What are Different Timber Producing Trees for Use in Construction?
Sadanandam Anupoju
Reading time: 1 minute
Timber is used for so many purposes in construction industry. Constructional timber is obtained from the different types of trees which are abundantly available in different regions.
Some of the most used timber producing trees and their uses in engineering world is described below.
Different Timber Producing Trees for Use in Construction
Teak
Color: Deep yellow to Dark brown
Properties: one of the valuable timber trees of world. It is durable and fire resistant. It does not allow the corrosion of iron fastenings. Seasoning of teak wood is very easy and it is easily workable also.
Uses: For house constructions, railway carriages, flooring, manufacturing ships, wood piles etc.
Rosewood or Blackwood
Color: Dark color
Properties: this type of tree produces tough and close-grained timber. It is very strong and gives beautiful look after high polishing. Large sized products can be made. It weighs about 7900N/m3 after seasoning.
Uses: High quality furniture, ornamental carvings etc.
Sandal
Color: White/Red
Properties: it is hard and strong. After seasoning its weight is about 9300 N/m3.
Uses: Agricultural instruments, wheels, mallets etc.
Mahogany
Color: Reddish Brown
Properties: it is durable even in under water conditions. Easily workable. It weighs about 7200 N/m3 after seasoning.
Uses: furniture, fancy goods, ornamental paneling etc.
Oak
Color: Yellowish Brown
Properties: It is strong and durable. It contains silvery grains in it. Its weight after seasoning is about 8650 N/m3 at 12 % moisture content.
Uses: Sports things like cricket bats, etc.
Pine
Color: Pale yellow/White
Properties: Pale yellow pine is heavy and coarse grained while white pine is light and straight grained.
Uses: door and window frame, matches industry, paving material etc.
Bamboo
Color: Pale yellow
Properties: bamboo is endogenous tree. It is strong and flexible. Durability also high.
Uses: Scaffolding, rafters, temporary bridges etc.
Banyan
Color: Brown
Properties: It is mostly durable in under water conditions only. It weighs about 5800 N/m3 after seasoning.
Uses: Poles, well kerbs, door panels etc.
Iron wood
Color: Reddish Brown
Properties: It is very hard and not easily workable. Durability is high. It weighs about 10400 N/m3 after seasoning.
Uses: railway wagons, house construction, bridges etc.
Axle Wood
Color: Pale yellow/White
Properties: it is very strong and tough. Smooth finish can be obtained. Weighs about 9300 N/m3 @ 12% moisture content after seasoning.
Red cedar
Color: Red
Properties: Red cedar tree produce soft and ever grained timber. Which is well suitable for under water conditions and moist conditions. Good smooth surface can be obtained by polishing. After seasoning it weighs around 4800N/m3.
Uses: Bridge constructions, railway sleepers, piles, well curbs etc.
Deodar
Color: Yellowish Brown
Properties: Deodar tree produces soft timber which is used for several purposes. It weighs about 5600 N/m3 at 12% moisture content after seasoning.
Uses: cheap furniture, railway carriages, packing boxes etc.
Irul
Color: light Brown
Properties: it is very hard and heavy timber. Durability is high. Seasoning requires more time and after seasoning it weight is 8350 N/m3 at 12% moisture content.
Uses: railway sleepers, paving blocks, agricultural tools etc.
Aini
Color: Yellowish Brown
Properties: Aini is very strong and close grained. It is elastic. It weighs about 5950 N/m3 at 12% moisture content.
Uses: ordinary house construction. Paving material etc.
Bakul
Color: Reddish brown
Properties: Bakul tree also produces close grained and strong timber. Its weight after seasoning is about 8800 N/m3 at 12 % moisture content.
Uses: building construction, bridges, piles etc.
Babul
Color: Whitish red
Properties: Babul timber is strong, hard and durable. After seasoning its weight is about 8350 N/m3 at 12 % moisture content.
Uses: cart wheels, agricultural tools, etc.
Guava
Color: Greyish brown
Properties: It is hard but not very strong. It is easily flexible and fine-grained wood. Its weight after seasoning is about 7500 N/m3.
Uses: handles of instruments, toys, etc.
Mango
Color: Deep grey
PROPERTIES: It is moderately strong and shape of timber is good. After seasoning it weighs 6550 N/m3 @ 12% moisture content.
Uses: Door and Window panels, toys, packing boxes etc.
Sissoo
Color: Dark brown
Properties: it is tough and durable. Gives pleasant looks but difficult to work. Durable nature is high. Seasoning can be done easily and after seasoning its weight is about 7700 N/m3 at 12% moisture content.
Uses: high class furniture, ply wood, piles, decorative works etc.
Spruce
Color: Yellow
Properties: It is strong against salt water. it can be twisted and wrapped easily. Its weight is about 4800 N/m3 at 12 % moisture content after seasoning
Uses: Under water structures, aero plane industries etc.
