Ann Marier asked:


It may seem strange in this day in high tech, but wood burning stoves are more popular than they have been in almost 100 years. May people would think that a wood burning oven was about the least practical thing that you could put in your house. After all, there are so many drawbacks to a wood burning stove. First of all, there is not the same kind of fine temperature control as with a gas heater. Wood burning stoves, basically, are either on or off. When they are on, you have to constantly stock them with wood. When they are off, they take hours to get going again.

Nonetheless, the wood burning stove has a lot going for it. First of all, wood burning ovens are multipurpose. Not only can you use them to heat a room, you can also use them to dry clothes, and warm cold hands. You can even cook certain things on some wood burning stoves! There is also the matter of the cost of heating. Wood burning stoves used to be thought of as impractical because of the amount of labor that goes into running them. Nowadays, however, they make more and more sense. They burn wood very slowly, and in many areas fire wood is available for free. Having a wood burning stove can save you hundreds and hundreds of dollars every winter. For many families, that is no laughing matter.

Nonetheless, wood burning stoves do have a lot of hazards to them. Although they are easy to maintain, they have dangers that normal gas furnaces don’t have. Wood burning stoves need to be in the middle of your comment space. That means that if you have young children, they are at risk. If they run into the wood burning stoves, they can burn themselves! In addition, many people say that wood burning stoves have much greater emissions than other kind of heat. Even oil burning furnaces - notorious for the air pollution they produce - are supposed to be healthier for you that wood stoves. If your wood burning stove is not adequately insulated from the house, it can release hazardous indoor pollution and poison you and your family.

Nonetheless, even with all of these drawbacks, wood burning stoves make sense. They are enjoying a renaissance among environmentally conscious people. Not only are they efficient, but they also allow you to survive with less outside dependence on our shrinking natural gas supply.



plywood

David Fishman asked:


Installing wood floors can increase the value of a house and are therefore an investment. There are many different types of wood floors, engineered, solid, impregnated, pre finished and unfinished floors. Wood floors are also relatively easy to maintain. Engineered wood floors are made from layers of wood that are pressed and glued together. Everyone loves antique wood floors and the popularity has lead manufactures to recreated them, manufactures do such a great job recreating the floors they are able to retain their color and charm of the floors. New floors can also be made to look like antiques. Laminate floors are available in planks or tiles. Wood floors have a warm, inviting, exotic look. The new and upcoming wood floors are bamboo, they are tough and they look fantastic in your home. Not so long ago one would expect to pay a small fortune to have wood floors installed. Wood floors have steadily increased in popularity over the last five years.

One particular choice that is increasing in popularity in North America is laminate flooring. Floating laminate installation can be used on any hard, flat surface and is easy enough to be a do-it-yourself application. A water-resistant glue is recommended by most laminate flooring brands. Laminate floors are fantastic they have many qualities which make them better than real wood, one of the qualities is that they are scratch resistance they are more durable and much more water resistant, but the laminate floors today emulate wood floors and many people have a tough time distinguishing between them. Laminate wood flooring is very easy to install, you do not need to higher a contractor, most floors are floating floors and do not need glue. Laminate flooring is great because it is resistant to stains, sunlight and many time scratches and they are very easy to maintain. Laminate wood flooring is environment-friendly as it makes use of more fiber material than wood.

There are many different categories that hardwood flooring fits into, pre-finished, unfinished, engineered, solid and unfinished. Laminate wood floors originated in Europe and are becoming very popular for substitute for hardwood floors in the USA. Wooden floors date back hundreds of years, the hardwood floors first came into the publics eye around the seventeenth century and have been popular ever since.

Wood flooring has also become very easy to obtain, install and maintain with advancements in technology. You could install one of the many different kinds of natural wood flooring, cork flooring, bamboo flooring, or Pergo or other laminates.

Bamboo forests are mostly found in the Hunan province of China. Bamboo is very similar to wood in color and form. Europeans have been using bamboo flooring for many years now, but it is just becoming more popular in the United States. If you are looking at getting wood floors for your home, you should take a look at bamboo flooring.

For hardwood flooring of course, high levels of humidity or moisture of any kind can really work against their natural beauty.



wood hardness

Lena Kavhovsky asked:


Wood is Good

Ask any architect or engineer, they will invariable reply that wood is good. But what really are the advantages of wood doors? In fact they provide a host of advantages over any other type of competing materials including fiber and metal doors. There are many reasons for this. Doors and building materials made of wood can be easily fabricated into any shape and size with convenience. They also provide much greater strength in proportion to their weights. This advantage is hardly available with any other material. Again it is easy to preserve wood in any type of climate whether hot, cold or moderate. This is not the case with most other materials use to make doors.

Best Natural Insulator

These are not the only advantages you derive with wood doors. They are perhaps the best natural insulators on the planet earth. They are also renewable with ease and convenience. Moreover, no other material excels so much in beauty, warmth as well as in styles. You derive dramatic and very exciting environment in your home or even in the office where you use the wood doors. That is why wood is the most favored material for architects either for constructing buildings, or flooring, construction of walls and especially the doors and windows.

Best Protector for Climatic Variations

It is not merely for the beauty and the style that the architects prefer wood doors. The reasons extend to areas far beyond that. Whether it is heat or electricity, wood is one of the best insulators on the earth. Even if the climate outside is too hot or too cold the wood doors and structures prevent the interior from subsiding to these effects. That is why despite exposure to sun rays and high temperature, wood doors never get much warm nor they become excessively cool when they come in contact with snow falls and extreme cold winds. Scientists have measure that wood as insulator is 400 times more effective in comparison to steel and 1800 times more effective in comparison to aluminum.

