Non-exotic methods of strengthening wood, made it to high levels of production in spades: plywood, oriented strand board, microlam and glulam beams, and medium density fiber board (MDF) are direct examples. Wood I-joists and plate connected wood trusses are less direct. From a functional standpoint, standardization of lumber grades is a social technology that allows designing wood members with known engineering properties.

On the chemical front, pressure treated lumber increases wood's strength across a timeline. Fire treatment increases wood strength in a narrow set of circumstances.

Of these, plywood is clearly the most successful in terms of industrial adoption being used for aircraft, boats, and furniture among other things.