Wood in the built environment? It's natural...

We are seeing a lot of interest from investors + developers/real estate companies to act on their ESG strategies and building with wood, especially in Western-Europe + Nordics is gaining a lot of momentum. Wood pricing is leveling out after the meteoric price some months ago, due to global supply chain constrains.

This week we'll share some insights about the (tangible) benefits of wood construction.

Wood, old fashioned or the future?

When thinking about Proptech solutions, wood is probably not be the first thing that comes to mind. Whereas wood is a material that has been around since the beginning of humanity and might have an old-fashioned connotation, it is most definitely a substantial part of the future in the real estate/construction sector. Building with wood, or more specific, cross laminated timber is an innovation that should not be looked over and therefore absolutely deserves to be mentioned.

Fighting the forces of nature, at lightning speed...

Building with wood has proven to be very effective when it comes to resisting the uncontrollable variables mother earth likes to throw at us. Water, fire, temperature or earthquakes, wood seems to be doing a pretty good job at fighting them. At li

Cross laminated timber (CLT) has a natural moisture-regulating effect and reduces the risk of infections, dust, mites, mold and bacteria. Which makes the material very suitable for building in all humidity levels. On top of that the high insulation values of wood (> 5,0 m2K/W) guarantee a comfortable and healthy living climate.

Besides dealing with moist, CLT also has a high fire resistance. When exposed to fire, it naturally forms a layer of carbon, protecting the underlying wood. Steel and concrete structures, on the other hand, will always require additional protection measures.

Even when it comes to withstanding an earthquake, a CLT construction wins from any stone like construction. The flexibility of the construction and the disc action of the various parts make it much more likely to sustain itself against the forces of an earthquake.

Bring your dream house to life in the blink of an eye.

Durability is not the only reason why this new trend has gained so much in popularity. The building process of a CLT construction is effective and efficient that it can be finished up to 3x faster than (traditionally) built construction.

The modular way of building gives the customer the opportunity to design the lay-out of the house of their dreams. And also when it comes to facades the options are endless. Durable wood, anodized aluminum or brick elements, everything is possible. Every building is customized and unique.

Saving the world

Let’s not forget about the environmental benefits!

Traditional building is accountable for 36% of the CO2 emissions. That's an incredible number + opportunity to make change.

On top of that: More than 90% of the building materials are suitable for reuse. Given that the building world is responsible for 40% of demolition waste, the use of CLM can contribute to immense waste reduction. It's a big part of it...

In conclusion wood is a strong, flexible and sustainable material.

And if that isn’t enough to convince you of the benefits of CLT constructions: research has also shown that wood has a positive effect on the mental health. Luckily CLT also provides great acoustics, helping you bring your shower concerts to the next level.

Should you wish to get more insights or get access to such opportunities in our network please reach out:

stephen@theproptechconnection.com OR ivo@theproptechconnection.com

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