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Wood

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Wood as a building material has many advantages, as it is renewable, durable, resistant to corrosion, has natural insulating properties, and its production and processing take a lower toll on the environment than other prevalent building materials (i.e., concrete or steel). Nowadays, wood is used in the construction of houses (both as a load-bearing and decorative material), as well as in roof structures, window frames, doors, floors, railings, or stairs.




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More about the future of Icelandic timber and the possibilities of its reuse and recycling can be found in the recordings from the "ƍslenskar timburvƶrur fyrir byggingar" event in 2023.

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Environmental impact

Wood material production usually has a lower environmental impact than conventional materials (i.e.,Ā  concrete or steel) as its processing is less energy-intensive. Similarly, its use in construction is associated with a lower toll on the environment as it can reduce the building's energy consumption due to its excellent insulating properties preventing heat losses. Nevertheless, emphasis should be placed on sustainable forest management, which minimises the negative impact of the timber industry on biodiversity and forest resources.

How to reuse and recycle

  • Direct reuse of wooden elements: wooden elements, such as window frames, doors, ceiling beams, and rafters, for example, can be reused after checking their technical condition. An example is the reuse of 80-90% of materials (doors, beams, wall cladding, among others) from demolishing the local government headquarters in Terneuzen, the Netherlands, in other construction projects.

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An essential aspect of reusing wood in construction is its preservation (protecting it from the harmful effects of weather, insects, or fungi), which can be hindered by using toxic preservatives posing a risk to human health during processing or preventing the joining of elements by undesirable reactions between preservatives and adhesive.

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Properly storing wooden components is also essential to avoid any damage or deformation due to moisture.Ā Certain properties are lost if the humidity is too high; for example, it can affect putty adhesion. The properties of building products, like timber, vary depending on the humidity level.

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  • Recycling wooden elements: wooden elements such as furniture, pallets, and crates can be recycled into other furniture, flooring, ornaments, decorative elements, or garden structures. An example of such use is recycling bar stools and flooring from a nearby monastery into flooring in the CirclĀ pavilion in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

  • Recycling wood waste: wood waste (e.g., sawdust or wood construction waste) can be used to produce, for example, insulation materials (such as wood wool), OSB-type particleboard or composite panels, glulam, or walls made from renewable materials produced using 3D printing technology.

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An example of wood waste reuse for cladding in Iceland is the HĆ”teigsvegur 59 projectĀ or Lendager Island's reusing of glass from SmĆ”ratorg together with waste woodĀ from HĆŗsasmiĆ°janĀ as a partition wall in their office.

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Sources and further reading


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