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Lightweight yet strong, timber framing is easier to handle, transport and install than many alternative building materials.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber delivers proven structural performance while being easier to handle, transport and install.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber has a high strength-to-weight ratio.
- Timber delivers strong structural performance without the weight of many alternative materials.
- Dry, seasoned radiata pine delivers structural performance comparable to steel while weighing substantially less.
- Lighter materials can simplify transport and onsite handling.
- Less weight can mean easier installation and construction logistics.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Lightweight Timber Framing Guide
150 seconds is all it takes for Australia's plantations to regrow enough structural timber to frame an average house. That's why timber is The Ultimate Renewable™.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber comes from a renewable resource that can be regrown or replanted.
TALKING POINTS
- Structural timber is grown in managed plantations and forests.
- Harvested trees are replanted as part of a continuous cycle.
- Australia's plantations grow enough structural timber to frame an average house every 150 seconds.
- Using timber supports the ongoing cycle of growing, harvesting and replanting forests.
SOURCE
FWPA How Fast You Can Grow a House?
WoodSolutions Carbon Calculator
Trees absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, keeping it safely locked inside the timber for the life of your home.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber continues storing carbon long after the tree has been harvested.
TALKING POINTS
- Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere as they grow.
- About half the dry weight of timber is stored carbon.
- Timber keeps storing that carbon long after the tree is harvested.
- Timber buildings can store carbon for decades.
- An average Australian timber-framed home stores more than 10 tonnes of CO₂e. That's equivalent to approximately 126 one-way flights from Melbourne to Sydney.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions TDG 46 – Wood Construction Systems
FWPA Carbon Guides
FWPA Carbon Calculator
Timber-framed buildings can deliver a service life of at least 50 years when properly designed and maintained.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber buildings are designed to deliver decades of reliable performance.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber-framed buildings can achieve a service life of at least 50 years.
- Timber buildings are designed for long-term performance when properly maintained.
- Australian standards provide durability requirements for timber construction.
- Good design and maintenance help maximise building life.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Timber Service Life Design Guide
Timber's natural insulating properties help keep homes comfortable while reducing energy use.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber helps create comfortable homes that use less energy to heat and cool.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber is a natural insulator.
- It transfers heat more slowly than highly conductive materials.
- Good thermal performance helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
- Better insulation can help reduce ongoing energy use from heating and cooling demand.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Benefits of Timber Design
Building with timber in termite-prone areas is common practice, with proven treatments available to manage termite risk.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber framing is successfully used throughout Australia's termite-prone regions.
TALKING POINTS
- Building with timber in termite-prone areas is common practice.
- Proven termite management systems are widely used across Australia.
- Treated timber products are available for termite-prone areas.
- Building standards include termite management requirements, meaning it is safe to use timber in termite prone areas.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Termite Management
Timber forms a protective char layer during a fire, helping maintain structural integrity and providing greater predictability in how the structure performs.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber performs in a known and measurable way during a fire.
TALKING POINTS
- Large timber elements form a protective char layer when exposed to fire.
- The char layer helps protect the remaining timber beneath, helping it to maintain its structure.
- Timber can retain structural capacity during a fire event.
- Fire performance can be calculated and designed for by following a fire design guide that is compliant with the National Construction Code.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Fire Design Guides
WoodSolutions TDG 46
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