Southern Group of State Foresters’ Post

Why Wood is a Popular Choice in American Construction Ever wondered why so many American homes are built with wood? Here’s a look at the factors behind this common choice: 1. Abundance of Timber: The U.S. has vast forests, making wood a readily available, cost-effective material. This abundance has made wood affordable and accessible for builders across the country. 2. Quick and Easy to Build: Wood is lightweight and versatile, allowing for faster construction than concrete or brick. This efficiency makes it ideal for a housing market with high demand. 3. Flexibility in Design: Wood structures are easier to modify, allowing homeowners to expand, renovate, or make repairs without extensive structural work. 4. Environmental Benefits: When sourced responsibly, wood is a renewable resource. Many American builders focus on sustainable forestry, making wood a greener choice compared to other materials. 5. Ideal for Insulation: Wood naturally insulates well, helping to regulate indoor temperatures. Paired with modern insulation, wood construction supports energy efficiency in both cold and warm climates. While wood construction has some drawbacks, like susceptibility to fire and moisture, advancements in fire-resistant treatments and sealing techniques help address these. Wood remains an American construction staple, combining affordability, speed, and design flexibility. #Construction #WoodBuilding #AmericanHomes #SustainableConstruction

🌳 Let's protect them! Tree-encircling grilles in urban environments are the optimum solution for promoting harmonious coexistence between trees and city dwellers. In the urban context, tree roots face three main risks: construction work, repeated trampling and soil sealing. Constant trampling compacts the soil, hindering the efficient circulation of nutrients and water. This can significantly hinder tree development. The use of edging grids helps to counteract these harmful effects by achieving two major objectives: protecting the soil from excessive trampling and ensuring that the permeability of the soil is maintained, which is essential for the health of the trees. It is crucial to ensure that these HDPE tree grates are sized to fit snugly around the base of each tree trunk. However, it is just as important to ensure that the integration of these tree grates takes place as part of an overall tree management strategy. Now widely used in pedestrian areas, tree grilles have become a real piece of urban furniture that makes their mark on an urban development project. Where high mechanical resistance is required, particularly in areas of heavy traffic or where heavy vehicles (400 kN or more) are expected, ductile iron grilles with self-supporting frames are the preferred choice. For pedestrian areas occasionally used by light vehicles (e.g. 250 kN), gratings such as Plantco CityGrate® from @Plantco France offer a suitable solution. #planting #trees

Innovation is in progress

something innovative to use in future

A Gemba Walk is an activity in which management and other leaders make a personal survey of the areas where actual work takes place. It's critical for maintaining management's personal involvement in, and awareness of, everyday work processes, helping reduce their isolation from the facts on the ground.

Wood offers advantages in terms of material, construction and environmental costs. It's easy to use, fast to erect and workers can quickly learn wood construction techniques. In addition, when considered over its lifetime, wood performs better than alternative materials in terms of embodied energy, air and water pollution, and carbon footprint. Check out this video from Think Wood as they discuss why wood is the building material of choice for both cost and quality. #southernpine #wood #lumber #sustainability #buildwithwood #construction #greenbuilding #carbon #forestproducts #costbenefit #woodconstruction

Can the colour of a low-pitched roof impact condensation and mould in roof spaces? 🏠 New research by building surveyors Helfen Limited is investigating whether the trend towards lighter-coloured roofs may impact how homes retain moisture.   The project will explore whether reduced heat in lighter coloured roofs will cause less drying opportunity, meaning they are less able to manage the effects of condensation in roof spaces. For more about ongoing and recently completed research of this kind, check out the Healthier homes and communities section of our Annual Review 2024 here 👇 https://lnkd.in/g6GEvYhk #roofcolour #construction #condensation

Masonry is the most environmentally friendly building system available! Masonry construction provides natural insulation benefits due to its thermal mass properties. This means that masonry buildings can regulate interior temperatures more efficiently, reducing the need for heating and cooling. Masonry materials like brick, and stone have additional benefits, too! They don’t emit volatile gases or toxins during a fire, creating a safer indoor environment. Over 70% of buildings worldwide are built with masonry, making it a tried-and-true method. Masonry materials can be easily recycled or repurposed, resulting in less waste and a lower carbon footprint. By choosing masonry construction, you’re not only building a sustainable future but also creating a structure that will stand the test of time. Learn more about how Authentic Masonry and Stone can help you build a greener tomorrow at https://lnkd.in/g3AQzuJw. #authenticmasonryandstone #masonryexcellence #masonry #projectpartner #masonrycontractor #stone #clientcollaboration

We select foods and goods that are responsibly packaged, 📦 so why shouldn’t we look for responsible “packaging” in our home construction, too? Today we can, thanks to the superior characteristics of laminated veneer lumber (#LVL), From an environmental perspective, 🌳 LVL stores carbon to the tune of about half of its mass, and once treated, that carbon remains as long as the LVL is intact. Plus, its manufacturing process is far less energy-intensive than concrete or steel production. 🏡 New home construction may not outwardly come with a #sustainable content label, but a few questions of the builders may reveal that your new home is greener than meets the eye. Download our article below to learn more about the important role LVL is playing in our future buildings. #MakingWoodMatter 💚 https://lnkd.in/dqgvhWZp

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐔𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭? Today's short video on The Build Review is delving into the importance of choosing the right timber for your building projects, discussing its durability, treatment methods, and more. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a DIY enthusiast, this video is packed with insights from the National Center for Timber Durability and Design and the Timber Preservers Association of Australia. Join us as we demystify timber selection and help you make informed decisions for your next project. _____________________________________________________________________ Are you an advanced manufacturer of innovative building systems and sustainable products? If so, please consider joining the 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Learn about the ABA here: https://lnkd.in/g9gu5y5q _____________________________________________________________________ 🏡 #Timber #BuildingMaterials #SustainableConstruction #Construction #TreatedTimber