High Energy Efficiency

Among all the materials you can use for your building, wood is the most energy efficient. If your wood doors are well constructed and treated with good weather stripping packages, it will be one of the best barriers against the vagaries of the weather outside. The warm-edge technology, comparatively low E-glazing as well use of inert gas makes the wood doors perhaps the most energy efficient doors across the globe. Wood is also renewable. Other materials like steel, aluminum or cement cannot be renewed once removed from the ground.

Savior from Noise Pollution

If you are allergic to noise pollution, the wood doors could be your best associate. Since it is sound absorbent, it will prevent outside noise entering and causing disturbances for you. On the other hand it is also safe since it won’t ordinarily allow sounds to go out of the room either. Neither they neither buckle nor twist like some other materials including fiber and opening and closing are therefore most conveniently accomplished. This characteristic of wood doors come up very handy during emergencies when you require to immediately open or close the door. In addition to these, wood is most friendly to environment unlike many other materials used for the purpose and available in the market.



wood furniture

Vincent asked:


When you walk into a home, you will likely notice the color of the walls and ceiling and how well the floor fits with the room. But did you know that the floor type, especially a wood floor, can add ten times the value to a home over a trendy color of paint on the wall? Eventually you’ll probably sell your home and the investment you’ve made in your wood floors, both in money and time, will be returned.

If you’re used to carpet and this is your first wood floor you’ve had to care for, you will likely notice how often it needs cleaning…much more often than carpeted floors. It doesn’t attract dirt or dust more than carpet, it just has no where to go, unlike those handy fibers in the carpet. It doesn’t get dirtier, you just see it more. This is one reason wood floors are better for those with allergies than carpet.

The first tool you will need for cleaning wood floors is a broom and dustpan (FULLER Angle Broom or FULLER Household Broom and FULLER Upright Dustpan). Sweeping daily is not unheard of with a wood floor.

The second tool you will need for your floor is a mop. Depending on your preference, good mop choices include spatter mops and sponge mops (FULLER Spatter Mop or the FULLER Sponge Mop). Use the mop of your choice to soak up any liquid spills as soon as they occur. Wood floors, especially unsealed wood floors, will warp and stain very quickly if fluids are allowed to stand. When you mop with a wet mop, make sure the mop is rung out well.

You will also need just a couple cleaning chemicals. If your floor is unfinished wood flooring, you’ll want a mild, non-oil soap (FULLER Wood Floor Cleaner & Polish). For sealed wood floors or laminate wood flooring, you should purchase products specifically made for wood floors or multi-floor cleaners (Wood Floor Cleaner and Polish or FULLER Multi-Floor Cleaner). For those unexpected scuffs, scratches and tough stains, however, you might need to look into a cleaner designed for those difficult problems (FULLER Wood Floor Easy Clean Mist).

Some steel wool and a polisher (FULLER D.C. Polisher) will also come in handy.

·Sweep as often as needed, even daily

·Use a mop to get up wet spills as quickly as possible

·Mop with a barely damp mop and cleaner as needed

·Clean up exceptionally tough spots using one of the processes below

Even if you have taken great care to prevent water marks, furniture marks and sun bleaching, you will likely find blemishes on your wood floor from time to time.

To remedy heel marks, water stains, scuffs from dragged furniture, cigarette burns, ink stains and dark spots, use a mild soap formulated for hardwood floors (FULLER Wood Floor Easy Clean Mist) and steel wool. Apply a small amount of soap, rub with the steel wool and rinse with water, and then dry completely.

Chewing gum and wax can be removed by placing ice in a zipper-sealed bag filled with ice on the effected area for about 20 minutes. Deposits then become brittle and should break off. Multiple ice treatments may be necessary if the gum or wax area is large. Once the mass is gone, treat with a mild hardwood floor soap (FULLER Wood Floor Easy Clean Mist) and a damp cloth. Dry completely.



wood suppliers

Adam Peters asked:


This article discusses how beautiful wood railings are. It also talks about the practical aspects of wood railings , and how they should be cared for.

Wood railings are a very elegant addition to a home. For an instant update to your home that will add a stylish touch, consider

adding wood railings. Wood railings have long been the choice for indoor railings because they have a soft and mellow look

for inside the house. Metal railings tend to reflect light and make the interior too right. The softness of wood does not

reflect, but rather adds a warm glow that lends an air of tranquility to a home.

Besides their beautiful good looks, there are other advantages to wood railings. Wood railings, when used indoors and not

exposed to the elements, are just about maintenance free. If wood railings are properly lacquered when they are installed, a light dusting and polishing from time to time will keep them looking beautiful. Wood is very durable, and heavy wooden

railings can last forever in a home. And don’t forget the fun of sliding down the wooden railing in your home when you were a kid. Don’t you want your kids to enjoy that?

There are many choices of woods for beautiful wood railings. Besides the various styles you can choose for the posts, balusters and top rails, you have a wide variety of woods to choose from. Red or White Oak, Ash, Cedar, Pine, Beech, Poplar, Mahogany, Walnut, Maple, Cherry and Teak are all availalble and each has its own look to add to the beauty of your home. You can even have the posts and balusters in one material and the top rail, the most visible feature in another material.

Today’s manufacturers use computer systems to design whatever kind of railing system you like, so you can choose a design or make your own, and the posts, balusters and toprail of your dreams is at your fingertips.

How do you take care of you new wood railings? Wood railings are very easy to take care of. As long as there is no exposure to moisture, you just have to dust and polish. Exposure to moisture means that woodworms and termites can infest and eat away t the wood. If your wood rails may be exposed, you will have to treat them with a chemical to prevent this, or if they are outdoors, you may have to paint them to protect them. Otherwise, just dust weekly and do a heavy wax polishing once a year to keep your wood railing glowing.



heidi wood

David Fishman asked:


A wood stove is a device, which is normally used in the kitchens for the heating of food, keeping it warm and making it palatable. Some antique wooden stoves can be used for the purpose of heating and cooking even today. Wood stoves are used for household cooking needs as well as for heating purposes.

