PHILIPPINE

PHILIPPINE WOOD
WOOD
Construction Materials & Testing
 It is estimated that there are
about 3000 species of Philippine
wood that can attain a diameter of
about 21 inches that can be
converted into logs and finally into
lumber.

75 % of the standing trees in

the forests belongs to LAUAN
FAMILY
 I: SPECIES OF WOOD

1. ACACIA: Light to dark

brown in color, fine
grained, seldom
found in long lengths.
It is used a floor
framing, roof framing,
concrete forms. It is
the common lumber.
2. APITONG: It is used in
wide paneling and
furniture manufacture
3. AGOHO: The color of
the heartwood
ranges from reddish
brown, straight
grained or Lightly
crossed. Moderately
fine grained. Durable
when exposed to
weather. It is used in
floor joist, girders and
as piles for buildings.
4. AKLE: Dark brown in color, cross grained, have
coarse texture. Seasons well, durable even when in
contact with ground. It has the resistance to
termites. It is used in first class construction as
floorings, panelings, post, etc.
5. DAO: Color ranges
from white to
yellow, light and
dark brown to
black. Very fine
textured,
moderately heavy
and hard to work. It
is used as
floorings,
panellings,
plywood and for
any purpose where
high decorative
finish is desired.
6. GUIJO: Brownish red in color, cross grained, hard
and heavy. It used as floor joists, girders, trusses,
floorings, and for any purpose where structural
strength is required.
7. IPIL: Color is yellowish
when fresh, turning to
light brown and
reddish when aged.
Coarse grained. It has
a characteristic smell.
It bleeds or produces
a brownish stain
which is soluble in
water. It is not
recommended for
floorings and window
sills. May be used in
other parts of a
building not directly
exposed to weather.
8. MOLAVE: It also
known as Mulawin.
The toughest and
hardest wood in
construction. Hard to
work with because of
its hardness. Durable
even when in contact
with the ground.
Durable for interior
works. It is used as
railroad ties and used
where strength and
durability are needed.
9. MANGGACHAPUY: Color is light yellow to yellow
gray, it turns into a golden brown when aged,
straight or slightly cross grained, glossy, durable
when in contact with ground. Durable for interior
works. It is used for window and door frames.
10. NARRA: Reddish in
color, fine grained,
cross or wavy,
seasons well, stains
water to bluish green
color, workable,
finishes beautifully.It
is extensive used as
floorings, panellings,
plywood, built in
cabinets, and other
purposes where
beauty and strength
are required. Used
also in manufacture
of fine furniture.
11. PALOSAPIS: Color is light yellow with pink streaks,
straight grained, coarse textured, seasons well,
needs careful seasoning because it warps easily.
Not very workable but durable for interior works.
Used for interior finishing and plywood manufacture.

12. YAKAL: It belongs to Lauan family although heavier

and harder. Color ranges from yellow to yellowish
brown, cross grained, fine textured, very durable
even when exposed to the weather or in contact with
concrete. It is used in first class construction where
durability and strength are required. Commonly used
as post and beams.
13. RED LAUAN: It is reddish in color and not resistant
to decay. Extensively used in house framing,
floorings, sidings, panellings, plywood, etc.

14. TANGUILE: A very large tree. The trunk grows to

about 6-7 ft in diameter. Color is reddish to brownish
red. Texture is coarse, cross grained, seasons well.
It is also used in house framing, floorings, sidings,
panellings, plywood etc. Widely used in Timber
construction.

15. TINDALO: It is rare kind of wood. The heartwood is

pale orange to blood red in color, straight garined,
fine textured, difficult to work, gives off a faint odor
like mongo beans.
16. WHITE LAUAN: It
is one of the
cheapest lumber in
the market. It ahs
many
characteristics of
RED LAUAN but
the color is lighter.
It is used in light
construction and
particularly as form
lumber for
concrete.
 II. TIMBER (AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

It is the most important materials of Engineering

construction since Ancient times and up to present.

