WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE ASSEMBLY
Characteristics of wood. Wood has a set of specific traits that are natural and inherent
to it. Those characteristics include color, density, and the extent to which it is affected by
humidity.
Longitudinal cut, in most cases, reveals a delicate, decorative, and often very appreciable
look, which is called texture. In addition to that, wood has a specific smell, given by oils,
resins, and fermented substances.
A critical attribute of timber is the ease with which it absorbs humidity. When the timber
dries, it shrinks. Similarly, when timber absorbs humidity, it increases in volume. This
may reveal cracks in dry conditions and close them naturally in wet.
Downsides. One of the downsides of timber is that it chaps and warps. When the timber
dries, the moisture firstly evaporates from the surface and outer layers and only then from
the inside layers. Thus, when the outer layers start shrinking, the inside layers, due to
stronger moisture, oppose to shrinking. Firstly, the surface starts chapping, then the inside
layers follow. When the timber dries, it can get a longitudinal warp or a cross warp. A
longitudinal warp is when the drying straight balk bends, flat plank twists and gets the
form of the propeller. To avoid such warping, the wood should be restricted by binding
before it is exposed to temperature and humidity variations. Wood has a set of specific
technological characteristics. It easily splits along the fiber, nicely holding metal
fastenings; it can flex easily and is not very sensitive to depreciation. Screws hold timber
exceptionally well. Screws have a much better grip with timber than nails.
Taints: branchy timber, cracks, abnormal structure, infractions made by fungus or
parasites. As timber is of biological origin, it is so varied that the terms “normal timber”
and “abnormal timber” are not strictly defined. Within the variety of sawn wood and sawn
timber, some taints due to fungus may occur, such as mold or brownness. Mold generally
does not affect physical and mechanical characteristics of timber.
When timber is affected bybiological (fungus), physical (environmental, temperatureand
humidity) and chemical factors, it decomposes.
Timber may last a long time, but fluctuations in humidity and temperature of the
environment reduce its longevity. A variety of cracks may emerge, which then both
damage the integrity of the timber and facilitate infection with (and rapid development
of) fungus. Generally speaking, the older the tree, the better the durability of its lumber.
The most effective way to protect the wood from insects and decay is to treat it with
substances which are toxic to fungus and insects. It may be natural or chemical
substances.