One of the purposes of a wood burning stove was to enclose the fire so to generate more heat and make the heating more efficient. A wood stove is often used for heating rooms or cooking food.

They are made up of cast iron and other strong metals and are sturdy enough to handle the amount of heat generated. A stove uses other sources of fuel to burn and make heat, many use wood or pellets. Wood stoves are also used to heat homes apart from their cooking function. Some come with glass panes that can handle the heat but adds a nice touch when you see the flame.

It is important to know what types of fuel your particular type of burning stove can use and what cannot be used safely. When purchasing a pellet stove or a wood burning stove, there are many factors to consider before making the purchase. There are a few things to think about before purchasing and installing a wood burning stove in your home. After calculating the installation space understanding how to keep all the combustible items safe you need to hook up the chimney so the smoke is directed to the outside.

Want something different than carrying in wood, cutting wood and storing it, then try out the new pellet stoves, you can store the pellet easily, there is no cutting, no mess, but it gives you the feel of a wood burning stove. When looking at wood stoves and pellet stoves the pellet stoves are a little more expensive but the plus side is that they come ready to use, they are cleaner and easier to use. This is 20% less efficient than wood pellet or corn stoves. Pellet stoves are very easy to use, you don’t need to cut wood all you need to do is open the bag of pellets and poor them in, the auger will move the pellets as needed to be burned. Pellet stoves have a mechanical part that feeds the fire when needed; you do not have to go near the hot flame. You can get the pellets anywhere today, most of the major hardware stores carry the easily to carry bags. Stove are cheaper and you can use them with a cheaper fuel source such as pellets, firewood or any other type of materials.

Antique wood stoves are collector’s items that are very valuable to some people. There are many different types of antique wood stoves available. Today you can find the stoves in local household stores, furniture stores and many stores that sell antiques.

Some of the older wood stoves are considered antiques, and many people use these pieces as decoration purposes only. Many antique pieces from the past are available for sale today in different antique shops and on the Internet.



construction wood

Madera Floors asked:


Adhesive: A substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment. It is a general term and includes cements, mucilage, and paste, as well as glue. Anisotropic: Exhibiting different properties when measured along different axes. In general, fibrous materials such as wood are anisotropic. Balanced Construction: A construction such that the forces induced by uniformly distributed changes in moisture content will not cause warping. Symmetrical construction of plywood in which the grain direction of each ply is perpendicular to that of adjacent plies is balanced construction. Bark Pocket: An opening between annual growth rings that contains bark. Bark pockets appear as dark streaks on radial surfaces and as rounded areas on tangential surfaces. Beam: A structural member supporting a load applied transversely to it. Birdseye: Small localized areas in wood with the fibers indented and otherwise contorted to form few to many small circular or elliptical figures remotely resembling birds’ eyes on the tangential surface. Sometimes found in sugar maple and used for decorative purposes; rare in other hardwood species. Blister: An elevation of the surface of an adherend, somewhat resembling in shape a blister on human skin; its boundaries may be indefinitely outlined, and it may have burst and become flattened. (A blister may be caused by insufficient adhesive; inadequate curing time, temperature, or pressure; or trapped water, or solvent vapor.) Board Foot: A unit of measurement of lumber represented by a board 12 in. long, 12 in. wide, and 1 in. thick, or its cubic equivalent. In practice, the board foot calculation for lumber 1 in. or more in thickness is based on its nominal thickness and width and the actual length. Lumber with a nominal thickness of less than 1 in. is calculated as 1 in. Bond: (1) The union of materials by adhesive. (2) To unite materials by means of an adhesive. Bond Strength: The unit load applied in tension, compression, flexure, peel impact, cleavage, or shear required to break an adhesive assembly, with failure occurring in or near the plane of the bond. Bow: The distortion of lumber in which there is a deviation, in a direction perpendicular to the flat face, from a straight line from end-to-end of the piece. Box Beam: A built-up beam with solid wood flanges and plywood or wood-based panel product webs. Boxed Heart: The term used when the pith falls entirely within the four faces of a piece of wood anywhere in its length. Also called boxed pith. Burl: (1) A hard, woody outgrowth on a tree, more or less rounded in form, usually resulting from the entwined growth of a cluster of adventitious buds. Such burls are the source of the highly figured burl veneers used for purely ornamental purposes. (2) In lumber or veneer, a localized severe distortion of the grain generally rounded in outline, usually resulting from overgrowth of dead branch stubs, varying from one to several centimeters (one-half to several inches) in diameter; frequently includes one or more clusters of several small contiguous conical protuberances, each usually having a core or a pith but no appreciable amount of end grain _in tangential view) surrounding it. Cambium: A thin layer of tissue between the bark and wood that repeatedly subdivides to form new wood and bark cells. Cant: A log that has been slabbed on one or more sides. Ordinarily, cants are intended for resawing at right angles to their widest sawn face. The term is loosely used. (See Flitch) Casehardening: A condition of stress and set in dry lumber characterized by compressive stress in the outer layers and tensile stress in the center or core. Cell: A general term for the anatomical units of plant tissue, including wood fibers, vessel members, and other elements of diverse structure and function. Cellulose: The carbohydrate that is the principle constituent of wood and forms the framework of the wood cells. Check: A lengthwise separation of the wood that usually extends across the rings of annual growth and commonly results from stresses set up in wood during seasoning. Cohesion: The state in which the constituents of a mass of material are held together by chemical and physical forces. Compression Failure: Deformation of the wood fibers resulting from excessive compression along the grain either in direct end compression or in bending. It may develop in standing trees due to bending by wind or snow or to internal longitudinal stresses developed in growth, or it may result from stresses imposed after the tree is cut. In surfaced lumber, compression failures may appear as fine wrinkles across the face of the piece. Corbel: A projection from the face of a wall or column supporting a weight. Crook: The distortion of lumber in which there is a deviation, in a direction perpendicular to the edge, from a straight line from end-to-end of the piece. Decay: The decomposition of wood substance by fungi.

