Wood Expert Witnesses & Avoiding Disputes #1

Wood expert witnesses may write reports and opine on lumber, plywood, saw mills, pressed wood products, and related topics. The Wood Shop Consultancy offers ways to avoid disputes in Wood: Avoiding the pitfalls – How a basic understanding of timber technology can help to avoid problems in use:

The uses for timber are almost endless. Its excellent environmental credentials, and widespread feature in makeover programs and lifestyle magazines, architectural press etc. has lead to something of a renaissance for wood in recent years, a trend which seems set to continue. However, to make the most of the unique appeal of timber in our homes and buildings, we need to be aware of its natural characteristics which, if overlooked, can cause projects to fail and disputes to arise.

What’s there to know? As one of the oldest materials known to man, wood has provided us with fuel wood, pulp and paper, utensils, furniture and a first class, environmentally friendly building material. So, given our familiarity with timber, why is it that some attempts to use it can result in expensive litigation?

In some cases, it would seem that it is our very familiarity that is the problem. So often, our failure to specify the correct species, treatment and condition of the timber can result in problems later. Likewise, poor manufacture, installation or incorrect maintenance can also result in timber projects falling short of expectation. As a consequence, it is often not the timber itself that is at fault but the way in which it is used.

An understanding of some of the basic properties of timber will help to ensure that it is used correctly, whether it is for a multi-million pound building or a weekend DIY project.

Read more: thewoodshopconsultancy.