Off Site Timber Frame Construction

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Off site timber frame construction is now recognised as a good strategy for minimising waste through efficient manufacturing and design processes. Also known as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), offsite construction has many distinct advantages. Benefits such as quality, shortened construction times, cost control, increases in quality and environmental credentials have led to MMC becoming adopted by the construction industry.

Off site timber construction can help to dramatically reduce the amount of on-site waste that is generated during the assembly and erection of a building.

The Role of Construction in Sustainable Development

The construction industry has a huge impact on everybody’s quality of life by contributing to sustainable development. The focus of sustainable development is on making improvements to the quality of life for everyone, while minimising the use of natural resources. This ensures that these natural resources are not consumed beyond the environments capacity to indefinitely supply these materials.

In fact, sustainable development is as old as humanity itself. Historically many cultures have identified the need to live harmoniously with nature, and to consume natural resources responsibly.

Off Site Timber Frames

In many parts of the world it is now understood that off site timber frames are a sustainable construction solution that lend themselves well to small buildings in all sectors. Timber frames are environmentally friendly in many ways. The timber itself is a product of sustainably managed forests. However, because the frames are assembled at the factory, there is no onsite waste. A significant amount of wasted timber can be generated through off cuts alone. Timber at the factory can be cut to ensure that waste is minimised. Any waste that is produced can then be used to produce lower grade timber products such as MDF and chip board. The amount of waste that is sent to landfill is negligible.

There is now legislation throughout EU member states that specifically requires contractors and developers to deal with waste efficiently. This is as cost effective as it is environmentally sound.

The thermo-efficient properties of wood make it a naturally ecologically sound building material. This is one of the reasons for its popularity in Scandinavian countries and other countries with colder climates such as Canada. The availability of the material has also historically made it an obvious choice.

However, increasing environmental credentials is not the only benefit. When timber frames are manufactured off site, they can be subjected to far more rigorous quality control procedures. Many manufacturers of timber frames within the EU use only the highest quality and certified materials. Typically only EU sustainably produced slow growing hardwoods are used. This minimises the environmental impact of the product, but it also ensures that the timber is both rigid and strong.

Timber frame construction also allows for floor cassettes and floor panels to be produced within a controlled environment. This means that the product can be tested on multiple occasions before it reaches the site. Because each element of the superstructure is checked so thoroughly to ensure accuracy, this enables rapid assembly and erection.

Timber frame construction has been an industry standard in Scandinavia and other Northern European countries. However, until recently, brick and block construction has been the traditional choice for residential dwellings in the UK.

Timber frame construction has become more common in the UK in recent years. It is now mainly used for residential single occupancy dwellings of 3 stories or less, small commercial buildings of under seven stories and small institutional buildings of under seven stories.

The United Kingdom’s timber frame market generally consists of three forms of assembly:

1, Stick build: This is where timber is pre-cut to length for joists, studs but assorted random lengths are also included for top plates, bottom plates and the sole. These are delivered to site as kits which are then assembled.

2, Panelised walls: This makes up a majority of timber frame construction in the UK. Pre-manufactured timber frame panels are delivered to site. Upon arrival they are ready for assembly to form both non-load bearing interior partition walls and structural load bearing walls. Panelised wall elements usually include features such as windows, doors, insulation, services, interior lining and exterior finishes.

3, Roof/floor cassettes: These are similar to the wall panels, only they are manufactured to a larger size that is suitable for floors and roofs. Floor boards, beams and the joists are included at the very least. Services, lining and insulation can also be added during the manufacturing process in more advanced systems.

Generally speaking, a huge advantage of timber frame structures is that no further modification of the elements is required during assembly and erection. However, when completing some interior patrician walls and external load bearing walls, it will be necessary to use various loose materials which often include:

  • Nails and screws
  • Plastic and timber shims
  • Connecting plates and sole plates
  • Breather membrane
  • A vapour control layer (often polyethylene)
  • Insulation (this is most likely to be mineral fibre)

The engineer is able to have an in depth and precise understanding and knowledge of materials that are required for the assembly of a structure. This is applicable both on site and at the factory. The elements are billable and therefore traceable and this, in turn, means that controlling any additional materials which may be sent to site is easier. This is highly advantageous in terms of eliminating the unnecessary waste of materials. The main operations on site are limited to the unloading of materials and assembly of floor, roof and wall panels to complete the structure. This is usually accomplished by nailing panels together and further modifications are not required. Most of the waste was generated during the manufacturing process at the factory.

The timber frame industry is typically responsible and pro-active when it comes to working with low carbon, sustainable and natural materials. However, the timber frame industry is able to offer significant benefits to the wider construction industry. Timber frames have a significant positive impact on the construction of buildings in terms of reducing the carbon footprint of structures and sustainability.

Many companies that manufacture timber frames constantly review their design and manufacturing processes. They also understand the need to invest in machinery and software which will optimise efficiency and reduce waste even further. Many even recycle their waste to produce other lower grade timber products at the factory.

This approach dramatically reduces the demand for raw materials as well as the amount of waste produced. Waste is segregated at the point of generation and the management of this waste can be combined with reusing and recycling materials. The production of zero waste to landfill is achievable.