Advanced (Typical) Decay: The older stage of decay in which the destruction is readily recognized because the wood has become punky, soft and spongy, stringy, ringshaked, pitted, or crumbly. Decided discoloration or bleaching of the rotted wood is often apparent. Brown Rot: In wood, any decay in which the attack concentrates on the cellulose and associated carbohydrates rather than the lignin, producing a light to dark brown friable residue – hence loosely termed "dry rot." An advanced stage where the wood splits along rectangular planes, in shrinking, is termed "cubical rot." Dry Rot: A term loosely applied to any dry, crumbly rot but especially to that which, when in an advanced stage, permits the wood to be crushed easily to a dry powder. The term is actually a misnomer for any decay, since all fungi require considerable moisture for growth. Incipient Decay: The early stage of decay that has not proceeded far enough to soften or otherwise perceptibly impair the hardness of the wood. It is usually accompanied by a slight discoloration or bleaching. Heart Rot: Any rot characteristically confined to the heartwood. It generally originates in the living tree. Pocket Rot: Advanced decay that appears in the form of a hole or pocket, usually surrounded by apparently sound wood. Soft Rot: A special type of decay developing under very wet conditions (as in cooling towers and boat timbers) in the outer wood layers, caused by cellulose-destroying microfungi that attack the secondary cell walls and not the intercellular layer. White Rot: In wood, any decay or rot attacking both the cellulose and the lignin, producing a generally whitish residue that may be spongy or stringy rot, or occur as pocket rot. Delamination: The separation of layers in laminated wood or plywood because of failure of the adhesive, either within the adhesive itself or at the interface between the adhesive and the adherend. Density: As usually applied to wood of normal cellular form, density is the mass per unit volume of wood substance enclosed within the boundary surfaces of a wood-plus-voids complex. It is variously expressed as pounds per cubic foot, kilograms per cubic meter, or grams per cubic centimeter at a specified moisture content. Dew Point: The temperature at which a vapor begins to deposit as a liquid. Applies especially to water in the atmosphere. Early Wood: The portion of the growth ring that is formed during the early part of the growing season. It is usually less dense and weaker mechanically than latewood. Also known as Springwood. Equilibrium Moisture Content: The moisture content at which wood neither gains nor loses moisture when surrounded by air at a given relative humidity and temperature. Fiber Saturation Point: The stage in the drying or wetting of wood at which the cell walls are saturated and the cell cavities free from water. It applies to an individual cell or group of cells, not to whole boards. It is usually taken as approximately 30% moisture content, based on oven-dry weight. Figure: The pattern produced in a wood surface by annual growth rings, rays, knots, deviations from regular grain such as interlocked and wavy grain, and irregular coloration. Filler: In woodworking, any substance used to fill the holes and irregularities in planed or sanded surfaces to decrease the porosity of the surface before applying finish coatings. As applied to adhesives, a relatively non-adhesive substance added to an adhesive to improve its working properties, strength, or other qualities. Finish (Finishing): (1) Wood products such as doors, stairs, and other fine work required to complete a building, especially the interior. (2) Coatings of paint, varnish, lacquer, wax, or other similar materials applied to wood surfaces to protect and enhance their durability or appearance. Glue: Originally, a hard gelatin obtained from hides, tendons, cartilage, bones, etc., of animals. Also, an adhesive prepared from this substance by heating with water. Through general use the term is now synonymous with the term "adhesive." Grade: The designation of the quality of a manufactured piece of wood or of logs. Grain: The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in wood or lumber. To have a specific meaning the term must be qualified. Close-Grained (Fine-Grained) Wood: Wood with narrow, inconspicuous annual rings. The term is sometimes used to designate wood having small and closely spaced pores, but in this sense the term "fine textured" is more often used. Coarse-Grained Wood: Wood with wide conspicuous annual rings in which there is considerable difference between early wood and latewood. The term is sometimes used to designate wood with large pores, such as oak, keruing, meranti, and walnut, but in this sense, the term "open-grained" is more often used. Cross-Grained Wood: Wood in which the fibers deviate from a line parallel to the sides of the piece. Cross grain may be either diagonal or spiral grain or a combination of the two. Curly-Grained Wood: Wood in which the fibers are distorted so that they have a curled appearance, as in "birdseye" wood. The areas showing curly grain may vary up to several inches in diameter. Diagonal-Grained Wood: Wood in which the annual rings are at an angle with the axis of a piece as a result of sawing at an angle with the bark of the tree or log. A form of cross-grain. Edge-Grained Lumber: Lumber that has been sawed so that the wide surfaces extend approximately at right angles to the annual growth rings. Lumber is considered edge grained when the rings form an angle of 45° to 90° with the wide surface of the piece. End-Grained Wood: The grain as seen on a cut made at a right angle to the direction of the fibers (such as on a cross section of a tree). Fiddleback-Grained Wood: Figure produced by a type of fine wavy grain found, for example, in species such as maple; such wood being traditionally used for the backs of violins. Flat-Grained (Flat-Sawn) Lumber: Lumber that has been sawn parallel to the pith and approximately tangent to the growth rings. Lumber is considered flat grained when the annual growth rings make an angle of less than 45° with the surface of the piece. Interlocked-Grained Wood: Grain in which the fibers put on for several years may slope in a right-handed direction, and then for a number of years the slope reverses to a left-handed direction, and later changes back to a right-handed pitch, and so on. Such wood is exceedingly difficult to split radially, though tangentially it may split fairly easily. Open-Grained Wood: Common classification for woods with large pores such as oak, keruing, meranti, and walnut. Also known as "coarse textured." Plainsawn Lumber: Another term for flat-grained lumber. Quartersawn Lumber: Another term for edge-grained lumber. Side-Grained Wood: Another term for flat-grained lumber. Slash-Grained Wood: Another term for flat-grained limber. Spiral-Grained Wood: Wood in which the fibers take a spiral course about the trunk of a tree instead of the normal vertical course. The spiral may extend in a right-handed or left-handed direction around the tree trunk. Spiral grain is a form of cross grain. Straight-Grained Wood: Wood in which the fibers run parallel to the axis of a piece. Vertical-Grained Lumber: Another term for edge-grained lumber. Wavy-Grained Wood: Wood in which the fibers collectively take the form of waves or undulations. Green: Freshly sawn or undried wood. Wood that has become completely wet after immersion in water would not be considered green but may be said to be in the "green condition." Growth Ring: The layer of wood growth put on a tree during a single growth season. In the temperate zone, the annual growth rings of many species (for example, oaks and pines) are readily distinguished because of differences in the cells formed during the early and late parts of the season. In some temperate zone species (black gum and sweet gum) and many tropical species, annual growth rings are not easily recognized. Hardness: A property of wood that enables it to resist indentation. Hardwoods: Generally one of the botanical groups of trees that have vessels or pores and broad leaves, in contrast to the conifers or softwoods. The term has no reference to the actual hardness of the wood. Heartwood: The wood extending from the pith to the sapwood, the cells of which no longer participate in the life processes of the tree. Heartwood may contain phenolic compounds, gums, resins, and other materials that usually make it darker and more decay resistant than sapwood. Isotropic: Exhibiting the same properties in all directions. Joint: The junction of two pieces of wood or veneer. Adhesive Joint: The location at which two adherends are held together with a layer of adhesive. **** Joint: An end joint formed by abutting the squared ends of two pieces. Edge Joint: A joint made by bonding two pieces of wood together edge-to-edge, commonly by gluing. The joints may be made by gluing two squared edges as in a plain edge joint or by using machined joints of various kinds, such as tongued-and-grooved joints. End Joint: A joint made by bonding two pieces of wood together end-to-end, commonly by end matching. Finger Joint: An end joint made up of several meshing wedges or fingers of wood bonded together with an adhesive. Fingers are sloped and may be cut parallel to either the wide or narrow face of the piece. Joist: One of a series of parallel beams used to support floor and ceiling loads and supported in turn by larger beams, girders, or bearing walls. Kiln: A chamber having controlled air-flow, temperature, and relative humidity for drying lumber. The temperature is increased as drying progresses, and the relative humidity is decreased. Knot: That portion of a branch or limb that has been surrounded by subsequent growth of the stem. The shape of the knot as it appears on a cut surface depends on the angle of the cut relative to the long axis of the knot. Encased Knot: A knot whose rings of annual growth are not inter-grown with those of the surrounding wood. Inter-grown Knot: A knot whose rings of annual growth are completely inter-grown with those of the surrounding wood. Loose Knot: A knot that is not held firmly in place by growth or position and that cannot be relied upon to remain in place. Pin Knot: A knot that is not more than 12mm (1/2 in.) in diameter. Sound Knot: A knot that is solid across its face, at least as hard as the surrounding wood, and shows no indication of decay. Spike Knot: A knot cut approximately parallel to its long axis so that the exposed section is definitely elongated. Laminate: A product made by bonding together two or more layers (laminations) of material or materials.

