Wood utility poles are one of the most common choices for American National Standards. When driving through the country, you'll see many of them in North America.
For hundreds of years, wood has been the most popular choice for utility poles. In recent years, steel and concrete have also become common alternatives.
Ultimately, which material you should use depends on the specific project at hand.
That being said, there are a few key benefits of using wood utility poles.
Here are the top reasons why to consider wood utility poles.
Types of Wood Poles
American wood poles come in many varieties. Since they have been used for so long, we have been able to find several suitable options.
The most common types of pole species used today include:
Southern yellow pine
Western Red Cedar
Douglas Fir
Cost-Effective
Wood is a cost-effective material for poles. Producing a wood pole requires less labor and manufacturing than other materials. According to a life cycle analysis of utility poles, wood is the most economical material when you examine the total life cycle costs, wood has the lowest.
Environmentally Friendly
Protecting wood is a key environmental priority right now. For this reason, many people question if wood poles are a good option.
The truth is that wood utility poles are an environmentally friendly option. According to cycle assessments, preserved wood utility poles require fewer resources and less energy than others. Overall, they have a smaller environmental impact compared to steel or concrete.
When it comes down to it, wooden poles are created from renewable resources that offer a long service life of up to 80 years. Growing trees is beneficial for our planet, as it produces oxygen. Beyond that, decommissioned wood poles can often be recycled in many different ways.
Resilient
Wood can withstand the elements and weather quite well. It is a very strong material with a low conductivity rating. By treating wood, you only increase its resiliency even more. Pressure-treating wood also helps to fight off decay, fungi, and insects.
Easier to Transport & Install
Transporting any utility poles is a challenge, as they can be up to 130 feet! Even though the average one is around 40 feet, they are still too large and heavy for standard trucks.
Given their sheer size, wood poles are still much easier to haul than other options. For example, wooden poles are three times lighter than reinforced concrete counterparts. Because of their relatively lightweight, they are easier to haul and install. Additionally, wood poles are easy to climb, which makes them easy to install and repair.
No Domino Effect
The domino effect occurs when a heavy, reinforced pole falls and its weight drags down the next support. This continues across the entire anchor span.
You will not usually see this happen with wood poles held on strung wires. This helps reduce outages on the line, allowing for faster and easier repair if a pole goes down.
Existing Infrastructure
A big challenge with using other pole materials is changing over the existing infrastructure. There are roughly 130 million wooden utility poles around the country. This is why it’s often easier to bring in wood poles to replace a fallen one than it is to have to replace more poles with new material.
Should You Choose Wood Poles?
Ultimately, each type of utility pole has its pros and cons. While wooden ones have many benefits including sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of transportation, they are still prone to downfalls.
Consider that you need wood preservatives, like pentachlorophenol (Penta) for treating wood. These preservatives are not great for the environment, and they still do not make wood indestructible. In very wet or harsh climates, it’s still prone to rot.
Ultimately, you must consider the specific utility project at hand when determining which type of pole to use. Learn more about wood, steel, and concrete poles in our recent blog.
Blackwood Resources Is Here for Utility Hauling!
While wood poles may be lighter than steel or concrete, they still require a hauling expert to transport. Whether you need help with wood poles, steel poles, concrete poles, or transformers, Blackwood Resources is here to help with your utility hauling needs.
Our asset-based specialty trucking company provides hauling services you can count on. We are your dependable partner, here to handle all of your new utility pole transportation needs. With our high-end specialty equipment and a team of dedicated employees, we always showcase a client-first approach.
If you’re looking for affordable, dependable hauling service for utility poles, look no further. You can count on our certified women-owned hauling company to get the job done right. Best, yet, we offer self-unloading so you never have to worry about how to get your poles off of our trucks. We handle it for you in a matter of minutes!
Learn more about our utility hauling services and how we can help you! Call us today at (812)219-5821 or email us at jamie@blackwoodresources.com.
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