LOCAL PROJECT
The lure of timber
ALL PHOTOS BY LEON LOUW
A timber building like the one in picture in Pretoria , will take about seven days to complete from start to finish .
Timber houses are becoming more popular in South Africa as people realise the many benefits . Timber iQ recently spoke to a Pretoria-based contractor and a new timber house-owner in the Eastern Cape to find out what happens behind the scenes of constructing a timber house .
Although more South Africans are considering wood as a
viable alternative material to build their homes , the number of timber houses in South Africa pales in comparison to countries like Australia , New Zealand , the US and countries in Europe , where wood is the primary source of building material . According to the South African Department of Trade , Industry and Competition ( dtic ), timber frames account for about 70 % of all housing stock in developed countries , representing close to 150 million homes . In South Africa , in stark contrast , fewer than 1 % of homes and buildings are constructed from wood , even though timber is a reasonably abundant resource in South Africa and the country has a vibrant wood and forestry sector .
Several misconceptions about wood houses pervade the public discourse in South Africa to the detriment of timber as sustainable building material . Most people believe that wood is prone to fire , that it is likely to rot over time , that wood lacks structural strength and that it is more expensive to build and maintain . These beliefs have been perpetuated in South Africa for decades , but are , of course , nothing more than trivial myths . According to the dtic , wood is , in fact , a durable material that can last for hundreds of years , while modern wood preservatives enhance natural durability . Moreover , the production and processing of wood uses less energy ; wood has psychological health benefits ; is a natural insulator and has the unique ability to store carbon .
BENEFITS OF TIMBER
“ There are many benefits of using timber as a construction material ,” says Obert Chizema , director of Pretoria based Chimu Construction . Chizema started the company with a friend in 2012 after working as a carpenter for more than 15 years . Today , Chizema ’ s company is thriving . He says that there has been a clear uptick in demand for wooden houses in South Africa , and
www . timberiq . co . za // DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 11