It is extensively used in the construction of Building,

bridges, forts, dams, retaining walls, roads and etc

TIMBER: it is referred to the logs cut from the trunks

of the trees

LUMBER: refers to a timber that has been cut to

commercial sizes

STRUCTURAL TIMBER: refers to wood whose least

dimension is greater than 6 inches.
 III. ADVANTAGES OF TIMBER AS A
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL MBER (AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

1. AVAILABILITY : Most species of timber in the

lumber yard is suitable for construction purposes

2. VERSATILITY: except for foundation and roofing

system, lumber can be used for any part of a timber
structure.

3. WORKABILITY: It is easy to managed

4. BEAUTY: It is pleased to the eye

5. STRUCTURAL STRENGTH : Hardwoods are

suitable as structural members that require
durability.
6. DURABILITY: Timber is fairly durable as a
structural material. It is not durable whn compared to
building stones, brick, concrete or steel. It is
resistant to weather, destructive insects, dry rot,
bacteria, and fungi esp. when pressure treated with
certain toxic chemicals.

7. ECONOMY: It is more cheaper than other

materials, hence it is the most suitable construction
material for low and medium housing.
IV. PRINCIPAL PARTS IN THE STRUCTURE OF WOOD

1. BARK: The outer

corky coverage
which protects the
trunk of the trees.
2. PITCH: A white
substance found at
the center of the
cross section of a log.
It constitutes the
center of the
heartwood.

3. HEARTWOOD:
The inner core of a
tree trunk. It is usually
darker than the rest of
the wood and it also
barder. This portion is
the principal source of
4. SAPWOOD: The
outside part of the
heartwood called
IMMATURE WOOD
which is the section
next to the cambium. It
is usually lighter in
color and contains
plenty of moisture.
5. CAMBIUM: The
growing and living
part of the tree
which lies between
the bark and the
sapwood and
greenish, slippery
and slim.
6. MEDULLARY RAYS: The
horizontal fibers extending
from the pitch to the bark and
radiating from the pitch in all
directions. They give beauty
and strength to the wood.
They are sometimes called
PITCH RAYS.

7. ANNUAL RINGS OR
GROWTH RINGS: The
cocentric circle around the
pitch give an indication circles
around the pitch give an
indication of the age of a tree.

8. PORES: Fine tubular

passages.
V. LOGGING OPERATION

1. SELECTION OF TREES TO BE CUT: Young trees are

left alone to mature. Sometime it makes 80 years for a tree
to mature. Forests know by instinct and by experience when
trees are ready to harvest.

2. CUTTING DOWN THE SELECTED TREES: Usually a

power of SAW is used to facilitate cutting. In the absence of
Power saw the two men are still very much in use. These
men engaged in the cutting of trees know exactly where the
trunks will have fall.

3. CONVERSION OF TREES TO LOGS: Once the trees

are on the ground, the branches are trimmed leaving only
the main trunks. Then these trunks are cut to convenient
lengths to afcilitate transportation to the lumber mills.
Sometimes are round legs are converted to square logs.
4. TRANSPORTATION OF THE LOGS: The next problem is
to transport the logs inside the forest to the nearest saw mill
or to a point of embarkation especially when the logs are
incapables are some of the means of transporting these
logs. Sometimes the logs are floated down a river to a saw
mill.
VI. PROPERTIES OF WOOD

1. WEIGHT: The weight of the wood varies with density. Woods

in the first group are the heaviest. Wood describes as heavy,
medium or light depending also on the size of the pores.

2. COLOR: Caused by the amount of tannic acid present in the

wood. The color may be yellowish, brownish, etc.

3. ODOR: Some lumber have distinct odors

4. TASTE: Some lumber have distinct tastes. Due to certain

chemical compound.

5. GRAIN: The figure displayed by the structure of the wood.

Grains are described fine or coarse straight or cross grained.
6. STIFFNESS: The resistance of the wood to cross
banding especially when used as a beam. This
depends on the compactness of the fibers of the
wood. Hardwoods are usually stiffer than softwood.

