Working with wood has always been an art for the most skilled. But when it comes to working wooden beams 26 m long by 2.5 meters wide, with a curved lower edge, to cover an area of 1200m2. We are talking about a construction that is very few professionals worldwide can take on.
At Pallars Fustes we have taken care of the entire process to provide the best solution, from making the structural calculation, design, transport, permits … to achieve a perfect rehabilitation. High storm impact, wind and extreme cold have been measured, and wood has been the most suitable solution.
Transportation, transporting this heavy material from factory to destination is another service we offer clients. Managing convoy permits and all the security measures that this entails is our day to day.
Why are wooden beams a good building material?
Wood is a relatively lightweight, tensile-resistant building material, wood even outperforms steel in breaking length (or self-supporting length). Simply put, it can better support its own weight, making it possible to create larger and lighter spaces. It absorbs sound better, the acoustic properties of wood make it ideal for minimizing echo in living or office spaces. Wood absorbs sound, rather than reflecting or amplifying it.
Not to mention its beauty, with a wide variety of species available, wood presents an incredible variety of aesthetic options, as well as providing various mechanical, acoustic and thermal properties, along with others that can be selected based on the need of the project. construction.
Wood beams have a natural resistance to electrical conduction when dried at standard moisture content (MC) levels, generally between 7% and 12% for most wood species. (This conductivity is, in fact, the basis of one type of humidity measurement system.) Which provides construction stability and even safety implications for certain fire situations.
The ecological advantage of large wooden beams
At a time when ecological concerns are high, the trend has been to move away from wood as a building material to avoid deforestation, in part as an attempt to manage greenhouse gases. However, a closer look at the reasons for this thinking may turn out to be a bit off the mark. Wood has several advantages that help both the builder and the environment.
Oversized wooden beams are renewable
Unlike concrete or metals, wood is a building material that can be cultivated and regenerated through natural processes and also through replanting and forest management programs. Selective harvesting and other practices allow growth to continue while larger trees are harvested.
As forests grow (through solar energy), they also naturally and efficiently remove carbon dioxide from the environment. It is an advantage exclusive to wood
Oversized wooden beams are more easily processed for use
Compared to building materials such as steel or concrete, the life cycle of wood has a lower overall impact on the environment than its counterparts and, as a result, it also costs much less to produce. Wastewater production and environmental impact are also significantly lower in wood manufacturing processes, particularly compared to steel.
Many sawmills use wood by-products (chips, bark, etc.) as bio fuel for their facilities to reduce the fossil fuel load of the production process, and moisture measurement systems.
As forest management and replanting programs continue to grow, these benefits continually expand.
Large wooden beams emit less volatile organic compounds
As a natural building material, wood emits significantly lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide emissions than aluminum, steel, concrete, and plastics. However, this is not necessarily true for synthetic wood products or composite wood products.
The lower VOC impact of wood is especially beneficial for homes and offices that are busy on a daily basis. In fact, one of the things that wood gives off is a natural organic compound that relaxes people; It is not just the warmth of the color of the wood that creates such a desirable effect.
Large wooden beams improve energy efficiency
Wood has a higher insulation rating than steel or plastic as a result of its natural cellular structure. This means that houses and buildings require less energy to maintain heating and cooling, plus wood can help regulate humidity levels to a small degree. One source suggests that a hardwood floor installed over a wood subfloor provides the same insulation value as a 22-inch concrete floor.
Large wooden beams are biodegradable
One of the biggest challenges with many building materials, including concrete, metal, and plastics, is that when thrown away, they take an incredibly long time to break down. When exposed to natural weather conditions, wood decomposes much more quickly and actually replenishes the soil in the process.
On the other hand, understanding the role of moisture and wood rot means that when conditions are optimized for wood, the life of the building or floor can easily outlive the life of the tree.