Mulberry
Color: Brown
Properties: Mulberry wood is so famous because of its elastic nature. It is strong, tough and elastic also. It can be easily turned and carved.
Uses: It is used for making sports goods like cricket bats, hockey sticks etc.
Satin wood
Color: Yellow
Properties: Close grained, hard and durable timber can be obtained from satin wood. After seasoning it weighs about 9600 N/m3.
Uses: Furniture, ornamental carvings, agricultural tools etc.
Tamarind
Color: Dark brown
Properties: It has full knots but durable. It weighs about 12800N/m3 after seasoning.
Uses: For making moldings, carts, well kerbs, agricultural instruments etc.
Toon
Color: Reddish brown/dull red
Properties: Very light in weight and easily workable. After seasoning it weighs about 5300 N/m3.
Uses: Door panels, Musical instruments, Furniture, Railway carriages etc.
Kathal
Color: Yellow to Deep brown
Properties: Kathal wood is heavy and hard wood. It has great water resistance so, it is suitable for under water structures. It cannot resists direct sunlight. If exposed cracks may developed.
Uses: Wooden piles, Door and Window panels, Wood bridges etc. +
Hopea
Color: Light to Deep brown
Properties: Hopea wood also strong and very tough. Workability of Hopea is hard but it has great durability. It weighs around 10000 N/m3 after seasoning.
Uses: for making boats, house constructions, rail sleepers etc.
Laurel
Color: Dark brown
Properties: Laurel tree produces strong, hard and tough timber. Its weight after seasoning @ 12% moisture is about 8800 N/m3.
Uses: Building construction, several structural works, etc.
Bijasal
Color: Light brown
Properties: It is strong and durable. It is coarse rained timber and very difficult to work. After seasoning it weighs about 8000 N/m3 @ 12% moisture content.
Uses: ordinary building constructions, cart wheels etc.
Arjun
Color: Dark brown
Properties: It is strong and heavy. Good polish can be obtained.it weighs about 8700 N/m3 after seasoning at 12% moisture content.
Uses: Beams, rafters, cart wheels, door frames etc.
Gumar
Color: Pale yellow
Properties: Gumar timber is famous for under water structures. It is strong and easily workable. After seasoning it weighs about 5800 N/m3.
Uses: Well kerbs, gunstocks, wood pulp, carriages etc.
Sundri
Color: Dark red
Properties: sundri wood is very hard and tough. So, seasoning and working with it is difficult task. However it is durable and elastic in nature.
Uses: piles, poles, for making boats, tool handles etc.
Sal
Color: Brown
Properties: Sal wood is hard and close grained. It is fibrous and good polishing is difficult to achieve. But it is good against moist conditions. It weighs 8000 N/m3 after seasoning at 12% moisture content.
Uses: railway sleepers, Wagons, Bridges etc.
Casuarina
Color: Reddish brown
Properties: Casuarina timber trees are very straight growing trees. So, they can cut to long lengths. They are strong and fibrous. It weighs 7650 N/m3 after seasoning at 12% moisture content.
Uses: Scaffoldings, temporary structures etc.
Palms
Color: Dark brown
Properties: It is fibrous in nature and also strong and durable. Its weight after seasoning is about 10400 N/m3.
Uses: Roof coverings, rafters, joists etc.
Siris
Color: Dark brown
Properties: Hard and durable. Good action against Salt water. Difficult to work while manufacturing. Weighs around 10400 N/m3 after seasoning.
Uses: well kerbs, beams, posts, etc.
Simul
Color: White
Properties: It is light in weight and is about 4500 N/m3 after seasoning. It has loose grained nature and produces inferior quality of wood.
Uses: for making toys, for match box industries, well kerbs etc.
Indian elm
Color: Red
Properties: Indian elm timber is of medium class timber which is moderately hard and strong. After seasoning it weighs about 9600 N/m3.
Uses: Window frames, carts, agricultural instruments etc.
Jarul
Color: Light Reddish Grey
Properties: Hard and durable timber is obtained from jarul tree. It resists the effect of salt water actions. Easily workable timber and weighs about 6400 N/m3 at 12 % moisture content after seasoning.
Uses: Building construction, manufacturing boats, scaffolding etc.
Jack
Color: Yellow
Properties: Jack tree timber is compacted and ever grained timber which is moderately strong. 5950N/m3 @ 12% moisture content is the weight after seasoning.
Uses: Plain furniture, musical instruments, cabinet making etc.
Benteak
Color: Pale yellow
Properties: It consists good strength and smooth surface can be obtained. It weighs 6750 N/m3 @ 12% moisture content after seasoning.
Uses: Building constructions, making boats, furniture etc.
Read More:What is Seasoning of Timber? Various Methods of Seasoning of Timber
