Publications
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.
- Softwood timber delivers proven 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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Timber's versatility allows it to be cut, shaped and adapted with precision, helping builders respond quickly to onsite changes and challenges.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber helps builders adapt quickly when conditions change onsite.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber can be cut, shaped and modified using familiar tools.
- Design changes can often be accommodated quickly.
- Adjustments are easier to make during construction.
- Timber offers flexibility across a wide range of building types.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions TDG 46 – Wood Construction Systems
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Timber products generally require less energy to produce than many alternative structural materials, helping reduce the environmental impact of construction from the start.
WHY IT MATTERS
The environmental impact of a building starts long before it's occupied.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber generally requires less energy to manufacture than many alternative structural materials.
- Material choices influence a building's embodied impact.
- Environmental impacts occur before operational energy use begins.
- Timber can contribute to lower-impact construction outcomes.
- The use of wood products rather than alternative materials can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 51%.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions TDG 46 – Environmental Advantages
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Timber framing makes it easier and faster to install plumbing and electrical services, using familiar tools and construction methods.
WHY IT MATTERS
Faster service installation can help keep projects moving.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber framing works well with common plumbing and electrical systems.
- Trades are familiar with timber construction methods.
- Services can often be installed quickly and efficiently.
- Timber construction uses tools and techniques already familiar to most trades.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Timber Framing Resources
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Timber framing is easy to modify and adapt, making future extensions and renovations simpler.
WHY IT MATTERS
How we live in our homes changes over time, and timber can make those changes easier.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber framing is straightforward to modify and adapt.
- Extensions can often be integrated efficiently into existing structures.
- Alterations can be easier to accommodate without complex rework.
- Timber offers flexibility throughout the life of the building.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Timber Framing Resources
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Timber framing supports efficient construction methods, from traditional building to prefabricated systems.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber supports traditional construction as well as modern building methods, meaning we can build more homes sooner.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber is well suited to prefabricated and offsite construction.
- Components can be manufactured before arriving onsite.
- Modern timber systems can improve construction efficiency.
- Timber supports faster and more productive building methods.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions TDG 46 – Wood Construction Systems
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Timber framing helps create quieter, more stable homes, with less movement from temperature changes and reduced risk of premature cracking in plaster linings.
WHY IT MATTERS
Timber framing can help create homes that feel more comfortable, stable and quieter to live in.
TALKING POINTS
- Timber has natural sound-dampening properties that help reduce sound transmission and echo.
- Timber's internal cell structure absorbs sound energy, helping create quieter indoor environments.
- Timber framing remains stable during temperature changes, helping avoid premature cracking in plaster linings
- Stable wall and ceiling finishes can help maintain the appearance of a home over time.
- Timber is commonly used in acoustic applications where sound control is important.
SOURCE
WoodSolutions Timber Framing Resources
Benefits of Timber Design
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Australian coastlines are tough on buildings. Timber framing won't rust, making it a practical choice for coastal environments
WHY IT MATTERS
Building near the coast requires materials that can withstand the harsh conditions of salt-laden air.
TALKING POINTS
- Many Australian homes are built along the nation's coastal fringes
- Coastal environments increase corrosion risks
- Timber framing does not rust.
- Timber does not corrode.
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