Sustainable Forestry, Biological Diversity and Conservation

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Managing forests in regards to conservation was addressed in 1992 at the United Nation’s Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, also known as the Conference on Environment and Development. At that time, the need to develop an international model for sustainable forestry practices was identified. This was due to concern over the rapid deforestation in certain parts of the globe.

The UK was among one of the countries that highlighted the need for an international agreement that would be legally binding, in regards to a framework for sustainably managing the world’s forest resources. The goal was a Convention to compliment those on Climate Change, Desertification and Biological Diversity. However, there were other countries that objected to a Convention on Forests, as they believed that this would lead to their rights to use their own natural resources being compromised. Due to this opposition the Statement of Forest Principles, which is non-legally binding, was introduced instead of a Convention.

The Statement of Forest Principals established a global framework for the conservation, development and sustainable management of forests.

In global terms, The UK’s forests cover a small area. However, the United Kingdom’s Forestry Commission plays a significant role in international debates and discussions on forestry. They have been instrumental in their contribution to the development of international sustainable forestry policy. They are committed to sustainable forest management and even co-operate with developing countries on sustainable forestry issues.

Part of the Forestry Commissions’ commitment to sustainable forestry is an emphasis on conservation. Cooperation with charitable trusts such as the Wildlife Trusts, National Trust and Woodland Trust ensures that conservation in UK forests is well supported. This is integral to sustainable forest management as outlined in the UN Statement of Forest Principles.

The Royal Forest of Dean and the Forestry Commission’s Role in Supporting Conservation and Biological Diversity

The Forest of Dean is one of the surviving ancient woodlands in the United Kingdom. Situated in the county of Gloucestershire, England, the mixed woodland covers an area of approximately 100 square kilometres. Today it remains a sustainable working timber producing forest. Although the Forest of Dean consists of mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland, many non-native species of tree are grown for timber production. These include the Japanese Larch, Douglas Fir and Scots Pine. While the Scots Pine occurs naturally in Scotland, it is not native to the South of England.

A balance must be achieved between sustainably grown non-native timber plantations and conserving habitats for native species of plant, insects and animals. Areas that have been specifically allocated for sustainable timber production are offset by nature reserves and conservation areas in the Forest of Dean.

A Forestry Commission Recreation Ranger leads a voluntary group called the Forest of Dean Green Team. Activities such as clearing shrubs and other plants in to maintain habitats for species of plants and animals are undertaken. The county’s leading conservation charity, the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, owns and manages reserves within the Forest of Dean and works with the Forestry Commission to maintain biodiversity and to preserve vital habitats for native species.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the Living Landscapes Project

The Local Action Group awarded the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust a sum of almost £68,000 In January 2011 for their ‘Living Landscapes’ project.

The objective of ‘Living Landscapes’ is the long term implementation of habitat restoration within the county of Gloucestershire. This vision of a sustainable future for wildlife encompasses the Forest of Dean. However, the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust recognises that if the wildlife in the forest is to be sustained, it must be valued by residents. They are working to link residents, the economy and wildlife in order to establish a living landscape within in the Forest of Dean.

Their holistic approach places great emphasis on assisting Forest of Dean residents in connecting with the wildlife in their area. This enables people to identify the unique wildlife that defines their area. This involves working pro actively with the residents in the following ways:

• Identifying wildlife species that are unique to the area and creating Parish Wildlife Maps. The aim of this is to produce maps that will help residents to explore and gain a greater appreciation of their surroundings.

• Training residents in monitoring and surveying skills means that local people are undertaking a land-use survey which can be compared to the findings of a similar previous survey of 1974. This will help to show and quantify changes in land-use. The results will help to motivate residents to become more proactive in conserving local habitats. It will also be useful in influencing planning decisions.

• The Trust are training residents to survey for local species including key local species and Biodiversity Action Plan (BPA) species. This means that residents are able to actively participate in supporting their local wildlife.

• There is also the more practical side of managing habitats on the Trust’s Forest of Dean nature reserves. Tasks are carried by staff and volunteers. The flagship of this is the Woorgreens site where the Trust have partnered with the Forestry Commission. Residents have the opportunity to take an active role in practical conservation and learning new skills in this area.

• Events such as wildlife walks and talks will be a vital component of promoting the enjoyment of these unique local habitats.

Visitors to the Forest of Dean play an important part in the local economy, and this impacts upon residents. A part of encouraging residents to value local wildlife is identifying the fact that a main attraction of the Forest of Dean is the area’s unique wildlife. The Trust will run activities aimed specifically at visitors and will provide leaflets of walks that link nature reserves and other sites of interest. Guided walks are also an important part of this.

Beth Adams of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Takes a Closer Look at Sustainable Woodland and Forest Management in Nature Reserves.

Beth Adams, Volunteer Coordinator at the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, understands the important role that residents have to play in conserving unique local habitats. She is also a resident of the Forest of Dean and has previous experience working as a ranger in Hatfield Forest for the National Trust.

