Wood or Concrete for Construction?

Construction
Looking at history, we find that builders have used wood and concrete for a very long time. It should be for a good reason. Both materials possess properties that make them a good choice as building materials.
In this article, we will have a look at the long-lived debate between wood and concrete. First, there are some few considerations to keep in mind.

We should understand that this questions has various perspectives which will affect how we look at the pros and cons of both. We also recognize the difference between short-term advantages and long-term benefits. By this, we mean that a material may give you benefits on the long run that may outweigh the drawbacks shows to day. While you are reading, you should keep your own priorities in mind.

Concrete

Concrete is the most popular material for construction in the world. In fact, it is the second used material after water. Concrete has numerous advantages that makes it very popular:

  • Very durable
  • Needs low maintenance
  • Does not rust
  • Retains heat so it increases the energy efficiency 
  • Resist fire
  • Effective soundproofing material

Yet, concrete still shows some cons:

Disadvantages of Concrete

  • More expensive
  • Heavy & difficult to transport  
  • Takes time to build with
  • Susceptible to salt efflorescence
  • may be vulnerable to durability issues

Timber 

Just like concrete, wood, or timber has its benefits and its drawbacks as a building material:

Advantages of Wood

  • Light
  • Easy to work with
  • Takes less time in construction
  • less costly
  • Readily available since it is a natural resource 

Disadvantages of Wood

  • Can be a suitable spot for mold growth espcially if there is high moistures
  • plenty of moisture can cause structural problems
  • Vulnerable to fire
  • Decays

Sustainability 

Wood is a natural building material that is sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Wood stores carbon dioxide, which leads to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions .

On contrary, concrete takes a lot of resources to produce. Cement is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Many people hold the assumption that since cement production is harmful for the environment, concrete will be the same. But this point can not be totally true. Let’s have a look at the other side of the coin.

Concrete is durable—it has a service life that is 2-3 times longer than other common building materials. It provides better energy efficiency because it absorbs and retains heat, reducing the cost of heating systems. In addition, the reflective properties of concrete  decreases the air-conditioning costs in the hot summers.

How about Safety?

Generally speaking, timber is not as safe as concrete. Wood is vulnerable when exposed to external threats like fire, wind, insects, moisture, and mold. Any of these things can cause a serious structural or safety problem.

Looking at concrete; while it is durable, it can cause some risk. When a concrete building collapse, falling concrete could seriously injure anyone who is nearby.

Now after you read this post, which one would you choose wood or concrete?