It is anisotropic , its properties are different in different directions. Tensile strength is much greater along the grain than across the grain. Wood has an excellent strength to weight ratio and stiffness to weight ratio comparable to metals. Wood is subject to expansion and contraction and possible warping due to changes in moisture content. Wood can be a very durable material if appropriately used but moisture and biological degradation are common sources of damage.
Electrical conductivity varies with moisture content.
Wood is combustible, however solid timber beams burn slowly and do not rapidly lose strength and distort as steel does in a fire. However, the disadvantages associated with such variations are minimised by modern methods of stress grading timber and by the production of a wide range of reconstituted wood products, ranging from laminated beams to fibre boards. Wood has aesthetic characteristics of colour and texture not found in other materials. A wide range of wood products are available for various applications, and include plywood, various reconstituted wood boards such as masonite and customwood . Some of these utilise waste materials.