The local Woorgreens nature reserve is a good example of how these elements interact in regards to sustainable forestry. Areas of working forest for timber production surround the Trust’s reserve. In fact, in 2012 the Forestry Commission has already cleared a large area of trees so that the area can be managed for heathland. This is an important natural forest habitat for reptiles, insects, birds and certain plant species such as heather. However, the reserve itself is managed sustainably, as Beth explains.

Sustainable forestry is a huge area, and if you ask some people, sustainable forestry is all about timber production, for some it will be all about conservation and for others it will mean social involvement.

The management of woodlands and forests covers broad economic, environmental and social goals. A significant part of my personal experience in sustainable woodland management is in coppicing. This is an ancient traditional management technique, dating back possibly as far as the Iron Age when people cleared the land.

Coppicing is the art of cutting back trees to within 10 to 20 mm of the stump. Clean stems are left from which suckers or shoots will grow. These coppice stools can then be harvested from anywhere between 7 to 20 years of age. Coppiced species at Woorgreens include trees such as Alder.

We coppice between October and March, because it is easier at this time. Volunteers are encouraged to participate of course! There is less surrounding vegetative growth. Coppicing should not be done after the end of February. This is because we want to ensure that as little damage as possible is done to existing flora. Also, as the bird breeding season is between March to July, we really want to avoid this too. Coppice should not be cut in August either, as this encourages late shoots which will not ripen before the first frosts.

Trees are maintained at a juvenile stage which means that they will never die of old age. Some of the coppice stools that exist today are hundreds and even thousands of years old.

We cut coppice in sections which are known as coups. They are cut on a rotation basis to ensure that there is a coup at every stage of growth. Each year a coup will be cut, so this is sustainable as each year a coup is ready.

Almost all of the native British trees are capable of sprouting new shoots from the cut stumps of established trees. The least vigorous in this respect are the Beech, Birch and Hornbeam.

Managed coppices have a particularly rich flora and fauna. The cyclical cutting of the underwood on a repeated basis opens up the canopy, which encourages a varied ground flora. It also provides both open and sheltered and open spaces. This is a good habitat for birds such as warblers and nightingales. It also creates a good habitat for butterflies, reptiles and dormice too.

Our reserves in the Forest of Dean are managed sustainably and coppicing plays a very important role in this. A further benefit of this is coppicing produce cut from coppice poles.

• Fencing stakes
• Hedging stakes
• Bean poles
• Pea sticks
• Tree sticks
• Fire wood

A Closer Look at Woorgreens Nature Reserve

Woorgreens Nature Reserve is a great example of how the demand for timber and conservation of habitats can be balanced by managing a forest sustainably. The Woorgreens reserve is owned by the Forestry Commission and jointly managed by The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. This results in valuable habitats and biological diversity being maintained.

However, thanks to the joint efforts of the Forestry Commission and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, residents have been encouraged to actively contribute to this conservation. This has engaged local people, and helped them gain a greater appreciation of their local wildlife. Volunteering has been instrumental in this. Large areas of the forest are still available for the creation of plantations for non-native species of tree to be used for sustainable timber production.

In fact, Woorgreens is something of a flagship. The reserve is managed sustainably as we have seen. Events and wildlife walks are held at Woorgreens, so the public are actively encouraged to engage with their environment. Thanks to the efforts of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Forestry Commission, this nature reserve encompasses many important habitats.

• Margins of scalloped grassland support species of caterpillars and butterflies such as the speckled wood, meadow brown and gatekeeper.

• Wet and dry heath ride encourages a dense mixture of bare ground, gorse and heather. This is an ideal habitat for lizards and the adder. Nightjars can be heard in the summer months. This rare bird migrates from Africa to nest in parts of the UK during the late spring and summer.

• Woorgreens Lake is home to species of bird such as mallards, greylag geese and the golden eye. Species of dragonfly and damsel fly such as the brown hawker, common migrant, emperor, ruby darter and large red damsel fly can also be observed at the lake.

• A network of smaller ponds in the reserve, which are linked by ditches create vital areas for frogs, toads and the great crested newt.

• Open grassy areas provide areas in which reptiles such as slow worms and grass snakes can bask in the sun. These areas are also important for species of moth and butterfly.

• The edges of the reserve, where the open areas meet the surrounding forest are of equal importance. These areas are an important habitat for small mammals such as shrews and voles. Many plants also thrive in these sunnier conditions and encourage a greater variety of insects and birds.

Sustainable Forestry Actively Supports Biological Diversity and Impacts Positively Upon Local Communities

It is important to consider the expectations of consumers in regards to sustainable timber products. Because people have become more aware of their impact on the natural environment, conscience is a significant concern when it comes to choosing products. People now expect timber products to originate from sources where such initiatives are a matter of course.

However, such practices are now commonplace within many countries that produce timber, thus balancing economic concerns such as timber production with the issue of conservation. This holistic approach is the essence of sustainable forest management. Many groups and organisations can take an active role and cooperate with one another to ensure sustainability in many diverse ways. Natural resources are managed with maximum efficiency, while biodiversity and the conservation of natural and native habitats is not just maintained, but actively encouraged.

What is Sustainable Forest Management?

