Wonderful Wood

Nothing compares with wood - man’s oldest most flexible material and nature’s only natural renewable resource.

The wood used by Goodwins Timber Frame comes from plantations in Scandinavia and the Baltic countries. Virtually all the wood used is softwood, though this does not mean, as the name implies, that the wood itself is soft. Softwoods all come from cone bearing trees, while hardwoods (some of which can yield softer grades of timber) come from trees that are broad leaved. Conifers are the most ancient species of tree and include the giant redwoods which were found during the Jurassic period.

Wood is the definitive renewable material

Pines, Spruce and Fir trees are the most commonly cultivated softwoods and they generally grow faster than deciduous trees, giving a loosely grained wood which is easy to cut and shape. Our timber is sourced from certified sustainable forests where responsible forest management policies ensure that the pedigree of each piece of timber can be traced to the source plantation.

Timber Frame Buildings actively benefit the Environment by helping to reduce CO2 emissions. There is no more environmentally friendly way to build.

• European softwood plantations are currently in surplus production with standing stocks of timber increasing annually by 252million m3.
  
  
• Wood is effectively a carbon neutral material, even allowing for transport. Growing trees absorb carbon and produce oxygen. The carbon is stored for the life of the tree and the building. At the end of its usable life the wood can be burned for energy as a substitute for fossil fuel.
  
  
• Wood has low embodied energy. This means that, strength for strength, wood is produced using 5 times less energy than concrete and 6 times less energy than steel. This low embodied energy, plus wood’s excellent insulation properties, helps reduce CO2 emissions throughout the life of the building.
  
  
• All new buildings have to conform to new thermal efficiency standards in order to conserve energy. Goodwins Timber Frame buildings meet or exceed these standards. This is because wood is such a good natural insulator it enhances the efficiency of the insulation materials. Thanks to the excellent insulation of the structural shell the whole home heats up more quickly without any cold areas. Better insulation, hand-in-hand with good levels of draught-proofing means that a smaller boiler is needed leading to lower heating costs and a more comfortable home.

Click here to view our Environmental Policy