Manufacturers like to point out, engineered wood, while a composite of different kinds of wood fibers, still starts as trees, which are renewable and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Some manufacturers are taking the additional step of incorporating wood from sustainably managed forests that are certified by programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, the Canadian Standards Association, and the American Tree Farm System. Manufacturers of engineered wood can earn certifications at different levels if they buy a substantial portion of their wood from sustainable forests and keep tabs on the chain of custody of the product.
Lingering Challenges
"I'm not sure why anyone would choose not to use [engineered lumber]," says green home builder Jon Alexander of Seattle-based Sunshine Construction. Aside from their environmental qualities, he adds, "I like their pretty darn consistent quality. When you order one of them, you know what you're getting."
Still, the product, which APA-The Engineered Wood Association predicts will increase significantly in production and use over the next five years, costs more than solid-sawn lumber in most markets, leaving some builders ambivalent about pitching it to potential buyers.
"I would prefer to use all engineered wood if I could, but that's not the case," says Lance Hobson, owner of Legend Builders in Paco, Wash., which builds 24 homes a year—mostly on spec—and uses engineered Lumber.
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