The search for efficiencies is the holy grail of the construction industry.
Even before the Covid-19 crisis, a main contractor’s average margin was less than 2.5% and a sub-contractor’s 3.5%.
Factor in the increased challenges facing the industry in 2020 and exploring opportunities to find savings in materials and manpower will be a critical aspect of the sector’s recovery.
Timber and its use in the construction industry has been one of the great disrupters in recent years thanks to its sustainability credentials and general versatility. But another key factor has been the remarkable advances in engineered and modified wood products.
Evolving manufacturing techniques mean that engineered wood has become an increasingly viable material throughout the housebuilding process according to Justin Hayward, technical timber manager at James Latham.
“The unpredictability of solid wood and challenges around issues such as maintenance mean that we are now increasingly seeing engineered wood being viewed as not just a viable option for all aspects of joinery but in many instances, the material of choice,” he said.
“It is an area where we have seen real growth in recent years as its clear benefits have become better understood in the UK, which is catching up with other parts of the world where its use is often the rule rather than the exception.
“The reality is that modern manufacturers of staircases, doors and windows need a steady and reliable supply of high-quality timber with minimal waste. Engineered wood is able to rise to that challenge.”
Indeed, even though there is a higher initial cost for engineered wood, it is the increased yield and reduced wastage – saving manufacturers both time and money – that is one of engineered wood’s fundamental selling points.
“The savings can be seen right through the cost chain,” said Mr Hayward. “The predictability and consistency of engineered wood and fact that it can be supplied in standard sizes that need minimal trimming mean that the savings come the moment the wood is received in the workshop.”
High quality engineered wood such as WoodEx, which is Latham’s best-selling engineered wood product, offers not just advantages in the manufacturing process but also in the long-term performance of the component.
A significant benefit from using engineered wood in windows and doors, for instance, is that not only does it provide a better thermal performance than solid wood, it is also resistant to warping, hugely reducing the need for maintenance and the age-old issue of timber expanding and contracting due to changes in temperature and airborne moisture.
Aesthetic Premium
There is also an aesthetic premium that comes with using an engineered product such as WoodEx, where the appearance is the same as solid timber but the visual face and two sides are clear of defects. It makes it ideal for joinery applications and can be supplied either as finger-jointed or as one piece.
The clear faces also mean that the engineered timber can be painted without the challenge of knots bleeding through, or not painted at all as WoodEx comes in four different species, European redwood, European oak, Red Grandis and sapele, each with attractive natural finishes.
Engineered wood is also a highly sustainable option, producing less waste at every stage of its lifecycle. WoodEx, which is sourced from approved suppliers all over the world, is also FSC accredited so its production is guaranteed to meet the highest environmental and social standards.
“What engineered wood provides above all else is certainty, a commodity that has been in relatively short supply in recent times,” added Mr Hayward. “It affords far greater clarity on cost, more confidence on quality and supports the wider drive by the industry towards more sustainable outcomes in the built environment.”
