Timber has been used as a building material for more than thousands of years. One of the greatest benefits of using timber materials building is that it is a natural resource that is readily available and economically feasible. In terms of its weight, it is very robust and can insulate the cold well. Timber boards that are 5 inches wide and 5 inches thick (regardless of length) are called wood, and any wood that is more than 8 inches x 8 inches thick is called a beam. Due to the size of the timber blocks, they are often used to construct frames for large structures such as buildings and bridges. Timber is also often used in large quantities for railway sleepers, mine supports and beams on telephone poles.