Timber Wise – Taking a Closer Look at Trees

Trees are universal and one of our most important resources. With more than eight billion acres of forestry over one forth of the earth is clothed with an abundance of wood.  Wood is more resilient and has a greater margin of safety being physically able to absorb the shock of impact from heavier loads than alternative materials. Just recently scientists have created a synthetic bone from heated rattan wood that the body will accept and is load bearing and so similar to real bone that tissue cells and blood treat it as if were actually bone eliminating the need for bone replacements and is far surpassed in excellent than any metal or ceramic material.

Wood also costs less and expends less energy to manufacture from raw material. Unlike mining for ore, trees are harvested crops and are not depleted. Only a small fraction of the forests are utilized and when managed properly they are an inexhaustible and abundant resource. Wood is also durable and ecologically sound being 100% biodegradable with renewable energy and is reusable as well. Trees provide us with oxygen, food shelter, clothing, warmth, energy and tens of thousands of other important products.

The most amazing thing about trees is that nearly every product on this world is made or produced through the resources of wood and wood-based material. It would take forever and a day to name all of nature’s wonderful gifts we receive through trees. The list goes on and on. . .

oxygen
surgical supplies
tires * rubber belts
asphalt *synthetic bones * ink
melamine *toilet paper * stain removers
calcium carbonate * wheelchairs * ceiling tiles
toilet seats * veneer * books * adhesives * mace
myrrh * cell phones * blocks * maple syrup * shade * dye
apples * almonds * bowling pins * cider * musical instruments
varnish * cabinets * protective helmets * paper * cloves * latex gloves
car keys * fabrics* protective shields * ice cream * furniture
footballs * rayon * insulation * waterproof compounds * cinnamon * lubricants
road materials * turpentine * shampoo * cardboard * food containers
art paper * shatterproof glass * rubber gloves * zippers * computer casings
shoes * cosmetics * salicylic acid * Compound W * diapers * antacids
nitrocellulose* electrical energy * olives * camphor * artificial flavorings
marine plywood * ball point pen * electrical outlets * baseballs * bath tubs * fuel
footballs * basketballs * fishing buoys * airplanes * scientific instruments
cellophane * vacuum cleaner bags * movies * medicines  * foam rubbers
molasses * syrup* carob * rosin * waxes * pitch * photographs & film * dry wall
fireworks * crayons * tannin * coffee * primers * life preservers * linoleum
anti-fungal oil * rocket propellant * particle board * pet litter * thermoplastic
plastic * furniture * combs * baby food * equine products * gum
recyclable solar cells * industrial fibers * rust remover * diamonds
candy bars * bandages * shampoo * nutmeg * ammonia
pallets * vitamins * houses * carpets * menthol
tin cans* guitar pics * paper * corks * signs
smokeless gunpowder *glucose * beds
aluminum foil
baking yeast
frankincense
disinfectants
cellulose acetate

Nothing is wasted in the industry of timber products even the residue of sawdust and bark are made into mulch to replenish and given back to the earth. Trees are a wonderful part of our civilization.

This is the 2nd in a series of  information, questions and answers on trees, timber and technology. Click Here if you would like to view our previous post concerning dry rot and timber’s amazing preserving properties or
In Awe of Mother Nature also in this series.

Laurence Bunker is the President of Western Timber Frame, a company dedicated to making beautiful, high-quality timber frame structures accessible to businesses and homeowners across the country. With over 16 years of hands-on experience in the industry, Laurence brings deep expertise in timber frame design, engineering, and business leadership. At the heart of everything he does is a genuine belief that the right space — whether a sweeping commercial timber structure, a breathtaking interior, or a stunning outdoor living area — has the power to transform how people live, gather, and connect. That passion drives every project he touches, from large-scale commercial builds to custom residential timber frame creations.

