Wood products used in the construction of low-rise nonresidential buildings in the United States, 2003

Abstract

Low-rise nonresidential building construction is an important market for lumber, structural wood panels, nonstructural wood panels, and engineered wood products in the United States. This report examines low-rise nonresidential buildings of four or fewer stories only, because buildings with five or more stories are normally severely restricted by building code from being wood framed. In 2003, 1,324 million board feet of lumber, 56 million bf of glulam timber, 2,293 million square feet, 3/8-in. basis, of structural panels, 76 million square feet, 3/8-in. basis of nonstructural panels, 49 million linear feet of wood I-joists, and nearly 3 million cubic feet of structural composite lumber were used to construct 82,000 new buildings or additions, and in the alterations and renovations of numerous existing buildings. Included are the construction of entirely new buildings, major additions to, or in conjunction with, existing buildings, and alterations and renovations to existing buildings. Volumes include allowances for onsite waste and loss. Not included are the amounts of wood used for facilitation (concrete forms, shoring, etc.) and millwork. Farm construction and nonbuilding construction, such as bridges, dams, and highways, were not included in this study.

Citation

McKeever, David B.; Adair, Craig; O''Connor, Jennifer. 2005. Wood products used in the construction of low-rise nonresidential buildings in the United States, 2003. Tacoma, WA : Wood Products Council, 2005.