Understanding the Basics of Mass Timber Construction

[@kurtzxcvb3481]

Yes we want a dedicated video to the podcast on Urban machine

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

Urban Machine sounds magnificent. I reuse junk wood all the time, and the idea of someone automating the cleanup, and the entire concept of using scrap and junk wood in something as beautiful (to me) as PSL is fascinating.

[@BelindaCarr]

Agree! I'll coordinate a video with them

[@arkhanhind2613]

@@BelindaCarr Please do, I want to see it too!

[@yodaiam1000]

I designed Brentwood station roof structure (and station) noted at 5:22. I was not the EOR but I was the head engineer and did most of the concept, analysis, and final design. We used 20' long staggered 2x4s nailed together so we could form the compound curve of the roof. Each span varies a bit but it is about 5m (16') spans between ribs. It was an interesting project. We had to really fight for the design since the 2x4s were not cheap but really, in the end, it was most cost effective way to form the shape and get enough strength to span between the ribs. The client wanted to use steel roof decking but that would be a false economy due to the compound curve and long span between ribs.

[@MariusGrikinis]

Thank you. Interesting information.

[@taxfree4]

Your in depth interview with the owner of Urban Machines was excellent. The choices in wood construction is so varied, in a good way, the only question is which one do you prefer. You have such variety in your video with all the pertinent info and manage to give just enough time, not too long, to keep it moving and so interesting. Thank you for such great information.

[@josephrollins2722]

Thanks!

[@gregcorwin8316]

Good to see you back, Belinda. Really enjoyed this video, thanks!

[@LucasRichardStephens]

Scribed timber houses use no nails glue or metal, and have been popular here in Norway for about 1000 years. They cost a small percentage more than stick frame houses to build, but last 400 years if well executed and adequately maintained. It may seem like an exaggeration to many readers of this comment, but I have worked on many houses in the area I live, that are 2-400 years old and still perform exactly as when they were new. The same can be said of most areas here in Norway. Though in the North, all the houses were destroyed as a war tactic. Thanks for sharing your studies Belinda, I am glad you are getting such a good number of subs, you are doing more for architecture than you could have if you had found a job at once. There is so much that could be improved in the building industry and this kind of democratic sharing of information is invaluable.

[@csehszlovakze]

are there any tried and true methods to prevent fires? "down" here in Hungary we don't really use wood for house building.

[@LucasRichardStephens]

@@csehszlovakze Log houses are not as easily set alight as stick frame houses. If they do catch fire, they maintain structural integrity a very great deal longer than buildings reliant on steel beams (which melt, causing collapse). It is, in any case the soft furnishings and the smoke they create, that is the greatest threat to occupants, and that is regardless of the type of construction. Having said all this, I find Norwegians tend to have an increased fire awareness when compared to many other Europeans, many safety precautions are in use, to mitigate fire hazards.

[@rossmcleod7983]

@@LucasRichardStephenswow that is extraordinary, much respect for our northern denizens, had no idea about scribed timber building, many thanks.

[@Alastair510]

@@LucasRichardStephens In my experience, the main risk from wildfires is the flames and heat catching under roof overhangs, setting fire to rafters. The house I grew up in, in Australia, was destroyed by just such an issue. The concrete block walls are still intact and undamaged by fire. The roof, however, is almost completely burnt out, collapsing into the interior of the house. This can be mitigated by shielding the rafters from direct heat.

[@ytzpilot]

We live in one in New Zealand that was designed by a Norwegian Immigrant, I can also confirm these homes hold up very well in earthquakes, our house has survived numerous since it was built back in 1980 with no damage to the structure. Plaster walls crack in earthquakes while wooden beams do not.

[@sk.sourov]

Nice to see your content again.

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@stephenmontez6754]

I am always exited to see a new video from you, very educational and informative. Great content !

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@boriss.861]

Belinda a great video. Could you please take this to the next level.

[@whiteknightcat]

What exactly is "the next level"?

[@BelindaCarr]

Yes, what is the next level? A factory tour? More details?

