Wood is a good construction material for school type buildings. It makes the rooms warm and cosy, conducive for the learning environment. It is also easy to dismantle and rebuild elsewhere , similar to prefabricated buildings.
Labour cost.
Wooden construction is labour intensive. With logging bans in Kenya, wood is sourced from Tanzania and DRC, hence transport cost increasing the landing costs in Kenya, making it quite a costly construction method.
Anti termite treatment.
Treatment with anti termite chemicals will keep it safe from being eaten away by termites. The chemical should be applied on the wood and on the foundation around the building. Structural timber should be pressure treated with the anti termite chemicals to ensure the chemical has entered deep into the core of the timber.
Hardwoods.
Hardwoods such as mahogany are good for doors, window frames and floor finishes. Soft woods such as cypress are good for walls and roof support structures. Hardwoods are long lasting and weather proof. Cypress is weatherproof too and more affordable. Other soft wood types such as grevillea and pine are good for indoor structures away from sun and rain since harsh weather makes them warp and weather faster.
Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
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