Engineered wood, also known as mass timber, composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, is a range of wood products made by binding or fixing wood strands, particles, fibers, veneers, or boards together with adhesives or other fixation methods to form a composite material
. These products are engineered to precise design specifications and tested to meet standards for uniformity and predictable structural performance
. Typically, engineered wood is made from the same hardwoods and softwoods used for lumber, often utilizing sawmill scraps and wood waste, though whole logs are used for veneers like plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
. The manufacturing process involves combining wood fibers or strands with synthetic resins and applying heat and pressure to create stable, strong materials
. Engineered wood offers several advantages over solid wood:
- Greater dimensional stability, resisting warping, splitting, and thermal expansion due to layered construction with grains oriented in different directions
- Sustainability benefits by using younger trees and wood waste, reducing forest resource depletion
- Availability in larger and more consistent sizes than solid wood, allowing for bigger beams and panels
- Improved moisture resistance, making it suitable for flooring and other applications where solid wood might warp
Common types of engineered wood include plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), MDF, and laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Engineered wood is widely used in home construction, commercial buildings, flooring, furniture, and industrial products
. In summary, engineered wood is a manufactured wood product designed to enhance the natural properties of wood through layering and adhesives, resulting in stronger, more stable, and often more sustainable materials compared to traditional solid wood
