Perception on use of timber as a structural material in the Nigerian construction industry

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials has intensified interest in timber as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional materials such as concrete and steel. This study assessed the perceptions of construction professionals regarding the use of timber as a structural material in the Nigerian construction industry. A questionnaire survey was administered to 300 professionals comprising engineers, architects, contractors, and surveyors across selected major cities in Nigeria. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques in IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27, including frequency analysis, reliability testing, Chi-square analysis, Pearson correlation, regression analysis, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The findings revealed that 70% of the respondents had previous experience with timber construction, while engineered wood products were the most commonly used timber materials (70%). Sustainability was identified as the most important benefit of timber (33.3%), followed by cost-effectiveness (26.7%). Most respondents rated timber positively in terms of structural performance (73.3%), sustainability (83.3%), and carbon-footprint reduction (83.3%). Reliability analysis confirmed the robustness of the questionnaire, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.824 to 0.917. Inferential statistical results showed no significant differences in perceptions among professional groups ( p > 0.05). However, sustainability perception, carbon-footprint awareness, and structural-performance perception were found to significantly influence timber adoption. The study concludes that timber is widely perceived as a sustainable and structurally viable construction material and recommends increased awareness, improved standardization, and supportive policies to enhance its adoption in Nigeria.