Fixer Upper Construction Tips

Posted on: 11 May 2023

Pine framing is widely used for buildings and other projects. Here are some benefits of using it for a house frame.

Convenient to Work With

Pine is lighter in weight compared to steel and hardwood timbers, which makes it relatively easy to work with. Additionally, pine can be used for the walls, roof, and floor of a house. You can cut it to size on-site, making it convenient for an involved project. On the other hand, steel frames come in precut lengths, and if you need a custom size, you can be faced with a lengthy construction delay. You can't make changes like you can when working with pine timber.

Good Insulator

With the energy efficiency of houses becoming crucially important nowadays, it's a bonus if you can use a framing material, such as pine, that is a good insulator. Timber, including pine, has tiny air pockets in its structure, and these stop heat from passing through. A pine frame helps block heat from moving inside a house in summer and warmth from escaping in winter. This insulating quality improves the overall energy efficiency of a building. Every component, including the frame, is important in trying to better a house's thermal performance.

Resilient Framing Option

Structural pine is treated to resist moisture damage and insects, allowing it to be used in various situations. Plus, the treatments are graded in terms of the protection they provide. If the pine will be in touch with the ground, and at a higher risk for damage, you can get the appropriately treated pine for the job. You don't need any guesswork, as each treatment level specifies what the timber is suitable for. Thus, if you get pine framing for a house, you know it's suited to this purpose.

Economical to Use

Pine frames are relatively cheap compared to alternatives such as steel. Something that keeps the price of pine in check is that it's grown around the world, including in Australia, so it's easily accessible. Additionally, pine is fast-growing and straightforward to cultivate, two factors that also help drive costs down.

Can Be Sustainably Sourced

Because pine matures within a few years rather than the decades it can take hardwood, it can be grown in plantations and provide a sustainable timber source. If wood is sourced from plantations, this reduces the need to harvest it from forests that aren't responsibly managed like plantations are. So, using properly sourced pine is good for the environment.