Building a Strong Case for Engineered Wood
Building with engineered wood is becoming increasingly more popular as our supply of resources grows tighter and the demand for new products and applications increases. Making the choice to use a man made or manufactured wood is a smart decision when you consider that these products are engineered to precise design specifications which are tested to meet national and international standards.
Thanks to advances in technology, the wood that Mother Nature has provided over the years is now literally engineered into a stronger, better product, improving the quality of construction for most builders.
For Modular Home builders, engineered wood has always made sense. Using engineered wood makes use of elements that might otherwise be discarded. Modular homes are the hybrid of the house-building industry. They save money and they make sense. Factory-built homes, which offer all the amenities of traditionally built homes and often a reduced cost, have an increased quality largely due to the materials that are used. General misconceptions keep many from considering going modular. There is often confusion between modular homes and manufactured (mobile) homes. In many ways, modular homes are superior to stick-built homes. Not only are they constructed with engineered wood, once assembled, they cannot be distinguished from a traditionally built home. Not only does the use of engineered wood aid in withstanding structural damage, it also equals greater energy efficiency - another money-saver.
Engineered wood is manufactured by bonding together various forms of wood fiber creating a wood product that is stronger and stiffer than the sum of its parts. While plywood has been around for nearly a century, thanks to innovative wood product manufacturers, new technology has delivered other engineered wood building materials including oriented strand board (OSB), glulam timber, wood I-beams, structural composite lumber, structural composite panels and much more
Strength in the engineered wood product is not the only reason it may be preferred by today's builder. There are other comparative advantages to consider. For example, engineered wood products are less prone to humidity induced warping than equivalent solid woods and minimal waste maximizes cost effectiveness.
As the availability of traditional and public forest timber lessens for wood product manufacturing, producers are stepping up and improving on existing methods while inventing new ways to make more with less. Using engineered wood products as an alternative resource is a win-win for everyone.