ABSTRACT
Architects and designers generally regard timber as a graded commodity to be used, and with a minimum amount of knots and defects which disguise its real origin as a tree or woody plant, which is a better botanical description. Of course timber does not always have to be used as sawn sections. Trees are exogens that is they display outward growth in the living outer cambium layer just below the surface of the bark. New cell growth occurs in spring and summer each season between the existing woody stem and the bark. The term grain is used in describing timber which reflects the directional alignment of the axial elements of a tree. In sawing timber care should be taken to remove dust locally from the work area and operatives given masks. In order to achieve the correct moisture content timber is seasoned naturally through air drying or artificially by kiln drying.