Laminated Timbers: An assembly made by bonding layers of veneer or lumber with an adhesive so that the grain of all laminations is essentially parallel. Latewood: The portion of the growth ring that is formed after the early wood formation has ceased. It is usually denser and stronger than early wood. (Also known as summer wood.) Lumber: The product of the saw and planning mill for which manufacturing is limited to sawing, resawing, passing lengthwise through a standard planning machine, crosscutting to length, and matching. Lumber may be made from either softwood or hardwood. (See also Lumber: Dimension.) Board: Lumber that is less than 38 mm standard (2 in. nominal) thickness and greater than 38 mm standard (2 in. nominal) width. Boards less than 140 mm standard (6 in. nominal) width are sometimes called strips. Dimension: Lumber with a thickness from 38 mm standard (2 in. nominal) up to but not including 114 mm standard (2 in. nominal). Dressed Size: The dimensions of lumber after being surfaced with a planning machine. The dressed size is usually ½ to ¾ in. less than the nominal or rough size. A 2-by-4 in. stud, for example, actually measures about 1 ½ by 3 ½ in. (standard 38-by-89 mm). Factory and Shop Lumber: Lumber intended to be cut up for use in further manufacture. It is graded on the percentage of the area that will produce a limited number of cuttings of a specified minimum size and quality. Matched Lumber: Lumber that is edge dressed and shaped to make a close tongued-and-grooved joint at the edges or ends when laid edge-to-edge or end-to-end. Nominal Size: As applied to timber or lumber, the size by which it is known and sold in the market (often differs from the actual size). Patterned Lumber: Lumber that is shaped to a pattern or to a molded form in addition to being dressed, matched, or shiplapped, or any combination of these workings. Rough Lumber: Lumber that has not been dressed (surfaced) but has been sawed, edged, and trimmed. Surfaced Lumber: Lumber that is dressed by running it through a planer. Timbers: Lumber that is standard 114 mm (nominal 5 in.) or more in at least dimension. Timbers may be used as beams, stringers, posts, caps, sills, girders, or purlins. Mastic: A material with adhesive properties, usually used in relatively thick sections that can be readily applied by extrusion, trowel, or spatula. (See Adhesive.) Millwork: Planed and patterned lumber for finish work in building, including items such as sash, doors, cornices, panelwork, and other items of interior or exterior trim. Does not include flooring, ceiling, or siding. Mineral Streak: An olive to greenish-black or brown discoloration of undetermined cause in hardwoods. Moisture Content: The amount of water contained in the wood, usually expressed as a percentage of the weight of the ovendry wood. Molding: A wood strip having a curved or projecting surface, used for decorative purposes. Mortise: A slot cut into a board, plank, or timber to form a joint. Naval Stores: A term applied to the oils, resins, tars, and pitches derived from oleoresin contained in, exuded by, or extracted from trees, chiefly species of pines ( genus Pinus). Historically, these were important items in the stores of wood sailing vessels. Old Growth: Timber in or from a mature, naturally established forest. When the trees have grown during most if not all of their individual lives in active competition with their companions for sunlight and moisture, this timber is usually straight and relatively free of knots. Ovendry Wood: Wood dried to a relatively constant weight in a ventilated oven at 102°C to 105°C (215°F to 220°F). Parenchyma: Short cells having simple pits and functioning primarily in the metabolism and storage of plant food materials. They remain alive longer than tracheids, fibers, and vessel elements, sometimes for many years. Two kinds of parenchyma cells are recognized – those in vertical strands, known more specifically as axial parenchyma, and those in horizontal series in the rays, and known as ray parenchyma. Pile: A long, heavy timber, round or square, that is driven deep into the ground to provide a secure foundation for structures built on soft, wet, or submerged sites (for example, landing stages, or bridge abutments). Pitch Pocket: An opening extending parallel to the annual growth rings and containing, or that has contained, pitch, either solid or liquid. Pitch Streaks: A well-defined accumulation of pitch in a more or less regular streak in the wood of certain conifers. Pith: The small, soft core occurring near the center of a tree trunk, branch, twig, or log. Plank: A broad, thick board laid with its wide dimension horizontal and used as a bearing surface. Plywood: A glued wood panel made up of relatively thin layers of veneer with the grain of adjacent layers at right angles, or of veneer in combination with a core of lumber, or of reconstituted wood. The usual constructions have an odd number of layers. Psychrometer: An instrument for measuring the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. It has both a dry-bulb and a wet-bulb thermometer. The bulb of the wet-bulb thermometer is kept moistened and is, therefore, cooled by evaporation to a temperature lower than that shown by the dry-bulb thermometer. Because evaporation is greater in dry air, the difference between the two thermometer readings will be greater when the air is dry than when it is