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How can Sustainable Timber be used in Homes, Construction and for Renewable Energy?

The term Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) encompasses an extensive set of practices and desired outcomes. This is a broad area, but the intention of SFM is to address the issues of adapting to climate change and limiting carbon emissions.
The timber from our forests is one of the most valuable resources on the entire planet.  The demands for timber and related products should be balanced with the health and biodiversity of the forest to ensure ongoing success in these areas.

In a sustainably managed forest the theory goes that as soon trees are felled new trees can be planted to replace them. This ensures a steady supply of timber to meet both present and future demands. In addition to this, habitats can be created within the area for the purposes of conservation and encouraging biodiversity. A variety of species of tree can be planted and managed. Managing the forest in such a way also has a positive impact on the socio-economic well-being of the local and even global community. Not just at this particular moment in time, but if a forest is managed successfully, these benefits continue for many years into the future.

Sustainable Timber in Homes

Increasing numbers of people are becoming more educated when it comes to matters of sustainability. When sourcing wood products for DIY projects and furniture it is advisable for people in Europe to buy wood products from sustainable European forests. This is because SFM is widely employed in all commercial forestry operations thanks to European legislation.

A working definition of SFM was created by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe MCPFE.  The  UN have also been instrumental in outlining the ‘Forest Principals’ at the Rio de Janeiro 1992 conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)

It is far easier to verify that European timber has been grown sustainably. Tropical timber may carry a sustainability guarantee mark, but forests and habitats have often destroyed in order to produce these products.

Sustainable Timber in Construction

There are an increasing number of legislative drivers pointing the way to sustainability. Embracing sustainability also has other advantages for companies involved in construction. Benefits include added value in terms of enhancing the credibility of their brand, increased consumer confidence and greater value to shareholders.

New initiatives that involve sustainable homes are becoming increasingly commonplace and they originate from the UN’s Agenda 21. This is the United Nation’s plan of action for tackling issues of sustainability through sustainable development. This was also unveiled at the 1992 conference at Rio de Janeiro on Environment and Development (UNCED) along with the ‘Forest Principals’.

So, the use of a sustainably grown timber will become mandatory when it comes to construction. In fact, legislation on sustainable building practices has already been implemented by the EU and although the specifics differ between countries the emphasis on sustainability remains a definite constant.

Selecting suitable materials is extremely important. Using locally produced timber from sustainably managed forests is a good way to minimise the environmental impact of the construction process.

Sustainable Timber and renewable Energy

Heating homes and other buildings with wood is ecologically sound and, if implemented correctly, the result is carbon neutral fuel. As mentioned earlier, if a new tree is planted for every one that is felled in a sustainably managed forest, the result is a steady supply of timber for fuel.  Such a supply could even be increased according to the demands of a population. Using wood for fuel actively encourages and supports the ethos of Sustainable Forest Management. This is not a new concept since historically, tracts of woodland were often managed for this very purpose.

The installation of efficient wood burning stoves and pellet boilers can make good use of this valuable resource. Pellet boilers have long been favoured in Scandinavia and they are now becoming increasingly popular throughout the rest of Europe due to their sustainable credentials.

Sustainable Forest Management has far-reaching implications when it comes to conserving the well being of the planet and both local and global communities. The benefits include local sustainable employment and the creation of jobs and responsible stewardship of the Earth’s resources.  Sustainable Forest Management is a vital component in an arsenal of strategies for addressing climate change and sustainability.

Forest industry in Norway

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Forestry Economic value

Forestry in Norway is one of the country’s largest export commodities, the scale of importance to the nation can be seen if you consider just a few facts.

In 1995 the total forestry industry was worth around

35,000,000,000 NOK

4,700,500,000 EUR

3,922,100,000 GBP

With over 55% of this figure generated from exports, this is one of the prime sources of income for the Norwegian economy. Over thirty thousand people (30,000) are employed in the forestry sector, with many of those living in remote rural districts where there is little to no other type of employment. Nearly all of the lumber used in the timber industry comes from renewable forests which are replanted soon after harvesting has taken place.

 Norwegian Exports

Timber and forest related products equate to around twelve percent of Norwegian product exports. It is a very close second to only the fishing industry, but is a lot larger than both the aluminium and the natural gas industries. The timber industry also is more than double the size than Norway’s high tech industry.

Primary Forestry

The old matured forests produce approximately eleven and half million cubic metres of timber annually. Methods of felling and transportation have changed dramatically over the last few years, increasingly mechanisation is playing a greater role and this is helping to make the forests much more productive. Over thirty percent of all forests are still worked on by there owners, winter months are the when most of the felling and transporting of timber is conducted, this is mainly due to the fact that it is always easier to cut a tree in winter as opposed to summer.

Secondary forest industries

The wood industry has many products, these are usually split into two categories, lumber production  producing,sawn timbers and solid wood products, and then the pulp and paper industry which make use of the wood fibre. This industry produces items such as paper, cardboard etc.

The main type of trees grown Norwegian forests are Coniferous example the pine family of trees, these trees are not only very strong and grow very fast but they also produce long fibre time timber. This long fibre timber is perfect for both the sawn timber, solid woods market but also the paper and pulp industries as well.