[@BelindaCarr]

I was tempted to insert a Pumpkin Spice Latte joke at 5:24 ... Also check out my vid on Mass Timber Skyscrapers! kzbin.info/www/bejne/paGuaGaQrpidgrM

[@quantafreeze]

Great video again! Thank you!

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Lol, we were just cutting mass beams last week. Our mill seems to see a growing demand. And our great grandparents build pure post and beam barns in Wisconsin. Magnificent structures!

[@emmanuelwekesa976]

there are some wood versions in the market that you may have a look at and probably do a review on them -transparent wood. -acetylated wood like accoya -softwood infused into hardwood like kebony premium hardwood

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you! I'll look into them.

[@matrazar]

I really enjoy your content. It’s easily digestible.

[@ybaggi]

Awesone as usual. I would have liked to hear about the pros and cons of each type of mass timber described. Thank you.

[@BelindaCarr]

I'll try to get my hands on samples of each or organize a tour of a mass timber factory to dive into more details

[@gabrielfraser2109]

I like your new intro slide, Belinda. You keep getting better.

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@theprojectbasedlifestyle1089]

How does CLT manage manage seasonal moisture changes? With long panels and wood running in different direction you'd think that seasonal moisture changes would cause the panels to seperate over time.

[@5467nick]

CLT is basically just plywood. Good plywood won't separate if the adhesive bonded correctly. Thin veneers don't exert as much force as thicker timbers and are at least partially saturated with the glue instead of water, so they don't expand as much with moisture changes.

[@theprojectbasedlifestyle1089]

I get that. Still always kind of a mystery to me how the cross lamination of plywood does violate the first principle of woodworking, the need to let wood move. But CLT panels are sometimes 40 feet long and the layers are thick unlike plywood veneer. The only way it makes sense to me is if the glue basically seals it, but this still doesn't explain the outer layers especially when the CLT is structural and also the interior finish.

[@5467nick]

@@theprojectbasedlifestyle1089 Wood movement is a very big deal when working with hardwood. With softwood, it is much less of a concern, especially since the joints in CLT are face grain to face grain, not end grain to face grain. No framer cares much about grain orientation when framing a typical stick frame house. We'll then gladly screw or nail completely different materials like drywall, wood paneling with different grain pattern than the studs, plywood, cement board, etc. right onto the studs.

[@theprojectbasedlifestyle1089]

@@5467nick Point taken about the difference between hardwood and softwood. Still, when i calculate the expansion of douglas fir over a 20 ft panel at a five percent moisture change I get 1.5 to 3 inches depending of whether it was quartersawn or flatsawn. Obviously that is not happening. So somehow the moisture is not getting to the wood. Perhaps because it is so thick, but then why doesn't it affect the outside of the panel and cause bowing? Or because the glues and finishes effectively seal the wood, but then over time or in a particularly wet season??? I'm sure the engineers have worked this out, I just havent ever seen it explained and I'm curious. What about CLT in wet climates, or climates with a radical seasonal humidity difference?

[@5467nick]

@@theprojectbasedlifestyle1089 Wood that was unrestricted may change in size that much. If you try to prevent hardwood from moving too much, it can break apart. Softwood can be restricted more than hardwood without breaking apart. For example, a flat-sawn board will often cup as it dries. However, if it is joined to other boards with dovetails or other strong joints, it is restricted and can't cup. The fibers that would have moved in such a way to cup will compress or pull apart slightly instead, at least as much as they can without splitting. There might be issues in areas that can expect huge swings in moisture content, though that can also be accounted for if the product is made to handle it. For example, true quartersawn boards would expand almost only or contract in their thickness, not width or length, as moisture changes, and thus would have zero issues with changes of moisture content when used in CLT.

[@TTTzzzz]

Belinda, please explore 'Accoya' and 'Tricoya' wood products.

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you! I'll look into them

[@kens6168]

Very interesting! Thanks.

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@raymondpeters9186]

Yet another very informative video Doing good keep going Take care Ray

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you, Marius!

