Look around any historic city worldwide and you’ll see timber everywhere. Japanese temples, Scandinavian stave churches, American colonial houses, German half-timbered buildings – the list is practically endless. And we’re not just talking about buildings but their features, furniture, and more.
Despite all the modern materials available today, timber keeps proving its worth globally. In fact, many anthropologists argue that it was absolutely pivotal to our evolution as an intelligent species.
Let’s take a short walk through timber’s history and importance today.
Timber’s Ancient Origins
Humans have been building with wood since before we learned to write. The oldest wooden tools we’ve found – the Schöningen Spears – are 400,000 years old. By the time civilisations started keeping records, timber construction was already quite sophisticated.
It later became pivotal to the development of civilisation and trade. Ancient Egyptians imported cedar from Lebanon for their most important buildings. Romans developed joinery techniques so advanced that archaeologists still study them today.
Timber is obviously the ‘natural’ choice for construction, given its strong, hardy, and naturally replenishing qualities. But it’s also flexible and workable, and today we additionally value it for its aesthetics.
The Medieval Period
Medieval Europe took timber construction to new heights. Wood was the default building material for almost everything, from peasant cottages to grand cathedrals.
Medieval carpenters created the mortise and tenon joints we still use today. They often selected green oak, understanding that the wood would strengthen as it dried and lock the joints tight. The guild system meant these skills were passed down through generations of apprenticeships.
Many of their buildings – particularly churches and cathedrals with extensive wood frames – still stand today.
Before the turn of the Industrial Revolution, water-powered sawmills shifted timber production up a gear. Suddenly, you could produce standardised lumber in vast quantities and at consistent dimensions.
Steam accelerated this process even further, and railways made long-distance timber transport economically feasible. Quality timber construction became accessible to more than just the wealthy.
Why Timber Still Works
Throughout history, timber has kept delivering consistent physical advantages:
- Outstanding strength-to-weight ratio for structural applications
- Natural insulation properties that complement modern energy requirements
- Easy to work with both hand tools and precision machinery
- Adapts to different architectural styles and building methods
Modern engineered timber builds on these natural properties, overcoming historical limitations through technological advancements. But classical techniques certainly still have their place in construction and furniture making.
In fact, timber has made a remarkable comeback in recent decades, particularly as well-regulated forestry rules pave the way for sustainable management, thus consolidating the strengths of this natural building material while protecting the environment that produces it.
Looking Forward
At East Brothers, 130+ years in the timber business connect us to both traditional methods and modern innovations. We supply everything from heritage oak beams to contemporary engineered products.
Timber construction has consistently adapted whilst retaining the natural properties that make it uniquely suitable for building. It will continue to do so for generations to come.
Need timber for your construction project? Contact our team to discuss how our experience can support your project.