moist. Radial: Coincident with a radius from the axis of the tree or log to the circumference. A radial section is a lengthwise section in a plane that passes through the centerline of the tree trunk. Raised Grain: A roughened condition of the surface of dressed lumber in which the hard latewood is raised above the softer early wood but not torn loose from it. Rays, Wood: Strips of cells extending radially within a tree and varying in height from a few cells in some species to 4 or more inches in oak. The rays serve primarily to store food and transport it horizontally in the tree. On quartersawn oak, the rays form a conspicuous figure, sometimes referred to as flecks. Relative Humidity: Ratio of the amount of water vapor present in the air to that which the air would hold at saturation at the same temperature. It is usually considered on the basis of the weight of the vapor but, for accuracy, should be considered on the basis of vapor pressures. Resin: (1) Solid, semisolid, or pseudo solid resin – An organic material that has a tendency to flow when subjected to stress, usually has a softening or melting range, and usually fractures Concho dally. (2) Liquid resin – An organic polymeric liquid that, when converted to its final state for use, becomes a resin. Resin Ducts: Intercellular passages that contain and transmit resinous materials. On a cut surface, they are usually inconspicuous. They may extend vertically parallel to the axis of the tree or at right angles to the axis and parallel to the rays. Ring Failure: A separation of the wood during seasoning, occurring along the grain and parallel to the growth rings. (See Shake.) Ring-Porous Woods: A group of hardwoods in which the pores are comparatively large at the beginning of each annual ring and decrease in size more or less abruptly toward the outer portion of the ring, thus forming a distinct inner zone of pores, known as the early wood, and an outer zone with smaller pores, known as the latewood. Rip: To cut lengthwise, parallel to the grain. Sapwood: The wood of pale color near the outside of the log. Under most conditions, the sapwood is more susceptible to decay than heartwood. Saw Kerf: (1) Grooves or notches made in cutting with a saw. (2) That portion of a log, timber, or other piece of wood removed by the saw in parting the material into two pieces. Seasoning: Removing moisture from the green wood to improve its serviceability. Air Dried: Dried by exposure to air in a yard or shed, without artificial heat. Kiln Dried: Dried in a kiln with the use of artificial heat. Second Growth: Timber that has grown after the removal, whether by cutting, fire, wind, or other agency, of all or a large part of the previous stand. Shake: A separation along the grain, the greater part of which occurs between the rings of annual growth. Usually considered to have occurred in the standing tree or during felling. Softwoods: Generally, one of the botanical groups of trees that have no vessels and in most cases, have needlelike or scale like leaves, the conifers, also the wood produced by such trees. The term has no reference to the actual hardness of the wood. Stain: A discoloration in wood that may be caused by such diverse agencies as micro-organisms, metal, or chemicals. The term also applies to materials used to impart color to wood. Strength: (1) The ability of a member to sustain stress without failure. (2) In a specific mode of test, the maximum stress sustained by a member loaded to failure. Strength Raito: The hypothetical ratio of the strength of a structural member to that which it would have if it contained no strength-reducing characteristics (such as knots, slope-of-grain, shake). Structural Timbers: Pieces of wood of relatively large size, the strength or stiffness of which is the controlling element in their selection and use. Examples of structural timbers are trestle timbers (stringers, caps, posts, sills, bracing, bridge ties, guardrails); car timbers (car framing, including upper framing, car sills); framing for building (posts, sills, girders); ship timber (ship timbers, ship decking); and cross arms for poles. Substrate: A material upon the surface of which an adhesive-containing substance is spread for any purpose, such as bonding or coating. Tack: The property of an adhesive that enables it to form a bond of measurable strength immediately after adhesive and adherend are brought into contact under low pressure. Texture: A term often used interchangeably with grain. Sometimes used to combine the concepts of density and degree of contrast between early wood and latewood. In this handbook, texture refers to the finer structure of the wood (see Grain) rather than the annual rings. Timbers, Round: Timbers used in the original round form, such as poles, pilings, posts, and mine timbers. Timber, Standing: Timber still on the stump. Trim: The finish materials in a building, such as moldings, applied around openings (window trim, door trim) or at the floor and ceiling of rooms (baseboard, cornice, and other moldings). Twist: A distortion caused by the turning or winding of the edges of a board so that the four corners of any face are no longer in the same plane. Vapor Retarder: A material with a high resistance to vapor movement, such as foil, plastic film, or specially coated paper that is used in combination with insulation to control condensation. Veneer: A thin layer or sheet of wood.

