Why build your home out of wood ?

Discover the advantages of wood for housing construction: renewable material, thermal comfort, fire resistance, insulation, etc.

The 3 advantages of wood for housing construction

Although its use is still marginal in the construction sector, wood could be a material of the future. Renewable, efficient and easy to use, it offers many advantages for the creation of healthier and more sustainable housing.

A material in favor of the ecological transition

Like straw or cellulose wadding, its use is therefore encouraged by the public authorities in order to limit the environmental impact of the construction sector. It must be said that wood has two main advantages in this area.

Namely: 23% is the share of greenhouse gas emissions for which the building sector is responsible in France ⁽¹⁾.

• A carbon-storing material: once cut, wood continues to store the CO2 absorbed by the tree during its growth. Greenhouse gases are therefore captured throughout the life of the building, thus improving the carbon footprint of the dwelling.
• A renewable solution: Unlike some traditional building materials, wood is renewable and recyclable. Its use also makes it possible to sustain the forests and participate – via reasoned management of the resource – in their development.

A guarantee of performance and comfort

Due to its intrinsic qualities, wood also contributes to the performance of construction, both in terms of insulation, resistance and living comfort.

• Better regulation of humidity: thanks to its hygrothermal properties, wood regulates humidity and temperature in the home more effectively.
• Enhanced comfort: like all biobased materials, wood emits very few volatile organic compounds. It thus contributes to the quality of indoor air. This material also limits heat transfer and preserves the living comfort of the inhabitants.
• Fire resistance: wood burns less quickly than other building materials and retains its load-bearing capacity at very high temperatures, unlike metal or concrete, for example.

The firefighters’ regulations authorize them to intervene longer in a burning building if it is made of wood because this material is particularly stable in fire ⁽²⁾.

Easier and faster construction

If the use of wood is growing for the construction of housing, both individual and collective, it is also because it is easier to use than its counterparts, thus making it possible to optimize the site.

Namely: 6.5% is the share of wood construction in the housing market in 2020 ⁽³⁾.

• A lightweight, high-performance material: Much lighter than other construction materials, wood is easier for workers to handle. Its load-bearing capacity is nevertheless high, thus offering a wide choice of architectural possibilities.
• Quick assembly: the construction of a wooden house generally involves the use of prefabricated elements in the factory (frame panels with integrated window, for example). The assembly and construction time is therefore reduced, making it possible to speed up the construction site and deliver the housing more quickly.