PROSPECT AND PROBLEMS OF THE USE OF TIMBER AS A DECORATIVE ELEMENT IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

The prospects and problems of the use of timber as a decorative element in residential buildings cannot be over emphasized. Therefore, the study looks at the use of timber as a finish, its prospects and problems. The use of timber in different forms in building makes provision for effective design. Timber is comparatively a cheap building material and relatively available, thus, study highlights on the problems of timber as a decorative element in a residential building. Timber can fail with time due to fungal attack if not well protected. Information on the study was collected from journals, textbooks, magazines, international case studies of where timber has been used.

An oral interview was carried out.  Advantage and disadvantage of the case study shows that timber can be used as finishes in residential building on the account of some control measure as follows: structural measures for control of decay, the protection of wood from condensation (damp), protection of wooden structures against fire hazards, provision of good ventilation and a good dpc can resolve the possible action of dry rot. From the case study undertaken, the residence where the use of timber finishing were applied belongs to the upper class individuals, therefore the aim of providing an interesting interior for the average and low class residences has been defeated, which I observed, was due to the lack of awareness and appreciation of the effect of good interiors which to them is waste of money on unnecessary things. Today, nanotechnology proves to be a real innovation as regards water penetrations and algae build up. Colorless water repellant preservative is used to achieve a clear natural finish on wood, making it environmentally friendly solution against rot and algae build up, hence water absorption and action of algae is significantly reduced.