Wood has a rich heritage going back as far as 10 million years. Today, wood continues to play a major role in everyday life. Wood is used extensively throughout our homes, office buildings, and automobiles. Wood is a very versatile material that lends itself to many different uses.
There are numerous advantages to using wood products, including their beautiful appearance, resistance to fire, noncorrosive properties, ability to withstand external influences, ease of maintenance, and durability. Here are top 8 facts about wood you might not know.
1. Many types of wood are more durable than others
Softwoods such as pine and cedar will last virtually forever in good condition if treated appropriately. And even hardwoods like oak and maple don’t splinter or rot easily. But all woods have natural weaknesses that allow insects within the trees’ hollows to grow and infect them.
The common insect found within the wood structure responsible for infestation is the termite who will eventually destroy the entire board.
2. In terms of strength vs. weight, wood is extremely strong yet a fraction of its weight compared to steel.
A two-by-four made of mahogany weighs more than 12 pounds while having an average tensile strength of only 2,000 pounds per square inch (psi). This gives it greater structural integrity than almost any comparable metal.
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3. There are many species of wood, each with its own unique use
For example, tropical hardwoods like teak and mahogany are great for outdoor furniture because they’re more resistant to moisture than American or European varieties.
Softwoods like pine and fir can be used for framing, furniture, and cabinetry due to their low shrinkage characteristics and ease of fabrication.
Hardwoods such as cherry, jelutong, walnut, oak, ash, and maple can be used for kitchen countertops, flooring, doors, cabinets, and other household applications since they’re resistant to staining.
4. There are over 5,500 different species of trees and plants that produce lumber on Earth today. Only about 200 are suitable for making lumber.
These include: beech, birch, cottonwood , elm. Lumber production in North America dropped from more than 16 million cubic feet in 1950 to less than 3 million in 1980 because more trees were being cut down in the Sixties than could be replaced by naturally growing ones.
The decline slowed after that but has not been stopped completely yet because forests need to be replanted every 25 years or so at current rates of depletion for timber production to stay ahead of destruction from urbanization and human use (especially for housing).
5. Wood takes a long time to dry and cure.
It’s necessary to soak wood before installing into a wall to ensure it dries properly and doesn’t crack the surface. Because of this, you’ll find wooden building materials sold in bundles ready for installation.
In contrast, when finished wood is shipped from the manufacturer to your home, there may still be sap oozing out of the knots and cracks in the wood. That means the wood needs to be prepped first. It takes approximately 3 1/2 to 4 months for wood to dry fully.
6. The origin of wood signs was originally derived from farmhouses in England
The term was coined by John Jones in 1836; he stated that a wooden sign used on the farmhouse door was not only a home decor item, but also “a kind of advertising” which advertised a family’s wealth and status because all they had available was wood and paint.
However, this sign was used as advertising because people would see it as they drove by on a public road.
7. The first known use of a wood sign on a business was in 1891
That was when the name “Herman’s Store” was advertised on a wooden board outside the store that was located at 704 Main Street in Middletown, Ohio U.S.A.
By 1914 over 15 million commercial wooden signs were produced each year at 200 factories across the US. Wooden signs were primarily used for advertising as well as labeling businesses and buildings throughout the US.
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8. Wooden signs have become an important part of American pop culture
Over time, many movies have featured wooden signs prominently (e.g., “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “White Christmas,” “Mr Deeds Goes To Town,” “The Graduate”, etc.) and some movies (e.g., “Dennis The Menace”) have even depicted wooden signs being thrown into bodies of water such as the sea or lake for comedic purposes (the characters were usually portrayed as unaware of proper waste disposal).
Additionally, many cities across the US have dedicated wooden sign preservation societies who are dedicated to preserving and restoring these relics of our past American culture.
Conclusion
Wood signs are an inexpensive way to add elegance to any space and are a great gift idea as well! We have several different designs to choose from at EZ Custom Gifts. Check out our wood signs collection!
