Concrete vs Wood
Concrete and Wood are genuine alternatives to one another — a choice somebody actually makes — and differ on 2 measured properties, density most clearly.
Concrete vs Wood
Concrete
Cement, aggregate and water — the most-used manufactured material on Earth, and a significant share of global carbon emissions.
Wood
A cellular composite of cellulose and lignin — the only major structural material that is grown rather than extracted.
| Property | Concrete | Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.2–2.5 g/cm³ higher | 0.16–1.2 g/cm³ |
| Tensile strength One of these is a directional measurement (along the grain) and the other is not. The comparison holds only in that direction. | 2–5 MPa | 40–200 MPa higher |
Choosing between them
Wood is recorded as a substitute for Concrete — lower environmental impact, lighter.
What it gives up: Combustible and moisture-sensitive, and its supply is a forestry question rather than a quarrying one.
In this application, on the evidence cited above.