Timber-frame house - Structural panels

This article is part of a documentary series on wood construction as a whole. It is specifically devoted to the diversity and properties of the structural panels used in them. These wood-derived panels have made a considerable technological leap forward in just a few decades. Innovative processes endow them with mechanical properties that surpass those of natural wood, while eliminating drawbacks such as swelling and shrinkage.

What's more, wood-derived products are made from sawn timber, veneer, wood chips or wood fibers - in other words, most of them are based on industrial or even reclaimed by-products, thus contributing to a definite and welcome enhancement of the wood industry. In panel form, these homogeneous materials with improved mechanical properties easily support wooden structures and contribute to their strength and durability.