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Of a bygone era: These articles can do duty for some more years.

Old wood is in great demand in Kerala nowadays. It can be in the form of handrails, ventilators, doors and windows, frames, gable ends, rafters, pillars, jalleys, beams and the like. Such items, along with articles remade from old wood, roofing and pa ving tiles and laterite and granite stones, can be easily bought from vendors and hawkers at competitive prices.

Timber was once a prerequisite for all kinds of construction. With the advent of industrialisation and urbanisation, coupled with the ever-increasing demand, it became a scarce commodity. The market price of quality timber is at an all-time high, and hence, it is unaffordable to the common man. The non-availability of skilled labourers and carpenters has compounded the problem. Until recently, using second-hand and old wooden items for constructing buildings was considered taboo. The galloping prices have reversed the trend.

A door shutter with minimum ornamental work made from old wood can be bought at prices ranging from Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000, whereas a new one may cost anything from Rs. 10,000. A window with iron crossbars costs Rs. 1,500, whereas a new one goes for Rs. 5,000 or more.Old and used wood showrooms are becoming increasingly common. Many groups specialise in dismantling old ‘tharavads’ (traditional Kerala homes) and transplanting these in new locales. Among the numerous items displayed by the roadside, great works of art from a bygone era can be found sometimes. Carefully crafted gable ends (mukhappu), with its exquisite workmanship and inimitable classical features, easily capture one’s attention.

Made out of superior quality wood, ‘mukhappu’ was the status symbol of the erstwhile ‘tharavads.’

The ‘mukhappu’ is not a mere object to be admired for its unique craftsmanship, as it played a significant role as an air-conditioner by regulating the quality of air of the interiors in nature’s own way.

In today’s era of high-rise concrete structures, ‘mukhappu’ has become obsolete and got confined to roadside showrooms as an antique object rather than a building component.

Of course, some finda place in hotel lobbies. A ‘mukhappu’ can be bought at Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 25,000 depending on the quality and features.

A skilful choice of wood, proper seasoning and expert joinery and assembly were the salient features of traditional woodwork. It can be easily dismantled for further use. Since iron nails were not common those days, joints did not deteriorate from rusting of nails.

But is it advisable to use old and assorted wood for new buildings? Never, says Vastusasthra. It lays down rules for the selection and utilisation of wood. Wood meant for a single construction should be invariably of the same category confining to Vastusasthra’s specifications.

Different types of wood have varied expansion and contraction tendencies, which may result in weaker joints, leading to deformation of the whole assembly. When buying old wooden articles, one cannot identify whether the whole item is made of the same kind of wood or not as paints and primers hide the material.

Vastusasthra says trees struck by lightning, twisted by wind and affected by natural calamities must be avoided. This choice is not possible for a person buying second-hand wood. Moreover, the average lifespan of wood stands at 50 years and after that, it may decay and disintegrate. Of course, some rare varieties may last longer. Still, it is a blessing for people with average income to go for old and used wood for making their dream homes a reality.

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