Wood Producing Industry

About fifty two percent of the Norwegian round wood logs harvested is consumed by sawmills. Approximately two hundred and twenty 225 sawmills are operating in Norway on an industrial scale.

From as early as the start of the 16th century, Norway has been exporting vast amounts of sawn lumber. After the Second World War, domestic consumption of sawn timber increased and now accounts for the greatest portion of consumption of sawn timber.

Most of the sawn lumber has been utilised nationally. Two the largest building projects in Norway used up large amounts of Norwegian timber, The roof of the Olympic Viking Ship Hall in Hamar, and the construction of the new Oslo Airport, In 2011 the wood processing industry used approximately  5.3 million cubic metres of wood.

The Pulp and Paper Industry

Of all the forest-based products, paper based products seem to have the highest value for export. Board and paper products are being produced on 36 different machines in Norway. Chemical pulp and is being produced at 17 various production units.

Each year, a million tons of newsprint was exported. Additional production of other grades of paper increased and exceeded over 725,000 tons in 1998. The majority of the exports though were exported to Western Europe. Packing paper and various other types of board had amounted to the measure of 435,000 tons and wood pulp and chemical pulp amounted to 625,000 tons.

The exportation value of the paper and pulp industry amounted to 13,500 million in total. Production for the Norwegian market amounted to 3,100 million.

The paper and pulp industries used a total of 8.2 million cubic metres in 1998 including the imported volume of 2.8 million cubic metres. An additional 245,000 tons of recycled paper were used. The paper and pulp industries employed a total of 9,500 people.

Bio-energy industry

100 years ago, wood was the dominate source of energy used in Norway. Oil and electricity were still the major resource of energy and the firewood usage was only 8% of the volume being used over 100 years ago. Forest may have played an increasing factor as a supply of energy. Electricity shortages and km2 taxes on the use of oil have led to renewed interest in the use of bio-energy. The pulp and paper industries were by far the largest producer of bio-energy within Norway.

Transportation industry

The forest industry has been a major user of transportation services. The transportation of wood and forestry products was for 15% of the entire road transportation of goods and 36 % of the railroad infrastructure transportation of goods in Norway. Each year roughly 17 million tons of forest products were transported by road, rail and also by sea. The average distance for every ton of completed and finished forest product was 4,200 km.

Governing Competing Demands for Forest Resources in Sweden

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Sweden is a country that is heavily forested, in fact according to Swedish definition fifty three percent (53%) of the country is covered with productive forest land which equates to approximately 23 million hectares of workable land.  By 1900 Sweden had already emerged as a leader in the international timber market, and since then it has been the forests and the forest industry that has given it the foundation to be a rich and prosperous country. In recent decades, researchers and politicians have talked about the concept of multiple-use forestry; this means a number of functions such as bio-diversity and water quality, as well as cultural and social activities related to forests are being increasingly included in parallel with the traditional function of timber production.

Forests produce both public and private goods and services and to a large extent society has relied on the delivery of these goods and services as a by=product of different forest-related activities.  Due to population and economic growth the supply of these goods and services from forests has diminished considerably all over the world and the pressure on forests is expected to increase even further during the 21st century.  This presents a challenge to land-owners and policy makers, who must make trade-offs between different forest functions both now and in the future.

This shortened article focuses on the three main points discussed in the full version:  to explore multi-functionality of Swedish forests and how it is being affected by competing demands for land use, how the multi-functionality is actually being governed and to suggest methods to manage trade-offs between the different functions.
Forests, as a whole, constitute landscapes of heterogeneous goods with different ecological, economic and social functions and therefore share attributes with other resource systems that make management and governance difficult.

Goods and services can be classified either as private, common pool, club/toll or public.
Private Goods:  Characterised by rivalry, but can exclude actors from consumption.  Club or Toll goods are rare in Sweden due to the institution of the Right of Public Access which allows people to walk freely through the countryside.  Public goods are characterised both by non-rivalry and the difficulties presented by excluding users from a resource.
There are a number of changing factors, both direct and indirect that affect current prerequisites of existing conflicts in Swedish forests.

The competition between wood production and agriculture in Sweden is currently pretty low, although climate change might significantly reduce the possibility of farming in some parts of the country.  Pressure may well be put on Swedish forests if there is an increase in agricultural land use, or the need for more renewable energy.  The Forestry Act of 1993, the EU WFD from 2000 and forest certification schemes are the most important institutional changes.  Other drivers to be considered are urbanisation or technological, economic and other ecological demands.

In the future, it is predicted that there will be an increased demand for the growing and logging of timber, it’s processing into pulp, paper, board and other timber products.  There will be increased competition between traditional market-driven drivers and other indirect factors, due to changing demands on forest land

Forestry in Sweden

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 Some Information about the Forestry Trade in Sweden

Swedish wooden furniture is extremely popular in many parts of the world, but most people do not realize how important woodworking industries are to Sweden. The forestry trade in Sweden is one of the largest in the world and it yields some of the finest wood in the world as well. Sweden itself is one of the most densely forested countries in the world. Almost two-thirds of the land in Sweden is covered in thick forests. That means that almost 27 million hectares of land in Sweden is available for the forestry trade. It is the second-largest forested country in Europe behind Russia.

