While the unmatched benefits of timber - both as a light and reliable construction material and an aesthetically pleasing, biophilic interior design element - have been appreciated for centuries, selecting the right type of timber can be an overwhelming process. And while the environmental profile of wood - renowned for being the ultimate renewable resource - is one of the many reasons timber continues to be such a popular choice for structural, external and internal applications, selecting the wrong kind of wood may have negative consequences for the project - also from a sustainability point of view.

“We know that wood stores carbon and that building with timber is a sustainable option,” says Eileen Newbury, Head of Marketing and Communications, Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and Head of the WoodSolutions Program. “Matching the correct timber species with your application is key to a sustainable and lasting project. Using inappropriate species is a major cause of reduced life for timber products.”

Enter SpeciesSolutions, a new app by WoodSolutions, designed to help industry professionals make the right - and most sustainable - choice in just a few taps.

An update to a previous Species app, the improved version of the application retains the informative content which was designed to assist the user with finding the right type of timber for a particular application, while boosting the usability of the interface, improving navigational tools and enhancing the functionality even further.

Now, the user can not only find out which type of wood will match their specific project requirements, but also access details of over 450 suppliers, browse through a comprehensive database of useful resources and - perhaps most importantly - access information about the relevant environmental credentials.

The species and materials include hardwood, softwood and well as wood products, and the implementation  types range from structural, external and internal - providing an incredibly comprehensive source of information not only where appearance and common applications are concerned, but also when it comes to workability and even termite or fire-resistance. What’s more, the revamped app enables the user to compare species of wood, as well as filter them by type of application, strength group, joint group, colour - and durability.

The app’s ability to suggest a selection of appropriate species for applications means that SpeciesSolutions can help make any construction project more sustainable - and help alleviate availability challenges, extended lead times and unforeseen costs implications. And so if you find yourself trying to narrow down a choice of timber options for a new deck, or get stuck researching wood products like CLT or LVL, download the app now so you can consult it right at the start of your next project that uses timber for a more efficient, streamlined and sustainable experience.