Why It’s Time to Ditch Traditional Wood for Home Improvements, Whenever Possible

It isn’t entirely feasible to consider skipping wood completely in construction and renovation yet, but it is time to reduce timber usage, as much and wherever possible. If you are unsure about why that’s worth doing, go through the following, as we discuss some of the most important reasons in brief detail.

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Deforestation: The Timber Industry is One of the Main Causes Behind Deforestation

Deforestation simply means loss of trees from a previously forested area, and since the timber industry is based on cutting down trees, the relationship couldn’t be more direct or clear.

Of course, there are responsible timber companies out there and developed nations have very strict laws about protecting their forests.Unfortunately, premium, old and exotic wood comes from primarily three regions of the planet, South America and parts of Asiaand Africa where the forests are not as well protected.

The Amazon rainforest and the Sub-Saharan African forests, which hold most of the planet’s forested lands to date,have experienced deforestation in the region of billions of hectaresin the last two decades alone. Therefore, almost all timber that comes from these regions is a part of the massive deforestation that’s threatening the planet right now.

We Have Feasible, Practical and Better Alternative Materials Now

The use of metal in construction is a much more durable and eco-friendly choice, as compared to using wood. On the other hand, the use of polystyrene, polyurethane, and Styrofoam for manufacturing gorgeous ceiling tiles and wall panels gives us the option to choose cheaper, eco-friendly, and versatile options. There’s almost always a greener and more economical option in both construction and renovation now, and it’s about time we all started exploring them.

Wood is Simply Not as Durable as Its Modern Alternatives are

Some species of trees produce stronger wood than others, but all wood is organic by nature and has varying degrees ofhygroscopicity.It is for these reasons that wood, by default, will eventually deteriorate and rot away much faster than inorganic materials like metal, composite or Styrofoam, for example.

Proper maintenance can make wood last a lot longer, but even that adds more expense to the original cost.Considering the environmental impact, the high maintenance costs and the low durability, wood just does not make much sense anymore from a very immediate and practical point of view either. In other words, there is everything to gain from abandoning wood in home improvement projects and practically nothing to lose here.

Reclaimed wood is another option that we did not mention on the list because it’s more expensive than freshly logged wood. However, those that are looking for the best quality timber will find that matured wood collected from ancient structures is actually more durable and better grained than any fresh-cut timber could possibly be. Do make sure that it’s being sold by an authentic source that checks and treats the collected wood thoroughly for pests and internal damage though.