[@DGarte]

Thanks a lot! It would be really interesting to see a comparison between CLT and concrete or brick regarding Thermal properties

[@ryanlongman1537]

And don't forget MPP! Although Mass Plywood Panel is not as popular as the others because it is only manufactured by Freres Lumber in Oregon.

[@BelindaCarr]

Yes! I removed it from the list because it's rarely used but thanks for bringing it up

[@EvanCarrollTheGreat]

How does the glue hold up when submerged in water? I live in Houston. I imagine half of our homes are in the 500 year flood plane. And we've had three 500 year floods in the past 10 years. I'm wondering how a house built with these products would take 3 feet of submergence.

[@paxiahern2383]

Yes, give us a deep dive into Urban Machine.

[@noahhendrickson7138]

Hello, I am wondering the name of the project that is pictured in the thumbnail?

[@kravond]

Love your videos! Always informative.

[@AngleIron426]

I had never heard the term biophilic. I am reading about it now. I learned something. Thank you.

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@sjpropertyservices3987]

Thank you for another informative video.

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@ian2372]

In the US, steel frame and concrete or brick is the way to go. mass timber can be used for non load bearing walls. Tornados level wood buildings. Steel frame and concrete give occupants the best chance of survival without a storm shelter. Cheers from Texas.

[@ubacow7109]

What is the laminated part about an NLT? Isnt it just regular nailed timbers? You still get a large overall product but nails seem to be the weak point

[@indijen]

I would love a separate video on Urban Machine's process!

[@BelindaCarr]

Working on it! Thanks!

[@DS-su7vj]

Great video! I would love to see a production highlighting the Perfectblock ICF. It appears this is created from waste Styrofoam into which grout is pumped around rebar. From their product info, it appears that this is a green product. Paired with the glulam roofs and ceilings, it sounds like a strong, fire-resistant, storm resistant and (mostly) green structure could be created. Thank you for your videos!

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Very informative 👍

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@devendralatchman5724]

Quite a few of these products use adhesives of some kind, I'm curious how safe / environmentally friendly they are? In terms of fire/flood or off gassing/recycling

[@thejohnken5]

Squirrel! I am trying to decide if I should replace my 20 year old HVAC (all electric home) with an economy system like the original, or heat pump. Harker Hts, Tx. Howdy neighbor!

[@oudmantu]

I understand the ease of timber construction be it mass or stick framing but I find it maddening for other reasons... Hey let's build our homes out of the singular food source of an insomniac, insatiable, itinerant, swarm of insects who's sole preoccupation is to eat and reproduce! Termites aren't everywhere but there's lots of other ways that wood perishes over time and all the while whoever buys a home constructed in this matter must necessarily be financing SOME amount of termite excrement or fungus! And let's not forget wood comes from trees. Trees fart out a gas that humans need to breathe; sure not the lions share of it but enough to matter. We need to huff those tree farts! I want to see a video about alternative framing or construction methods that shy away from current stick framing practice (if you haven't already made one) love your videos I learn so much every time and I aspire to build my own house some day

[@quintessenceSL]

Eh, all of these could be loosely considered "fiber composite", and there numerous applications of the same methodology that could incorporate other fibers beside wood. At the other end, I could point to corrosion and deterioration. It would be interesting to get a total cost over projected lifespan for various materials.

[@TTTzzzz]

For a solution against termites and fungus look up 'Accoya' wood. 30 years guarantee for unprotected wood in the ground and 50 years for above ground. No coatings needed and it is very dimensionally stable. It is expensive though.

[@snoopaka]

I would love a video on Urban Machine

[@supernumex]

What is the feasibility of aluminum construction products?

[@WontSeeReplies]

You gave the most beautiful voice. Never give in.

[@NoahNobody]

Have you don'e a video on (saw)dustcrete?

[@okashaabdulai8661]

Is there any company that manufacturing mass time which if you are Ghana import

[@disguysn]

What about off gassing of the glue?

[@jonathanandrade176]

I love your new intro!