Rotary-Cut Veneer: Veneer cut in a lathe that rotates a log or bolt, chucked in the center, against a knife. Sawn Veneer: Veneer produced by sawing. Sliced Veneer: Veneer that is sliced off a log, bolt, or flitch with a knife. Virgin Growth: The growth of mature trees in the original forests. Wane: Bark or lack of wood from any cause on edge or corner of a piece except for eased edges. Warp: Any variation from a true or plane surface. Warp includes bow, crook, cup, and twist, or any combination thereof. Water Repellent: A liquid that penetrates wood that materially retards changes in moisture content and dimensions of the dried wood without adversely altering its desirable properties. Water-Repellent Preservative: A water repellent that contains a preservative that, after application to wood and drying, accomplishes the dual purpose of imparting resistance to attack by fungi or insects and also retards changes in moisture content. Weathering: The mechanical or chemical disintegration and discoloration of the surface of wood caused by exposure to light, the action of dust and sand carried by winds, and the alternate shrinking and swelling of the surface fibers with the continual variation in moisture content brought by changes in the weather. Weathering does not include decay.

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good wood

Rami Nseir asked:


A solid wood floor can add warm tones and a stunning finish to any room. Constructed with pieces of solid wood they have tongue and groove sides so they can be easily connected together. Each piece has a different grain which combines to form a unique look whenever it is used. There is a huge variety of solid wood floors available with many types of wood species, colours and widths available at hardwood flooring suppliers.

The most popular option is oak wood flooring. Europe and America are both the main consumer and producer of this type of hardwood flooring. Oak is available in various types including red, white and European oak, each with their own hardness, grain and colour characteristics.

A cherry wood floor is another popular choice due to its striking grain markings and solid composition. Like other wood floors it is highly resistant to damage. Over time cherry wood flooring darkens from a pale pink colour to warm dark red tone

Exotic hardwoods can give a room a unique look are now readily available at major hardwood flooring suppliers. They can be found for sale alongside other classic real wood flooring such as maple, oak and ash. Real wood flooring can be purchased in pre-finished or unfinished styles. When laying unfinished wood flooring the product can be recoated many times to increase its life and make it last considerably longer than other flooring options.

When laying solid wood floors, begin with a flat, dry and solid sub floor such as concrete, wood or cork. Carpet is not suitable as a sub base and must be removed. Any deviations in level should be rectified with suitable floor filler. A plastic barrier to stop moisture is recommended for floors that are being installed on concrete or in damp areas. Harwood flooring should also be allowed time to acclimatise before it is set down by leaving it the room for several days.

If you are using a wood floor sub base the solid wood floor should be installed at right angles to the original floorboards to aid strength and stability. An expansion area around the perimeter of the room is also recommended to allow for contractions and expansions throughout the winter and summer months. This expansion gap can be covered with skirting boards or a cover strip.

Solid wood floors are tough and hard wearing and by taking care of them their life can be prolonged. Keep gravel, dirt and grit at bay by using a doormat outside and inside the front door. Regular sweeping and vacuuming will take care of any dirt that does settle on the floor and will reduce scratches and everyday wear and tear. Avoid wearing stiletto heels on solid wood floors and if possible only wear indoor shoes or slippers on its surface.

Nothing comes close to the finish that can be achieved with a solid wood floor. By installing solid wood flooring the value of a home often increases and it can give a home the edge over similar property on the market. Solid wood floors are stain resistant and do not trap dust so are especially good for allergy sufferers. There is a wide range of tones, styles and prices on the market so whether you are looking for a cheap wood floor or the ultimate in hardwood flooring, you are sure to find the right match for your room.



SANDY

Kurt J Schefken asked:


There are few things that make a home look more beautiful and add more value than wood floors. They are more popular among homeowners than flooring of stone or slate. Beautiful wood adds a lovely color and warmness a home that you do not get from any other flooring.

