materials
Posts regarding (Non-Specific) Building Materials.
Door Hinges: Ginny Powell :: Hanging on a Hinge
17September 7, 2011
Hinges are as varied as the doors that hang from them. While most building products are measured width x height, door hinges are measured height by width; and the width is the total opening measurement of both leaves of the hinge. [ . . . ]
Green Goes Simple :: Turn Something Old Into Something New
0April 26, 2011
It’s easy to forget that the components of the classic sustainability slogan “reduce, reuse, recycle” are actually listed in order of importance. Recycling is undeniably significant, but reducing and reusing -- using less and using something again -- have a greater impact. Enter “upcycling.” It may sound like a tortuous spin class maneuver, but upcycling is nothing more than reusing with a twist. [ . . . ]
Hardwood Flooring is Overrated! :: Ethan Hagan @OneProjCloser
8October 27, 2010
You'd think hardwood flooring would be... well hard. But depending on the species you choose, dropped keys, pets and even small children and really damage the surface. UV light, through every single window, also changes to color of the wood. Moving furniture or a rug can really reveal the color difference. [ . . . ]
VOCs :: Smell That Chemical Cocktail
5September 15, 2010
Little did I know I was having my first major run-in with volatile organic compounds: VOC's. I wouldn't hear that term for many years to come, but though I had no name for it, it was obvious to me what it was. All that newly minted furniture was off-gassing. All the chemicals and solvents used in their manufacturing were evaporating into the air around me. I was breathing them in and smelling them, and it was making me sick. [ . . . ]
Old Square Nails: John Poole :: Yes, Virginia, They Really Do Still Make Them
22July 23, 2010
Most of us are familiar with the old square nails used centuries ago. We've seen them on display at museum homes, or historical society exhibits, or perhaps being hammered out by blacksmiths in places like Plimoth Plantation or Colonial Williamsburg.
What many of us are unaware of, however, is that those old nails were actually superior in design to modern wire nails, with several times the holding power, and being less likely to cause wood to split. And perhaps even less well known is the fact that square nails are still manufactured today, and are even available in bulk quantities. [ . . . ]
Pam Hinton :: What Makes Timber Framing Sustainable?
2May 27, 2010
The sustainable movement is like a tidal wave that is bringing change to how we live and how we do business. This has spurred a surge of interest from clients and their architects and designers to incorporate 'green' elements and techniques into their timber frame projects. The sustainable nature of timber framing is not always readily apparent to them but it is actually one of the most sustainable building methodologies available on the marketplace. Key to that sustainability is looking at timber framing as a holistic process that begins with a good, solid, complete design and carries through the selection of wood to finishing the project.
So what is sustainable about timber framing? It all starts with the wood. [ . . . ]
