Why is home-grown structural timber often seen as inferior for timber frame manufacturing in Wales and are there practical ways to improve its stability, strength and suitability for timber frame construction?
Summary
Wales needs 14,000 new low-carbon homes per year, yet home-grown structural timber currently makes up only a tiny fraction of material used in timber frame construction. Most timber frame manufacturers prefer imported timber due to concerns over stability, distortion, strength grading and supply reliability.
This report investigates the characteristics of home-grown timber and the challenges caused by wider growth rings, larger juvenile cores, reaction wood and spiral grain. It explores how growing conditions, silviculture, log selection, cutting patterns, kiln drying and moisture management affect final performance.
Through stakeholder interviews with foresters, sawmillers, manufacturers and researchers, the report concludes that producing dimensionally stable home-grown timber is technically achievable. However, commercial barriers, market inertia and lack of incentives currently prevent wider adoption.
Key recommendations focus on an integrated “forest-to-frame” approach, including improved tree breeding, better site and log selection, optimised kiln drying, and stronger policy support such as procurement rules, funding uplifts and updated specifications.
The report highlights that technical solutions exist, but real change requires policy courage and new value propositions to make home-grown timber a commercially attractive option for timber frame manufacturers.
