The Journey from Tree to Timber

You may have timber flooring, or a gorgeous timber cladding featured on your home, but do you really know how it got there?

How has a tree been turned into this beautiful accessory for your home? Take a look at the journey your flooring, fencing or doorways would have taken.

Stage 1

First off all in the preparation of timber, a tree must be felled. In order to get the best out of the wood state, this process is often undergone during the winter months. This is because the low temperatures cause the wood to hold a lower amount of moisture than in the warmer seasons. To determine which tree to cut down, a forestry worker will analyse and find trees that have reached their ‘mature’ stage for felling. The ‘mature’ age for felling can range between 50-150 years. Once the mature trees are deemed mature enough, contacted logging and Timber Companies send their representatives to fell the trees and load them onto their trucks. Once loaded, the logs are sent to sawmills for cutting into sizeable pieces. The spots where trees have been felled are then replaced with saplings.

Stage 2

Once trees have been felled, they are stored in a clearing ready to be taken to the sawmill. During this stage, the forestry workers may remove excess branches and foliage or cut the tree into more manageable lengths.

Stage 3

Once the logs arrive at the saw mill, they get cut into boards using circular and band saws. They are roughly sawed to begin with and then re-sawed to get a neat finish. The ends of the logs are then trimmed to become straight and then large circular saws process the boards further by removing any curved edges. The timber now looks like board and is ready to be prepared for purpose. Any wood that is going to be used for construction needs to be seasoned to remove excess water.

Stage 4

The timber is transported from the saw mill to timber yards for additional processing and storage. At the timber yards, the wood is carefully stacked to allow air flow and drying. This important stage of seasoning removes excess moisture from the timber, preventing warping, cracking, or deterioration once in use.

Stage 5

At the timber yard, boards usually undergo additional processing. A Thicknesser machine is often employed to make them the same thickness throughout. Another common machine is the planer, which smoothens the surface of the boards, eliminating rough spots and creating a sleek finish. Timber might also be cut to the required size or treated to safeguard against rot and pests.

Stage 6

Once the timber boards are processed to specifications, they are ready to be transported to manufacturers to be made into finished products. These products include flooring, fencing, furniture, doorways, decking, and cladding. Modern computer-controlled machines cut the timber into parts that are then assembled. Additional protective finishes may also be applied such as stains, paints, or lacquers.

Stage 7

The finished timber products are then shipped to retail stores or distribution centers before arriving at their final destination for installation. Professional tradespeople often handle the installation, ensuring the products are properly fitted and meet safety standards. Proper maintenance is required by the end user to ensure the longevity of timber products.

From a seedling to a towering tree, timber goes through quite a journey before gracing homes in the form of attractive and sustainable products. With proper forest management and responsible sourcing, timber can continually renew itself while providing beauty and warmth to living spaces. The natural richness and variation of timber makes it a treasured construction material that endures across generations.