A Study on Contractors’ Perception of Using Wood for Construction

Abstract

Construction work is very resource-intensive, and construction projects contain many parameters, in which the choice of building material is one of the critical decisions with numerous criteria, e.g., cost, durability, and environmental impact. Moreover, this complex process includes different parties such as contractors, architects, engineers, where contractors are the most influential decision-makers in material selection. Increasing the use of renewable materials such as wood, which is a technically, economically, and environmentally viable alternative in buildings, can make construction more sustainable. The perceptions of the contractors influence what they propose and therefore the increase in wood construction. With the increasing resource efficiency and the need to adapt to climate change in the construction industry, there is need for contractors to implement sustainable practices. In this chapter, contractors’ perceptions of the use of wood in buildings were examined. The results are expected to contribute to environmental remediation by developing strategies to counter perceived barriers and providing insight into new solutions to a conservative space and expanding the use of wood to achieve a more sustainable construction industry. In addition, recommendations for future research, e.g., adhesive- and metal-fastener-free dovetail wood board elements as sustainable material alternatives were presented.

Measuring Fire Safety Performance: A Comparative Experimental Study on Dovetail Massive Wooden Board Elements and Cross-Laminated Timber

“…This manufacturing technology offers an adhesive-and metalconnector-free solution from which no harmful chemicals are released [7]. As this is a new solution, very limited information is available on the technical and structural performance and more research is needed in some areas e.g., dimensional stability [8,9]. Within the scope of the DoMWoB project (Dovetailed Massive Wood Board Elements for Multi-Story Buildings) (see Acknowledgment), technical performance tests (fire resistance, structural performance, moisture transfer resistance, airtightness, and sound insulation tests) were planned to develop DMWBE for the international market as a replacement for traditional EWPs.…”

Evaluating Fire Performance: An Experimental Comparison of Dovetail Massive Wooden Board Elements and Cross-Laminated Timber

“…This manufacturing technique presents a solution that is devoid of adhesives and metal connectors, ensuring the absence of any emissions of harmful substances [22]. Since this represents a novel approach, the available data regarding the technical and structural performance are exceedingly scarce, necessitating further investigation, particularly in areas such as dimensional stability [23,24]. Under the umbrella of the DoMWoB project (Dovetailed Massive Wood Board Elements for Multi-Story Buildings) (refer to the Acknowledgment section), a comprehensive plan was formulated to conduct technical performance evaluations encompassing structural (bending) performance, fire performance, air permeance, and sound insulation tests.…”

Cottage Culture in Finland: Development and Perspectives

“…Cottage buildings and newly built holiday homes are almost entirely wooden, 70% of which are log buildings (see Figure 3) [25]. Wood is considered a natural, warm, and ecological material that is compatible with the Finnish landscape [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]. Features such as breathability, In the Finnish context, second homes play a vital role in the expression of the country's cultural landscape [10], illustrating the significance of outdoor leisure and conventional activities [11].…”

“…Cottage buildings and newly built holiday homes are almost entirely wooden, 70% of which are log buildings (see Figure 3) [25]. Wood is considered a natural, warm, and ecological material that is compatible with the Finnish landscape [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43]. Features such as breathability, moisture balance, allergy friendliness, and esthetics are other prominent benefits of log construction [44].…”