Cost factors

• What can be used to enhance the appearance of luxury car dashboards?

  High-quality materials
• What can high winds during hurricanes cause?

  They can bring down trees
• What disease can wipe out an entire species of trees?

  Dutch elm disease
• What are the cost factors associated with timber?

  • Quality of material: graded and priced by quality
  • Manufacturing processes: costs vary with processing level
  • Treatments: additional costs for treatments like pressure treatment and fire-retardant coatings
• What are the characteristics of high-quality timbers?

  They have fewer defects, such as knots and splits
• How is timber sorted and priced?

  By quality
• How is plywood graded?

  From A to D
• What is the quality of grade A plywood?

  It is free from defects and has even colouring
• Why are rough-sawn softwoods generally inexpensive?

  They have had the least amount of processing
• How does planed timber compare in cost to rough-sawn softwoods?

  Planed timber is more expensive
• What effect does applying treatments to timber have on its cost?

  It increases the cost
• What is tanalised timber?

  Timber that has been pressure treated with preservatives
• What is the purpose of pressure treating timber?

  To improve its resistance to weathering
• What can fire-retardant paints and coatings do for timber?

  They help slow down the spread of fire in timber-framed buildings
• What are the social factors related to timber use?

  • Environmental impact of timber sourcing
  • Community reliance on timber industries
  • Health implications of treated timber