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@AoE2Replays]

BELINDA. with the Fire lumber vid

[@BelindaCarr]

Thank you!

[@whiteknightcat]

OK, I don't understand something. Dowel laminated timber uses no adhesives - the individual components are held together by dowels. At 4:23, however, the animation shows a wall section of DLT with window and door openings being cut out. Cutting openings in DLT will cut the dowels. If the height of the door opening spans most of the height of the DLT panel, all the dowels will be cut and the wall section will come apart.

[@homealonebuild3090]

Even if the section above the door or window had no dowel the rest of the wall section would be sturdily holding together and supporting the short span. Unless it's a very skinny window, I'm sure there would be 2-3 dowels in the span and more if you wanted.

[@whiteknightcat]

@@homealonebuild3090 I understand the wall sections on either side of the door casing would remain intact, but wouldn't everything above the lintel just become so many independent little blocks, and neither wall section would be attached to each other any more?

[@rabbytca]

@@whiteknightcat You need to re-watch the video more closely and note in which orientation the assemblies are constructed and then installed.

[@whiteknightcat]

@@rabbytca I did, before I asked my original question. The individual boards end up vertical in the wall sections with the dowels running horizontally. The windows and doors were then cut out, severing the dowels. While there will still be continuous dowels holding everything together above and below the windows, there would be one or none above the doorway, depending on the height of the door.

[@homealonebuild3090]

@@whiteknightcat In fact, I was picturing the 2X's running horizontal. Being vertical I suppose, if there were no dowels across the span then it would be vulnerable. But, I'm not sure why you would assume, no dowels. I'm sure, if it was an issue the manufacturers or designers would have dealt it a blow. I'd also bet they don't literally cut out the windows/doors but that they are manufactured that way. 'Twould be a huge waste of resources.

[@kameljoe21]

I just wish the price on a lot of the wood products would come down. The LDF insulation is quite cool. Any wood product is great, it gets a bad rap because people clearly do not understand how forest are used.

[@silvergt4254]

Do you have a way to contact you?

[@michaelbindner9883]

Are any prefab builders using mass timber?

[@spicemasterii6775]

So. Plywoods but huge?

[@PutsOnSneakers]

Wood is more expensive than concrete in Belgium 😢

[@csehszlovakze]

same here in Hungary, wood is basically the most expensive option. 😂😂😂

[@grondhero]

Isn't concrete recyclable? I know steel is. Considering the US has an average of 52 tornadoes a year, I would think we'd start moving on to something better and economical (although, not with this administration). When we lived on Guam, our houses were made of concrete to survive the typhoons. In addition, termites love wood, but not steel, concrete or stone. Rats will chew through your wooden walls and come "investigating" in the colder months. Still, it's always good to know your options.

[@csehszlovakze]

I'd be more afraid of bigger fires than termites... then again, we don't build housing out of wood around here, masonry and concrete reign supreme.

[@patrickdegenaar9495]

If we think of all the forrests across siberia and then think of how the world needs to come together to solve real problems instead of stupid wars.

[@UBGood]

810

[@Christiane069]

Yes, wood is renewable, however, the practice in the US and Canada is far more destructive than what can be re-planted. Also, they plant new fast growing trees as replacement of old growth, not cool. Then, organizations that do re-plant trees, do it often in the wrong places, not good either. So, yes wood products are very versatile.

[@BelindaCarr]

I agree. We need to monitor "sustainable forestry practices" very closely

[@Christiane069]

@@BelindaCarr I am afraid this would become a political football with no end is site as a lot of money is tied up to "Green Credit" witch is a huge tax con system that profit the large corporation that already pay no taxes. So what can we do. Like Jefferson (the guy that put is John Hancock signature on that piece of paper) said; We need a revolution every 50 years. (he did said that)

[@TheVladBlog]

First

[@BelindaCarr]

Woo hoo! :)

[@csehszlovakze]

it'll store carbon alright... until it burns down.

[@humboltesgood3797]

f Mass Timber Construction

[@okashaabdulai8661]

Is there any company that manufacturing mass time which if you are Ghana import