Tree Types In Swedish Forests

It is not just the fact that Sweden is mostly covered by forests that makes it the ideal place to get the perfect building wood. Nearly 80 percent of the wood that grows in Swedish forests are either spruce or pine. These are the two most popular woods in the world for making furniture, building homes and doing a variety of woodworking projects. Not only is Sweden blessed with an abundance of good trees, but the country is also very proactive in growing new trees to replace the ones that are cut down and add even more trees to the Swedish landscape. The country is trying to make sure that it always stays ahead of demand and never completely strips its forests bare.

Swedish Forestry Planning

The conservation of the country’s forests is a huge concern in Sweden. The country is so active in its planting program that it can expect to be able to increase its lumber output by the year 2050. The planting program has been so successful that it will replace what has already been cut down and then expand the forests so much that the country will never have to reduce its production. That is a significant accomplishment for a country that relies so heavily on exporting timber and wood products.

Forest Ownership In Sweden

Even though Sweden relies on lumber for one its primary exports, nearly 2 million hectares of forest land in Sweden is protected from any kind of human intrusion. As for the forest land that is harvested, there is a wide variety of owners. Most recent estimates have 50 percent of the forest land in Sweden owned by private individuals, 25 percent being owned by lumber companies and the remaining 25 percent being government-owned or owned by other private interests such as corporations, private families and preservation societies.

Log Cabins Production Centres Shifting to Eastern Europe

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Following on from our Garden office trend increases demand for timber buildings we looked at Log Cabin sales next. This industry has seen explosive growth over the last few years, In the UK Market sector alone the amount of companies offering log cabins as risen three fold over the last 12 months alone. This has seen prices fall and quality rise, this all adds up to a good deal for the consumer but has seen the demand increase again, as cabins become more financially affordable by more people.

Eastern European companies have stepped into the market with Lithuania being home to several of the largest log cabin companies based there. Lithuania log cabins companies consume currently consume around 300 thousand m³ of top-quality timber, mainly pine logs, per year. This is roughly around 9% of the wood consumption per year in Lithuania.

The Nordic countries are some of the largest consumers of Lithuania timber buildings, 75% of timber buildings are exported to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France and the Netherlands. In 2007 around 1200 timber houses were exported from Lithuania by 2011 this number had increased to around 7800.

The fact that our own Nordic countries are importing so many timber buildings from Eastern Europe shows that a couple of facts, consumers are constantly looking for the best prices they can find and national buying allegiances play less of a role on helping a consumer to make a purchase.

Lithuania is a large producer of timber buildings for a number of reason , the main building material used in home ,, building construction is timber, therefore the nation has a very skilled work force when it comes to the production of timber buildings. Combine this with low labour cost and a large section being covered in forests and it makes an ideal centre for timber house production.

There are a few other Eastern European countries that are also large producers of timber buildings Lativa, Estonia and Urkraine all catching up with Lithuania, Combined this group of countries now produce and export more than double the amount of buildings of the Nordic countries combined.

Lativa has remained fairly stable in its production of timber over the last 10 years with out put around  between 10 and 11 million m3 of timber harvested annually. Around 62% 9 million m3 of the timber came from state owned forests, with the remaining 3.4 million metres coming from privately owned forests.

With the fall of communism and the welcoming into the EU of the eastern block countries Europe now has a much greater access to cheap timber based products, this has undermined the price of timber on the world market and has seen the amount of timber produced in the Nordic region level off. We expect this trend to continue, but this will only serve to maintain health production levels in the Nordic countries which in turn will strength our own forests and help to ensure that wood production will continue to play a part in the national economies of the Nordic countries.

Kansainvälinen yhteistyö lisää puun käyttöä Aasiassa

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Kansainvälinen yhteistyö lisätä puun käyttöä Aasiassa

Pohjoismainen sahateollisuus yhteistyössä Yhdysvaltojen ja Kanadan kanssa Kiinassa

Nordic Timber  ja yhteistyöohjelma European Wood tekevät yhteistyötä Yhdysvaltojen ja Kanadan kanssa puurakentamisen ehtojen parantamiseksi Kiinassa. Ainutlaatuisen yhteistyön ensi vaiheessa on kyse palosäädöksistä ja -normeista, jotka nykyisellään rajoittavat puun käyttöä rakennusalalla. Johtava tutkimusinstituutti Tianjin Fire Research Institute, joka kuuluu Ministry of Public Security -ministeriön alaisuuteen, on hankkeessa aktiivisesti mukana.

