People have used wood to build shelter since ancient times.
They first used whole logs or large timbers. As technology developed,
people were able to make and use thinner or lighter types of
wood and wood fiber products for building.
Nature's Strength Did you ever wonder what makes wood so strong? It's the combination of wood fiber and the lignin, or glue, that binds the wood fibers together. Wood fibers grow vertically and it is in this direction that wood is strongest. People use the strength of wood products to build schools, houses, office buildings, stores and even tree houses.
Going with the Grain
Many building products are made to take advantage of the strength of the wood grain. Plywood is made by stacking layers of veneer - thin sheets of wood - with the wood grain at right angles to each other. This makes a plywood panel strong both up and down and from side to side.
Other engineered building products such as particleboard are made of wood chips or shavings mixed with a special glue. By eliminating the wood grain, we can make products that have excellent strength in all directions.