7. HARDNESS: The resistance of the wood against

wear and tear or indentation or scratching. Depends
on the pores and structure of the wood, First group
lumber are the hardest.
VII. LUMBERYARD

This is an establishment where logs are converted to

commercial lumber. It is equipped with various types
of power machines to produce the lumber desired. It
is also a place where lumber is being marketed. One
of the most essential machines there is
MULTIBLADE SAW which first converts a square
round logs to a square logs. Then with the use of
MULTIPLE BLADES the square section is
subdivided to square or rectangular.
VIII: SAWING LUMBER

The manner in which a piece of lumber is cut from a

log has remarkable influence upon its qualities and
behavior, and the selection of cutting is determined
by the character of the wood and purpose for which
it is designated. FLAT SAWING OR SLASH
CUTTING consist in cutting the log tangential to the
annual rings, this cut is more or less parallel to the
medullary rays. This method is the most common
and the most economical, because it requires less
time in cutting and less waste. RIFT SAWING is
cutting the boards out of the log in such manner
that the annual rings are cut through as nearly
as possible in a radical direction. RIFT CUT
LUMBER shrinks and as possible in a radical
directioon. RIFT CUTTING is more wasteful
VIII: DEFECTS IN LUMBER

1. KNOTS: These are the

beginnings of the
branches of the tree.
They affect the
structural strength of
lumber. They can be
identified by their
darker color and the
behavior of the grains
around it. Some
knots are loose and
some are sound.
2. SHAKES: Split caused
by improper
seasoning, rough
handling, wind.
3. WARPING: The lumber
is no longer plane
and may be due to
seasoning
4. ROT AND ROTTEN STREAKS

5. WORM HOLES OR WOOD PECKER HOLES

IX: CLASSIFICATIOPN OF LUMBER

A. USE CLASSIFICATION
1. YARD LUMBER: Lumber that is less than 6 in
in thickness and is intended for general building
purposes.

2. STRUCTURAL TIMBER: Lumber that is 6in or

over in thickness and width.

3. FACTORY OR SHOP LUMBER: Lumber

intended to be cut for use in further manufacture.
B. SIZE CLASSIFICATION
1. STRIPS: Lumber less than 2 in thick and
under 8 in wide.

2. BOARDS: Lumber that is 2 in thick and under

8 in over width.

3. PLANKS: Lumber 2 in and under 4 in thick and

8 in over wide.
C, MANUFACTURING CLASSIFICATION
1. ROUGH LUMBER: Undressed as it comes
from the saw.

2. SURFACE LUBER: Lumber that is dressed by

running through a planner. It may be surfaced
one side, SIS, two sides, S2S, three sides S3S,
fours sides, S4S.
X: WORKED LUMBER

Lumber which has been throough a matching

machine, sticker or moulder. MATCHED LUMBER
is one that is edge dressed and shaped to make a
closed tongued and groove joint (T&G). Wooden
flooring are of this type. SHIP- LAPPED LUMBER
is edge dressed to make closed rabetted or lapped
joint. Wooden sidings are of this type. PATTERNED
LUMBER that is shaped to a paterred or molded
from like quarter round moldings and cornices.
XI: SIZES AND LENGTHS OF FRAMING LUMBER

The maximum thickness from framing lumber is 2

in. The minimum width is 4 in and it varies by 2in
up to 20 in. Other sizes such as 2 x 3, 2 x 5, 2 x 7,
2 x 9, 3 x 4, and 3 x 5 are sawed by some mills.
Lumber is cut and sawed in even length as 6 ft, 8 ft,
12 ft up to about 25 ft.
XII: MEASUREMENT OF LUMBER

All Lumber with the exception of some finishing

lumber, are solid by the board foot. One board
foot of lumber is 144 cu. In. expressed in another
way, a board foot is the equivalent of a piece of
board 12 in long, 12 in width and 1 in thick.
XIII: CERTAIN LUMBER MILL PRACTICES

1. CROSS SECTION: It is the end of a log cut

through which shows all the principal parts of the
trunk.