“Canada Wood Groupin, American Forest & Paper Associationin, European Wood -ohjelman ja Ministry of Public Security -ministeriön välinen yhteistyö merkitsee läpimurtoa työskenneltäessä pitkän tähtäimen tavoitteiden saavuttamiseksi. Kansainvälisen yhteistyön ansiosta voimme vaikuttaa entistä voimakkaammin määräyksiin ja sääntöihin”, kertoo Nordic Timber  toimitusjohtaja ja European Wood -ohjelman puheenjohtaja Jan Söderlind.”Lisäksi yhteistyö paloturvallisuuteen liittyvästä lainsäädännöstä vastaavan ministeriön alaisuudessa toimivan tutkimusinstituutin kanssa antaa hyvän mahdollisuuden vaikuttaa normeihin.”

Kiinalaiset suhtautuvat tulipaloihin vakavasti, ja nykyiset puuta ja paloja koskevat rakennusmääräykset ovatkin tiukkoja. Rakennusalan määräyksissä kiinnitetään paljon huomiota rakennusmateriaalien palonkestoon, ja koska puu on palava materiaali, sen käyttöä rakennustarkoituksiin on rajoitettu suuresti.

”Määräykset eivät monelta kohdin vastaa alan uusimpia tutkimustuloksia”, sanoo European Wood -projektin johtaja Hans Dutina. ”Lähtökohtanamme on siksi siirtää länsimaista tiedeosaamista yksityiskohtia myöten instituuttiin, määrittää ne kiinalaiset palomääräykset, jotka eivät vastaa tieteellistä käsitystä, ja ehdottaa uusia määräyksiä.”

Potentiaali vastaa Suomen tuotantoa kolminkertaisesti

Puun käyttöpotentiaali Kiinan rakennusalalla on valtava. Seinien (ei-kantavien) ja kattojen (puiset kattotuolit) osalta potentiaali on betonirunkoisissa kerrostaloissa noin 50 miljoonaa kuutiometriä vuodessa. Tämä on kolminkertainen määrä verrattuna Suomen vuotuiseen tuotantoon, joka on noin 13,5 miljoonaa kuutiometriä.   ”Kiinan rakennusjärjestelmät ja -menetelmät eivät ole kestävällä pohjalla”, sanoo Jan Söderlind. ”Energiaa vaativia rakennusmateriaaleja käytetään liikaa asuinneliömetriä kohden johtuen raskaista rakennustavoista (betoni ja muuraus), ja energiankulutus lämmityksessä ja jäähdytyksessä on suuri. Palomääräysten ja standardien muuttamisen kautta voimme ottaa Kiinan markkinoilla käyttöön uusia rakennusjärjestelmiä ja saada aikaan kestävää kehitystä. Samalla avaamme tietenkin tietä pohjoismaiselle mekaaniselle puuteollisuudelle.”

Getting creative with wood

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Getting creative with wood …

In June 2008 a campaign was started named the “wood for good” – this was the United Kingdoms largest ever wood promotional campaign – As part of the campaign an unique Do it yourself ” Cookbook” was written, this cook book was full of concepts on and designs on how to make stunning and very modern design furniture and accessories from wood for the workplace or the home.

Wood has always been one of the most popular choices of building materials used in the production of furniture for homes, this trend shows no signs of decreasing any time soon. The wood for good cookbook is aimed at people with basic DIY knowledge so as to easily understandable to the broadest spectrum of people, One of the main aims of the book is to teach people how to incorporate the true beauty of  timber into furniture designs that show of the natural beauty of wood finishes, this then turn a piece of furniture into a centre piece that will stand out in any home and be a natural topic of conversation for any quest to your home. The Wood cookbook was presented by the well known TV personality Michael Jewitt.

Michael has been involved in many home make over shows including eal Rooms, Change That, Changing Rooms, Children In Need, and Housecall. Some of the design concepts covered in the Wood for Good Cook book include woodens chairs, tables, a room dividers, wardrobes and surprisingly ( Ididnt believe it possible until I saw it with my own eyes) a wooden vase, Some of the project will be easy for any level of DIY competency, some will prove a little challenging and my require a few attempts, it all depends on your own level of ability.   If you are a master carpenter then you will have you should have no very few if any problems following Michaels design concepts.

The design concepts in the Wood Cookbook are written to be  straightforward and easy to follow with plenty of pictures and clear instruction on how to complete each stage, I found it to be like actually building my own Ikea furniture (Hopefully it wont need re fixing 18 months down the line) the sheer beauty of the finished design can help to transform any home all by using just timber. Michael recommends using Finnish Birch Plywood, alongside solid laminated pine boards and planed pine boards for the majority of the  projects these types of timber are easily available from any decent timber merchant, You can of course use any type of wood to fit wit existing design of your homes interior, however if you are unsure about the working nature of any timber it always advisable to ask at your local timber merchant as they will have a vast knowledge and understand of the workable nature of all timbers they stock.

If your bored of watching sports on TV and really want to impress your wife then lock yourself away in the garden shed and set about crafting something truly beautiful and unique. Imagine how stunned your wife will be when she ask can your repair the flat pack wardrobe and you reply no need I built us a brand new one. Working with wood has been something we humans have been doing since almost the beginning of evolution. Be adventurous and take on a project from the wood cookbook that will leave you with a piece of furniture that will last a lifetime!

