Selecting Timber: Functionality, Cost and Ethics
Choosing timber is a design decision. Learn how designers weigh a timber by how well it works, how much it costs, and whether it comes from a responsible, ethical source.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
Start revising freeWhat you'll cover
Choosing the right timber
Picking a timber is a real design decision, not just a matter of what looks nice. A good designer weighs several things at once. The big questions are: will it do the job (functionality), how much does it cost, and where does it come from (ethical sourcing)? This module shows how to weigh them.
Four things to weigh
These four factors come up whenever a designer selects a timber.
Match the factor
- Functionality
- Aesthetics
- Cost
- Ethical sourcing
- Will it do the job and is it easy to work?
- Does it look and feel right?
- Can I afford it, and is buying in bulk cheaper?
- Does it come from a responsible forest?
What does FSC mean?
A timber is labelled FSC certified. What does that tell you?
- It comes from a responsibly managed, ethical source
- It is the strongest timber available
- It is always the cheapest option
- It is a type of manufactured board
Two different factors
Watch out: ethical sourcing and environmental impact are not the same thing. Keep them apart.
Match the timber
- Oak
- Pine
- MDF
- Plywood
- A hardwood: strong and attractive
- A softwood: cheaper and easy to work
- A manufactured board with a smooth flat surface
- A manufactured board made from glued layers
Cheapest is not always best
Cost matters, but the cheapest timber is not always the right choice. Buying in bulk can lower the price for each piece, and a timber that is easy to work can save time and waste. Weigh cost against how well it does the job.
Complete the checklist
When you choose a timber you check its _____: will it do the job? You check the _____: how it looks and feels. You work out the _____, and buying in bulk can make it cheaper. You also check it comes from an _____ source, such as _____ certified forests.
What a designer weighs
Which of these are factors a designer weighs when selecting a timber? Choose all that apply.
- Whether it is strong enough for the job
- How much it costs
- Whether it comes from a responsible source
- Only the colour you like best
- Ignoring where it comes from
Which are ethical sourcing?
Tap the two statements that are about ethical sourcing, not environmental impact.
- The timber is FSC certified from a responsible forest.
- The supplier avoids illegally logged wood.
- The timber can be recycled at the end of its life.
- It has a low carbon footprint from transport.
Making the choice
Put the steps of selecting a timber into a sensible order.
- Decide what the product needs to do
- Check which timbers have the right properties
- Compare their costs
- Check the timber is ethically sourced
- Choose the best timber for the job
Work out the cost
One sheet of plywood costs 12 pounds. A project needs 5 sheets. What is the total cost in pounds?
Choosing for a product
You are choosing a timber for a new product. Make the best decision at each stage.
- You are designing an outdoor bench that must survive the weather. What matters most first?
- Two suitable timbers cost the same, but only one is FSC certified. Which do you choose?
- You need many sheets of the same board. How can you reduce the cost?
Choose the timber, justify it
Explain how you would choose a timber for a product, weighing its functionality, cost and ethical sourcing.
- Explain what the timber needs to do
- Explain how cost would affect your choice
- Explain why ethical sourcing matters