There is a wide variety in choices of wood flooring. You can choose anything you like, depending on your taste or the kind of decor you have chosen. Wood flooring looks good in any area of the house, except perhaps the kitchen or bathroom where there is a lot of moisture.

One of the most popular choices for wood flooring is hardwood. Hardwood is a certain kind of wood that comes from trees that are more dense than others. These include bellawood, walnut, maple, hickory, cherry and oak. You can stain hardwood to just about any color you like, or you can leave the wood in its original. There are hardwoods, like walnut or cherry that have such a rich texture that you do not even have to stain them.

After you choose the type of wood you want, you have to decide upon how you want it finished. You can purchase prefinished wood, which has been pre-stained and covered with a coating of polyurethane. It is more expensive than unfinished wood, but it saves a lot of time.

Or, you can install the wood and do the finishing yourself. In this case, you have to do the sanding, staining and finish coat such as urethane. You let dry and sand the wood between coats, so this whole procedure will take several days. If you decide to put on extra layers of polyurethane, the process will be lengthened, but you will have more protection on the wood.

Some people liked the option of reclaimed flooring, sometimes called distressed floors. These floors have their own unique character, with a rough finish that does not show every little scratch and nick as a smooth surface will.

Outside of using traditional wood flooring, you can also choose laminate flooring. These resemble hardwood and with the best laminates, you will have a hard time telling the difference between the laminate and a real hardwood floor. Such well known flooring companies like Armstrong make quality laminates. Some other choices in wood flooring are cork floors, or bamboo.

If you take care of your hardwood flooring, it will last a lifetime, no matter what you choose: real wood, laminate or one of the other choices. Caring for them is essentially the same for all of these.

Make sure you dust or vacuum your floor frequently to reduce dust and dirt. These scratch the surface which, over time will wear away at it.

Put mats down at all of the entrances. This will remove a large portion of the dust and dirt from coming into the house at all.

Dust the floor lightly when required. Use a mop that is only slightly dampened when you mop; water sitting on the surface may leak between the boards and damage the floor, which will cause warping as the backing of the floor is damaged. It may also cause mold to start growing under the floor.



wood board

Dave Text asked:


When choosing wood panels for your home, try to look at their designs, colors, and types. They are available at your nearest stores or online stores. Wood panels give your room a touch of exceptional changes.

Paneling is normally completed to add elegance and warmth in decorating a home. It also provides appeal in parts of houses like living rooms, kitchens, libraries, entry foyers, bedrooms, and even in staircases. Paneling became popular as home furnishing since it has been a symbol of class, exceptionality, and good taste.

Paneling means a dramatic and effortless approach to finish the walls, doors, and ceilings with a unique and fascinating décor. Panels consist of a series of widths - wide wood, thicker strips of wood and thin sheets of wood. Panels are directly attached to the walls to provide a decorative touch. Panels are also a significant help in controlling sound and heat entering the house.

There are various different kinds of the pre-finished wood panels that differ in quality.

It is possible to classify wood panels by the kind of surface, groove type, and type of backing.

Types of Surface

The veneer wood panel that is pre-finished differs in the type and property of veneer used. The costliest wood veneer is made up of three varied layers (or pliers) of veneer. These are one ply of wood for the center, one ply for the face, and another ply of wood for the rear side.

Type of Grooves

The two types of grooves of the pre-finished wood panels are real grooves and painted grooves. It is cheaper to fabricate painted grooves as compared to real grooves. It’s quite hard to determine a painted groove except if you touch the groove. Real grooves differ in quality with several having untidy and jagged appearance and others are spotless and straight.

Types of Backing

Wood panels are available with backing made of plywood, particle board, and hard board. The particle board and hardboard are economical types. Particle board is typically employed as a backing for wood-surface while the hardboard is utilized for printed surfaces.

Types of Paneling

a. Wall Paneling

b. Brick paneling

c. Decorative Wall Paneling

d. Beadboard Paneling

e. Knotty Pine Paneling

f. Stone Paneling

g. Real Wood Paneling

h. Bamboo Paneling

i. Tongue & Groove Paneling

j. Painting Paneling

k. Vinyl Wood Paneling

l. Wallpapering over Paneling

Painting Paneling

Give your room a special treat with painting paneling. Here are some preparation tips before doing the painting paneling.

• Make sure the paneling is free from dusts and oils

• Tape off windows and other areas you don’t want to get paint on

• Apply blocking primer

• Dry well and sand

• Paint right away

Tongue & Groove Paneling

There are many different choices of woods these days. The most well-liked is the tongue and groove for the reasons that it is easy setting up. They have a groove on one end that you stick the other end into. This end has the ‘tongue’ and this slides right into the ‘groove’ of the other.

Few ways to install tongue & groove paneling:

• Start at the bottom and nail up one piece

• Nail into the stud on your wall and into the groove so as not to nail into the paneling

• Slide the next panel in and repeat

• If a piece goes past the stud, just nail where the stud is and keep going

• Continue all the way up the wall until you are finished

• Now you have a new wood look to your walls

• This can even be done to ceilings as well

Wallpapering Over Paneling

There are numerous approaches to spruce up a wall that is paneled. Some people place murals on it, some paint it while still others even wallpaper it. Here’s how:

• Initially, remove all sorts of oils and dirt from your wall.

• To get rid of groves, you have to stuff them with a drywall amalgam

• Allow it to dry then sand to smoothen

• Ready your wall by applying a latex primer as this helps in better sticking on of the wallpaper

• Clean with TSP then put on the paper right on top of the paneling

• In case you observe that the panel is revealing through, you can paint with the use a liner

• Try to research in advance to ensure that you do the right procedures

• Have fun in giving your room its fresh appearance



VERNON