DIY mass timber: development of low-tech and low-cost structural mass timber manufacturing to support forest utilization in California

Abstract

California, like many other places, is increasingly interested in building with mass timber as a global trend for low-carbon construction. Despite California's plentiful forest resources and a demonstrated need for Engineered Wood Products, no mass timber production using local trees has happened in recent years. Design teams need to source mass timber products internationally or from a different U.S. State. The high investment costs, product certification processes, and skilled labor required to start production of newer Engineered Wood Products, such as Cross-Laminated Timber, have led to many years of failed or stalled attempts. However, California forests are overstocked and need a high-added value avenue for fiber coming out of forest restoration projects to reduce the risk of wildfires. The paper presents the recent successes in developing a mass timber industry in the State of California. The paper presents a new small-scale low-cost DIY strategy for developing mass timber manufacturing capacity in places with no prior established industries and limited skilled workforce. The research focuses on low-hanging fruit wood products, requiring limited initial investment such as Nail-Laminated Timber and Dowel-Laminated Timber. A series of illustrated instructions were developed and shared with interested local stakeholders. After a year and a half, three groups started manufacturing engineered wood products panels from local forests. The illustrated How-to guides expand on the use of different tree species, panel types and the role of craft in small-scale manufacturing. The instructions can be disseminated in new contexts, new to mass timber manufacturing, to support local forest utilization and low-carbon construction.