2. RADIAL SECTION: A lengthwise cut through the

pitch such that the annual rings as the series of
parallel lines and the medullary rays, if prominent, in
various pattern crossing the annual growth rings.

3. TANGENTIAL SECTION: A lengthwise cut but

not through the center of the trunk (Pitch) and in
which all such cuts are tangent to some annual
rings.
4. CROSS SECTION: It is sawing up the entire log
in a series of parallel cuts so that all the lumber cut
are tangential section except the middle one which
is radial section.

5. QUARTER SAWING: It is sawing up the log

section that are always to right angles, or nearly so,
to the annual of the log.
XIV:ARTIFICIAL DRYING (KILN DRYING)

Kiln temperature up to 180 F and drying periods of

few days to several months.

TYPES OF KILNS
1. COMPARTMENT KILN: In which the conditions
of temperature and humidity are changed as drying
process, the lumber being stacked in the
compartment

2. PROGRESSIVE KILN: In which low temperature

with high humidity condition is maintained at the
entering end of the kiln and a high temperature with
low humidity condition at the next exit, the lumber
being moved periodically through kiln.
XV:SEASONING DRYING OF LUMBER

SEASONING: is the process of drying lumber by

removing the moisture from the cells of which the
wood is composed.

TWO WAYS:
1. NATURAL SEASONING: Use of sun and air this
is the most common methods.

2. ARTIFICIAL SEASONING: Use of kilns,

seasoning by this method is faster, more through
but more expensive. Kiln dried flooring are
recommended for they have practically no more
shrinkage.
SHRINKING: is the natural decrease in the thickness and
width of piece of lumber.

SWELLING: is the natural increase in the size of lumber

caused by the taking in moisture.

WARPING: is caused by either shrinking or swelling which

causes the change in the shape of the lumber.

CHECKING: is the opening up of cracks in lumber caused by

unequal rapid seasoning.

PILING: is the system of arranging lumber shed to places one

above the other and separated by cleats or seperators to
permit free circultion of air between the pieces of lumber.
XVI: METHODS OF DRYING OF WOOD

1. AIR DRYING: The temperature and humidity

conditions of the air exercise an improvement an
imporatnt influence upon arte of drying. It is also
natural drying. Exposure of the lumber under direct
rays of lumber in certain parts of a building like the
floor.

2. KILN DRY: is practically shrinkage proof

XVII: CAUSES OF DECAY OF WOOD

1. FUNGI AND BACTERIA: They destroy the fibers

of the wood

2. INSECTS

3. MARINE BORERS: They destroy timber exposed

to sea water.

4. DRY ROT: When lumber is exposed to alternate

dry and wet condition it deteriorates. Timber will last
almost indefinitely when submerged under water
continuously. Timber piles under building make use
of this principle.

5. FIRE: Lumber is a combustible material

XVIII: METHODS OF TIMBER PRESERVATION

1. SUPER ARTIFICIAL: This is a term applied to painting

creosote or other preservative on to the surface or the
timber with brush.

2. NON PRESSURE METHODS: It consists in immersing

the timber to be treated into an open tank and heated in hot
liquid for several hours. It is then immersed in a hot liquid
either zinc chloride or creosote.

3. PRESSURE METHOD: This is the most efficient method

because the preservative is able to penetrate the cells of
wood due to the pressure applied. It consists in putting the
timber to be treated inside a big horizontal steel cylinder.
Then a vacuum is created inside the cylinder, after which
creosote is injected under pressure from 100-200 lb/ sq. in.
After the treatment the timber is removed from the cylinder.
XIX: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TIMBER

1. COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

2. TENSILE STRENGTH

3. SHEARING STRENGTH

4. STRENGTH IN CROSS BENDING

5. STIFFNESS OF WOOD
XX: TIMBER PRODUCTS

1. VENEER
2. PLYWOOD
3. LAWANIT
4. LAMINATE WOOD
5. PARQUET FLOORING