Economic benefits of using wood in construction

Timber-based construction elements are efficient to prefabricate. Wood is lightweight, easy to process with automatized tools and healthy and friendly to work with. This makes timber-based construction elements and modules efficient to prefabricate. Compared to heavier construction materials, larger and fewer elements and even full building modules ones can be produced and are easier and quicker to install on site. This makes wood an ideal material for modern digitalized prefabrication and construction processes. Using prefabricated timber elements and modules increase construction quality, speed and safety, thus helping to tackle productivity challenges in the construction sector.

Wood is a lightweight material often with a high degree of prefabrication. This means that wood buildings can be assembled fast with small crews and light tools. This translates into shorter construction times and increased quality, which reduces general construction costs.

Building with mass timber results in design weights of 30 to 50% less than comparable concrete buildings. This often translates into being able to generate more space when building on top of existing structures, or on grounds with limited load-bearing capacity. It makes it great for building extensions, such as adding more storeys on an existing structure. In other sites, where weight is limited by existing civil infrastructure, archeological assets, or limited load bearing capacity, a lighter structure may enable a larger building, improving the economic viability of the project.

Construction sites for timber buildings are quieter, leaner and significantly less disruptive for an urban environment compared to building with heavier materials. They generate less noise, less transports and deliveries, require less space, use smaller cranes and reduce the construction duration. This reduces the risk of claims and conflicts with neighbours, which can be costly and time consuming. Minimizing the risk of setbacks during the construction process translates into an economic benefits for developers and contractors.