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Timber Frame Structures
Interior & Exterior Timber Projects
Custom Pergolas, Pavilions & Outdoor Structures
Residential Timber Frame Design
Business Leadership & Operations
DIY Timber Frame Solutions

View Full Profile

You may also like

  • 24 Roof Ideas for Gazebos, Pergolas & Pavilions

    ByLaurence Bunker

    #21 Polycarbonate & Custom Patterned Roofs for Arbors, Gazebos, Pavilions, Pergolas, and Trellises Every ShadeScape®, particularly an arbor or pergola will have a distribution of stencil-like shadows. Throughout the history of man, the covering for housing and shelters have been constructed from a variety of different materials such as: seagrass, banana leaves, bark, sod, straw, wheaten straw or rice reed, stone, slate, laminated glass, concrete, aluminum, copper, animal hides, wood or solar shingles, ceramic tiles, and even snow.

  • Shelter Effects Your Happiness w/Space, Light & Material —Even Shapes Character

    ByLaurence Bunker

    Therefore, they pressed for rebuilding something grander, on much larger scale, with a modern semicircular form as progressive world assembly halls had. In places where there is less ground area to work with, posts can be set closer together, without compromising your shade!

  • Cloned Males Declining “Untidy” Females & More Tree Facts of Life

    ByLaurence Bunker

    Woodworks worked with The USDA Forest Service Products Lab and Softwood Lumber Board at Tyndall Air Force Base predicting acceptable levels of damage under large-scale explosive loads. Sampling of Products Made Possible by Trees shaving cream yeast • Linoleum • soap guitars • wax paper • corks • molds inflatable beds • window seals • boots • mace gazebos • prosthetics • calculators • cushions • oxygen pavilions • flip flops • computers • boots • shade • dye • pillows Bibles • trelliese • rubber gloves • bathtub plugs • surgical supplies refridgerators • rubber ducks •gaskets • mattresses • asphalt • synthetic bones bay leaves • surgical gloves • tools • melamine • rug backings • toilet paper car dashboards • lab flasks • calcium carbonate • aquarium tubing • wheelchairs glu-lam beams • brake pads • door stops • toilet seats • veneer • books • ear plugs wallpaper • cabinets • vials • myrrh • cell phones • maple syrup • raincoats • pond liners coffee filters • shingles • hot water bottles • varnish • cabinets • protective helmets • paper ice boxes • fabrics • faucet washers • protective shields * waterproof compounds • tires bowling pins • shoes • cosmetics • salicylic acid • Compound W • diapers • art paper • ink printing press .• marine plywood • ballpoint pen • electrical outlets • baseballs • rubber gloves wheelchairs • footballs • basketballs • fishing buoys • turpentine • nitrocellulose • ice cream candle sticks • vacuum cleaner bags • medicines • waxers • road materials • zippers • insulation pears • gum • molasses • syrup • carob • rosin • pitch • film • life preservers * primers • footballs anti-fungal oil • rocket propellant • particle board • pet litter • fireworks • insulation • walnuts hot tubs • erasers • crayons plastic • recyclable solar cells • artificial flavorings • movies • almonds Fishing buoys • checkbook • fishing floats • wall tiles • ceiling tiles • gutters • receipts • hairspray cars • oranges •candy bars * bandages • shampoo • nutmeg • ammonia • corks • signs • car keys snow-shoes • pallets • vitamins * houses • carpets • menthol • guitar pics • shatterproof glass play tiles • telephone • smokeless gunpowder • glucose • beds • gum • tin cans • rubber belts paint • coffins • ceiling tiles • musical instruments • adhesives • antacids • cardboard • shoes violins • olives • drywall • tannin • baby food • furniture • combs • shampoo • pecans veneer • decks • lubricants • airplanes • rayon • electrical energy • camphor • coffee • concrete forms • airplanes • blocks • cloves • latex gloves • furniture • bowling pins phonographs • chemical resistant pads • cinnamon • food containers • pianos water pipes • computer casings • bicycles • stain removers • apples bath tubs • fuel • coffee • cider • spinning wheel • hunting bow arrows • figs • furniture polish • scientific instruments activated charcoal • silos • mail • Benzoin gum ball point pens • flooring equine products foam rubbers aluminum foil rust remover cellophane photographs baking yeast frankincense disinfectants thermoplastic cellulose acetate The Thinking Tree In Puglia, South Italy is an olive tree that is at least 2,000 years old.