The quest for alternative building materials, easy availability with supply in an economy where the population increases at high rate in a steady flow per year. Bamboo as a renewable, sustainable alternative material is explored for the production of roofing tiles, Bambusa vulgaris were chipped into flakes, sieve and further subjected to modified conventional treatment, the flake were oven dry in a control temperature of 170 o C to Moisture Content range of 11-12 %, Portland cement were employed as a binder, using batch method of mixing in the production of the roofing tiles. Moisture content, density of the roofing tiles, thickness swelling and impact test were determined, the average moisture content of the tiles12.7%, average density 0.031g/cm 3 , average thickness swelling which showcases the dimensional stability of the tiles is 0.75%. The impact test is 2.6N/mm 2. The various results obtained were favourable suggesting that bamboo most especially of the Bambusa vulgaris can be suitable raw material and substitute material to wood for the production of roofing tiles.

The dimensional stability of ceiling boards produced from gypsum reinforced with natural fibres was assessed. Twenty-seven (27) medium board density of 600kg/m 3 having dimension 200 x 200 x 10mm were produced from Plaster of Paris (POP) at four different mixing proportion of 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of Cocos nucifera, Thaumatococcus danielli and yarns. Water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) properties of the experimental boards were assessed after 24 and 48 hours using standard methods. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and analysis of variance. Boards obtained from different mixing proportion of gypsum, natural and synthetic fibres displayed water absorption values which ranged from 4.18 to 26.01% and thickness swelling values of 1.11 to 3.6%. The percentage of WA and TS reduces as the percentage of natural fibres to synthetic fibres increases. The results show that it is possible to make boards from natural fibres because the results compared favourably with the results of the boards from conventional fibres.

Extractives in wood are one of the main reasons for wood resistance against bio-degradation. The chemical compositions of extractives from matured Khaya anthotheca that are known to be very resistant against bio-degradation were studied to assess their role as wood preservative. Ethanol and toluene were used in the extraction of these compounds from the heartwood of Azadirahcta indica. Chemical analysis of the extracts was done using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) after derivatization. The main groups of compounds identified from both extracts are fatty acids, hydrocarbons, sterols, sterol ketones, phenolics, sterol esters and waxes. The extracts obtained were used to treat sapwood of four different wood species that are known to be susceptible to bio-degradation at 12% (weight/weight) retention level. Treated samples were taken to timber graveyard for 12 months. It was observed that the extracts from Khaya anthotheca used improved the resistance of these susceptible wood species to bio-deteriorating agents at the timber graveyard more than 70% when compared to the controls and also it was observed that removal of extractives from Azadirahcta indica decreased their resistance to bio-deteriorating agents significantly. Conclusively, the extractives from Khaya anthotheca wood contribute greatly to the protection of susceptible wood species against bio-deteriorating agents.

This study evaluated the effects of production variables on the physical and mechanical properties of Wood Plastic Composites produced from the pod of Delonixregia and pure water nylon. The boards were produced at three levels of mixing ratio. (MR 1.1), (MR 1.2) and (MR 1.2.5) of wood fiber to pure water nylon and two levels of board density, BD1 (100kg/m 3) and BD2 (1100kg/m 3). The materials were fed into the Extruder machine at the required levels of production variable, the temperatures of the extruder were controlled at 170 0 C, 180 0 C, 185 0 C and 190 0 C for zones 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively while the temperature of the extruder die was held at 200 0 C. The screw speed was varied between 150 revolutions per minutes and the pressure from 33 to 47 bars. The extruded strand passed through a water bath and was subsequently pelletized and ran into a mold of 300mmx180mmx6.4 and hot pressed for thirty (30) minutes. The board produced was conditioned and test samples of 128mmmmX12mm x 6.4mm were cut for evaluating the water absorption, thickness swelling, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture. The value obtained for water absorption for 24 hours ranges from 1.22±0.241% to 2.03±0.163 % and that of Thickness Swelling ranges from 0.05±0.014 to 0.14±0.032%, Water Absorption for 48 hours ranges from 1.24±0.234 to 2.08±0.184% and that of Thickness swelling ranges from 0.05±0.017 to 0.17±0.043%. The results obtained showed that rate of water absorption of the boards produced increased from 24 hours of soaking through 48 hours. Also, an increase in mixing ratio resulted in decrease water absorption. The mean value for MOE ranges from 640.60±64.890 to 1204.63±215.847N/mm 2 while that of MOR ranges from 33.48±10.238 to 42.56±14.132N/mm 2 .This result shows that the mechanical properties increases as the plastic content in the mixture increases.

The restriction on the use of conventional wood preservative necessitated the search for eco-friendly wood preservative against biodeteriorating agents. The study was carried out to evaluate the biopreservative potential of Parquetina nigrescens against fungi attack on Triplochiton scleroxylon wood. Ethanol was used as the solvent to get the extract from P. nigrescens leaves after which five different concentration levels (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%) were prepared. Phytochemical screening of the crude extract was done qualitatively. Forty-eight wood blocks, (each 20 mm x 20 mm x 60 mm) obtained from a 22-year-old Triplochiton scleroxylon were conditioned and treated with the extract using dipping method and the untreated samples served as the control. The wood blocks were inoculated with Pleurotus saju caju (brown rot fungi) and Pleurotus florida (white rot fungi) for 14weeks. Absorption of P. nigrescens leaf extract by wood blocks was determined for all the concentration levels and the resistance of the wood against fungal decay was evaluated using weight loss. Data obtained as analysed using Analysis of variance at p≤0.05. Phytochemical screening of the oil indicated the presence of alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids. The absorption of the preservative by the wood ranged between 11.15-110.29 kgm-3 and weight loss ranged between 3.68-36.22 % and 4.31-38.26 % for white rot and brown rot respectively. The different preservative concentration levels significantly influenced the weight loss of the wood species used in this study.

This study evaluated the effects of production variables on the physical and mechanical properties of Wood Plastic Composites produced from the pod of Delonixregia and pure water nylon. The boards were produced at three levels of mixing ratio. (MR 1.1), (MR 1.2) and (MR 1.2.5) of wood fiber to pure water nylon and two levels of board density, BD1 (100kg/m 3) and BD2 (1100kg/m 3). The materials were fed into the Extruder machine at the required levels of production variable, the temperatures of the extruder were controlled at 170 0 C, 180 0 C, 185 0 C and 190 0 C for zones 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively while the temperature of the extruder die was held at 200 0 C. The screw speed was varied between 150 revolutions per minutes and the pressure from 33 to 47 bars. The extruded strand passed through a water bath and was subsequently pelletized and ran into a mold of 300mmx180mmx6.4 and hot pressed for thirty (30) minutes. The board produced was conditioned and test samples of 128mmmmX12mm x 6.4mm were cut for evaluating the water absorption, thickness swelling, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture. The value obtained for water absorption for 24 hours ranges from 1.22±0.241% to 2.03±0.163 % and that of Thickness Swelling ranges from 0.05±0.014 to 0.14±0.032%, Water Absorption for 48 hours ranges from 1.24±0.234 to 2.08±0.184% and that of Thickness swelling ranges from 0.05±0.017 to 0.17±0.043%. The results obtained showed that rate of water absorption of the boards produced increased from 24 hours of soaking through 48 hours. Also, an increase in mixing ratio resulted in decrease water absorption. The mean value for MOE ranges from 640.60±64.890 to 1204.63±215.847N/mm 2 while that of MOR ranges from 33.48±10.238 to 42.56±14.132N/mm 2 .This result shows that the mechanical properties increases as the plastic content in the mixture increases.