They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. When it comes to wood and wood-alternative building materials, this saying holds true. Wood is treasured for its natural beauty and durability, so it’s no surprise that other products are made to imitate wood.
Timber is a sustainable, renewable resource, but the global lumber supply is not unlimited. Thus, several materials have emerged as excellent construction alternatives to wood. Some of these imitate the appearance and performance of wood but offer better long-term potential for scaling up sustainable production.
Let’s explore a few of the most exciting wood alternatives that are used as building materials.
Wood Alternatives for Construction
A wood alternative is a material that looks or functions like wood but is made from something other than lumber. Wood alternatives may contain wood byproducts, other plant-based materials, and engineered materials. Many wood alternative producers emphasize sustainability through the use of waste products, recycled material, and sustainable production methods.
These products lack the natural beauty and uniqueness of lumber, but high-quality wood alternatives can be made to mimic these qualities. Alternative products also offer performance benefits, such as the potential to make very large continuous pieces.
Here are a few of the best-performing wood alternatives.
Wood Composite
Wood composite is a building material made from lumber waste products, such as sawmill scraps. The wood material is ground up, mixed, and bound together using heated thermoplastic resin. The mixture may also be combined with a plastic, such as polyethylene, to form a wood-plastic composite.
Common wood composites include plywood and particle board. However, there are also high-quality composites that look beautiful and function well as a heavy-duty construction material.
Compared to lumber and other building materials, wood composite is a sustainable option that makes use of waste material. As an engineered product, wood composite products are also highly customizable, consistent, and available in a variety of styles and colors.
Bamboo
Bamboo is an incredible resource that’s becoming more widely used in many industries. It’s a versatile and sustainable material that grows quickly and easily in many parts of the world. Thanks to these traits, bamboo is now being turned into everything from fabrics to toilet paper to biofuel.
Bamboo is a grass, not a tree. However, as a building material, bamboo performs like a durable hardwood. It’s lightweight with an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. Bamboo is also easy to work with, naturally resistant to moisture, and presents attractive golden hues and grain styles.
While unprocessed bamboo is a great small-scale building material, bamboo can also be altered for use in modern, sophisticated construction projects. Bamboo processors use cutting, steaming, and lamination to transform the raw material into a high-quality wood alternative with wide-ranging applications.
Fiber Cement
Fiber cement is a composite material made from a mixture of cement, sand, and cellulose (plant-based) fibers. This material is growing in popularity thanks to its durability, fire resistance, and use of widely available ingredients.
Fiber cement is most often used as siding. It comes in many textures and colors and is often made to closely resemble wood.
Extruded Polymer
In the plastic extrusion process, raw polymer in the form of powder or pellets is fed into a machine called an extruder. The pellets are melted down, shaped, and then hardened to form a polymer.
Extruded polymers have wide-ranging uses, such as weatherstripping, wire insulation, piping, and as a construction material.
At Rulon International, we use an extruded polymer to make Endure™ Linear and Endure™ Direct Attach. Endure is a long-lasting, tough material that’s easy to work with. In our Linear ceiling or wall system, strips with either integral or removable spacers are installed onto an easy-to-suspend carrier system that allows for direct access to the plenum above. Similarly, in our Direct Attach ceiling or wall system, continuous linear strips are installed using a tongue & groove arrangement. The quality is consistent, the appearance is sleek and distinguished, and maintenance needs are minimal.
Get the Best Wood or Wood Alternative for Your Ceiling or Wall Project
At Rulon International, we’ve been the leading manufacturer of acoustic wood ceiling and wall systems for more than 30 years. Headquartered in St. Augustine, Florida, our products are known worldwide for exceptional beauty, acoustic quality, and innovative designs.
Our commitment to sustainability includes the use of recycled material and wood alternatives, such as Endure™ systems. Whether we’re working with beautiful cherry or oak lumber, or a wood alternative such as extruded polymer, the quality and beauty of our products remain the same. Contact Rulon International today to discuss your next project with a local sales representative.
