wood is such a popular choice for construction projects, as it provides many benefits including being strong, durable, and relatively easy to work with.
However, there are still some misconceptions about wood framing that need to be addressed. In this article, we examine 5 common misconceptions about working with wood for your framing needs and what the truth to each misconception is, based on our experience as one of the most respected wood framing contractors in Massachusetts for the past 15 years.
5 Common Misconceptions About Wood
1. Wood is not as strong as steel
While it is true that wood is never going to be as strong as steel, the truth is that it doesn't have to be. Steel is rigid, and inflexible and can easily warp if too much stress is placed on it. Wood on the other hand is flexible and a lot more forgiving. This means that it's able to handle loads without the risk of snapping or breaking under pressure. Additionally, an important point to note is that should a wooden beam snap for whatever reason, it's a lot easier and cheaper to swap out the single beam of wood as compared to a steel beam. This in and of itself is the main reason why wood is so much more popular for framing.
2. Wood will rot
Like any natural material, including steel, wood is susceptible to wear and tear, in this case, rot. More often than not though, we rarely see construction lumber rot as it's been specially treated to withstand rot, provided it's maintained properly and regularly.
3. Wood is a fire hazard
By far and away, this is the biggest misconception about wood. Yes, like any natural material, it does and will burn eventually, but the sustained temperature needed to set treated, construction lumber ablaze would damage steel beams just as easily. What this means is that there's no greater danger to your home with wooden frames than if your home has steel frames. The only difference would be the amount of money you would need to sink into the steel frame, but more on that later.
4. Wood is expensive
It's an unfortunate misconception that wood is a much more expensive material than steel. When compared to the cost of steel, wood is quite affordable, and given how plentiful it is all across the country, the chances of it being more expensive than steel are next to none.
5. Wood is difficult to work with
The last incorrect assumption we have seen in our conversation with contractors and homeowners is that wood is difficult to work with. While wood can be challenging to work with and requires experience to be used correctly, it is quite easy to cut, drill and shape. Much more so than steel. This makes wood an ideal choice for many different framing projects.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped to clear up some of the misconceptions about wood framing. As you can see, wood is a very strong, versatile, and affordable material that is easy to work with, making it an ideal choice for your next home building or commercial construction framing project in Massachusetts. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our wood framing services, please feel free to contact us today.