One of the first materials to arrive on a new home site is the frame. While it may eventually sit hidden behind plasterboard, it forms the structural backbone of the home and plays an important role in its performance, durability and sustainability.
Lightweight, versatile and practical, timber has been trusted by Australian builders for decades. It also offers environmental benefits that make it a smart choice for today's homeowners.
That's the reason timber continues to be Australia's preferred framing material, with around 80 per cent of Australian homes built using timber frames.
Unlike many building materials, timber comes from a renewable resource. As trees grow, they naturally absorb carbon from the atmosphere and store it within the wood fibres. Then when we use the timber for a house frame, the carbon remains locked away throughout the life of the building.
Building with timber makes a difference
The sustainability benefits of timber aren't just theoretical. They're measurable.
Recent analysis by independent industry body WoodSolutions found the structural timber used in the 1,920 homes built by Henley Properties Group across Victoria and Queensland during FY24-25, helped store more than 19,299 tonnes of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent).
To put that into perspective, that's equivalent to the carbon impact of approximately 241,248 Sydney-to-Melbourne flights.
The assessment also found those homes incorporated more than 26,880 cubic metres of structural timber, demonstrating the meaningful role timber can play in supporting a lower-carbon built environment.
A renewable resource with long-term benefits
At Plantation homes, we use pine for our frames and trusses, along with engineered timber products including laminated veneer timber for floor joists and lintels.
Simon Gough, General Manager - Procurement, Estimating and Drafting, says the timber used in Plantation homes comes from renewable plantation resources.
"It is manufactured to a specific size and strength and is kiln dried to offer a stable, consistent and workable product for the homes we build. Renewable plantation resources are purpose-grown to provide structural timber for Australia's building industry, with harvested trees continually replanted to ensure an ongoing and sustainable supply."
The result is a structural material that delivers strength, consistency and reliability while supporting responsible forestry practices.
A natural carbon store
One of timber's unique advantages is its ability to store carbon.
Around 50 per cent of wood's dry weight is carbon, meaning every timber-framed home continues to store carbon absorbed by the trees during their growth.
According to WoodSolutions, wood products currently in use across Australia store an estimated 97 million tonnes of carbon, while Australia's forests hold approximately 19.4 billion tonnes of carbon.
These natural characteristics, combined with timber's renewable origins, help make it one of the most widely used structural materials in Australian residential construction.
Termite protection - a total solution
Termites are often a concern for new homeowners, but they're not a timber-specific issue. Termites can attack a range of cellulose-based materials throughout a home, making whole-of-home protection the most effective approach.
"To not only protect any untreated timber products, in Victoria we offer groundline perimeter termite protection to protect the whole home," says Simon.
This provides added peace of mind and helps protect the home regardless of the materials used within it.
Timeless timber
Timber framing remains the most popular structural solution for Australian homes because it offers a practical combination of performance, affordability and ease of installation.
It is also straightforward to maintain and repair, should any future modifications be required.
"While the frame itself isn't a visible feature of the home, it can play an important role in both affordability and sustainability," says Simon. "That's why timber continues to be our material of choice for structural framing."
Proven and preferred
We work with leading plantation timber suppliers, including AKD (Associated Kiln Driers), a 100% Australian-owned and operated company recognised throughout the industry for its high-quality timber products.
"Timber framing has been the proven and preferred structural solution for Australian homes for decades and remains the silent strength behind the homes we build," says AKD's Nathan Calder.
Today, homeowners are increasingly interested in making informed choices about the materials used in their homes. Timber framing provides a proven structural solution while also supporting renewable forestry and the long-term storage of carbon within the built environment.
