Chestnut wood is the most widely used material not only in the construction of rooves and shelters for houses and buildings, but also for many architectural support elements such as trusses. Chestnut is a wood whose aesthetic and functional qualities are unique, and that’s why it has proven to be the best choice for making trusses; indeed, the material is resistant and elastic and requires little maintenance. In addition to this, the wide availability of chestnut forests in the area of Upper Lazio and the Cimini Mountains has made it the best option for developers who can count on both a constant supply of material, and good-sized pieces of timber. As its use has become more widespread over time, the natural strengths of chestnut have become increasingly evident and, even today, there are few materials that can match this species and its countless qualities.
Given the important structural role of the trusses, which must provide support to the roof slopes, it is crucial to choose the right wood when manufacturing them. In this article we see why you should choose chestnut to make trusses and what the aesthetic and functional advantages of this material are.
Physical advantages of chestnut for the construction of trusses
STRENGTH. Because of their unique structure, trusses are architectural elements subjected to many forces, and need to be made with wood that is both hard and flexible, which are some of the many qualities that chestnut possesses, thanks to its early formation of the heartwood (the innermost portion of the trunk) compared to sapwood (the portion of trunk just under the bark). To increase its strength, especially if used for constructing trusses, it is subjected to a kiln drying process that increases its stability by minimising any possible deformation.
DURATION. Equally remarkable is its durability; in fact, chestnut can sustain the main mechanical stresses such as compression, twisting and bending, also presenting an excellent resistance to impact and infestations of parasites and mould. This is not the case for most woods, especially soft ones, which are affected by elements such as moisture, parasites and fire. Chestnut is naturally resistant to all three. Its other unique qualities include not being very gnarled, and being hard but also flexible.
RESISTANT TO PARASITES AND MOULD. The high amount of tannin contained in chestnut wood means that parasites and moulds are unable to affect it, a fact which only improves the resistance of trusses built with this species of wood.
RESISTANCE TO HUMIDITY AND ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS. One of the advantages of making trusses with chestnut is having supports that do not have the problem of shrinking and expanding, as it is a wood that is not particularly sensitive to variations in humidity or temperature. In addition to this, the chestnut wood used to make trusses is subjected to kiln drying processes which results in a material that, once dry, boasts a stubborn resistance to water, humidity in general and all atmospheric agents.
LOW THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY. Chestnut naturally has low thermal conduction, which means in the event of a fire, it is hard for the inner temperature of the wood to increase. In fact, thanks to its dense, hard structure, it creates a layer of charcoal that prevents the fire from burning the centre of the individual trusses and therefore affecting the structural stability of the building.
Aesthetic advantages of chestnut trusses
Chestnut is not only a precious, light and strong wood; it also has unique aesthetic qualities. Thanks to the richness of shades and nuances, chestnut trusses are used for both traditional and modern furnishings, giving a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
We specialise in processing chestnut timber and we offer a wide range of products and applications made with chestnut, with a tailor-made design service to meet the specific requirements of each customer.
Contact us to discuss your needs; we will be happy to help you.