Featured Projects in the Wood For Good Cookbook

 

Kitchen Makeovers

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms of any home, it also one of the most expensive room in the house to furnish, first off there are the appliances cooker , washing machine, microwave etc, but these are only secondary to the actual kitchen itself. Replacing the a entire kitchen can be not only very costly but also very tricky project. I had to apply cement to the wall of my kitchen after drilling more than thirty holes in my wall to try and hang just one kitchen cupboard. ( I gave up and called an expert, who took less than five minutes to put said cupboard up)

So before you go spending a fortune on replacement cupboards and worktops it would be a great idea to consider replacing the cupboard doors. First check the existing units to make sure they are both sturdy and stable still and remove and replace any that do not meet those requirements, remember if you are removing and replacing an existing cupboard unit then the holes are already drilled and it should be a very simple straight forward task to install a new unit.

New kitchen cupboard when made my yourself cost only a few £s each, producing your doors will also solve the problem that many people face when looking for replacement doors, of non standard door widths and heights. The number of low cost kitchen makeover that have been cancelled due to the price of replacement doors being very expensive because the sizes were non standard and so the prices advertised compared to the prices delivered from replacement kitchen door companies is very large.

The wood cook book cover kitchen Cupboard Doors on page three and are produced by using a basic sheet of 12mm laminated pine board, add a 6mm laminated pine board in 60mm wide strips that act to form a ‘frame’ around the edges.  Once the glue as set the finished doors can be either left natural or a coat of varnish, wax or paint can be applied.

Viola the transformation of any drab and dull looking kitchen is completed, depending on how many cupboard doors you have to produce this can all be done for less than a couple hundred pounds. Purchasing handles from a furniture or diy store will add the final finishing touches, I generally use Ikea for purchasing door handles.
Quick Tip: When working out the measurements it is much easier to use the existing doors or drawer fronts, cut to the exact same size, to the nearest millimetre to form the new doors.  Mark out the new hinge positions by using the existing locations from the old doors.

Quick Coffee Table

Perhaps one of the most common centre pieces of any home is a coffee table, this often acts as piece of furniture that the rest of the room is arranged around. The wood cookbook has an beautiful looking slated designed coffee table, that will fit in with almost any decorating style, the size and dimension of the table can be adjusted to suit the space that is available to you. The design would not look out of place in either a home or office environment and so you could even furnish your place of work with your own hand made furniture.

There aren’t as many section to this design as say the wardrobe design however the joints used can be tricky even for an experienced carpenter, you may want to pay someone to help with this part of the design although it would not be that expensive as you could do much of the preparation work. The main timbers used are lengths of pine and then the actual joints use both the mortise and tenon joints. Once completed the coffee table can be painted , varnished stained according to your own personal tastes, although we would suggest using a natural clear varnish to allow the beauty of the grain shine through.

And So To Bed …

If you ever been to a world famous furniture chain and seen the beds on sale you may have thought to yourself, ” I could make than and make it more sturdy” most mass produced flat pack furniture is made from compact timber fibres( its not usually a solid piece/s of timber)The cook book covers this type of thinking by giving you a fully detailed plan on how to produce a attractive eye catching low level bed that will be both a lot sturdier and also cost you a hell of a lot less.

The design featured is produced from planed pine, and has been stained with a rich dark brown stain, myself I would have used a much more neutral colour of stain which would have allowed the grain and detail of the timber to stand out much more clearly, that is all down to both your current decor and your own personal choice.Once again as you are producing this yourself you can adjust the sizes to suit but do make sure that there is mattress to fit the size of bed you are making. Do make sure to ask that the mattress is fit to use with rigid slatted base.(the majority of beds are)The recipe provides clear instructions on how to work out the materials needed to produce the bed based on your chosen mattress size.
Quick Tip: The design of the headboard is a very basic box design however the slated design used in the production of the coffee table could be used to create a much more attractive and unique design!

Check out the wood. for good website (www.woodforgood.com) it offers a lot of information regarding wood care and information regarding treatment and which timbers to choose for your home, fact sheets are also available that cover topics such as  Wood Flooring, Timber Cladding, Doors and Windows.  If the Wood Cookbook lights your imagination then check out the website for everything there is to know about timber in and around the home.

The wood. for good. was a promotional campaign that was sponsored by a timber group we hope that you will only use timber that have been grown in line with certified sustainable forest program.

Garden office trend increases demand for timber buildings

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Over the last few years with the rise of internet working workplaces have become less traditional. A growing number of people both self employed and working from home for companies have started to help create a boom industry in the Garden office sector. Garden offices used to be thought of something only of the preserve of the well off but with the arrival of free flowing trade these have come down in price.

Traditional timber building used to come in only a few shapes and size and cost was one of the most prohibitive factors stopping people from purchases them, the typical timber building would have been some form of log cabin and the wood would have usually come from Scandinavia. With the capitalising of the old soviet block countries new timber supply markets emerged and having lower labour and manufacturing costs, the price of timber buildings fell.

This helped to fuel the growing industry it is possible to search the internet and find literally hundreds of garden office suppliers, with many different designs and models on the market to suit almost every budget. It is estimated that around an extra 2000 metres per year of new timber is needed to keep up with demand for garden office and log cabin type buildings.