Article Manager asked:


Wood shake roofing is made from split logs and are used to cover the top of a house.  It offers a natural look with a lot of character because of variations like color, width, thickness, or cut of the wood. No two wood shake roofing will ever be the same. Wood shake roofing helps to insulate the attic and allows the house to breathe and also help to circulate air through the small openings under the felt rows on which wooden shakes are laid. Latest roofing options that are available today is the result of inventions and experimentation and wood shake option have remained unchanged for centuries. Apart from the beauty these wood shake roofing are easy to install and much more durable.

Wood shake roofing requires proper care and maintenance in order to have longer durability. It should be protected from mold, rot and insects. Most of the pressure treated wood shakes roof are impregnated with fire retardant and meet national fire safety standards. Installing wood shakes are a complicated process and it requires careful and experienced contractor to provide fine finish to the wood shake roofs. Wood shakes roofs are frequently selected because of their aesthetic appeal, ability to blend a structure into a forest background, good insulation properties and durability.  

Wood shakes come in different sizes, with varying exposures. Wood shakes are usually made of western red cedar, which is a long-lasting, straight-grained wood. These are thicker and rougher, being split rather than sawn from the logs. Wooden shakes roofs have a typical life expectancy of 25 years, which is similar to many other roofs. Wood shakes roofing require more maintenance than other roofing options, especially if one live in a harsh climate. Wooden shakes roofing was commonly used on old houses, but they have gained recent popularity on new homes built in traditional styles.

Most wood shakes roofing are made of treated pine, spruce or more commonly, cedar. Wood shakes are handmade that offer rough and thick look that many homeowners want.   These have a smooth finish, making it easier to install. Cedar is the first choice in wood shakes, offering up to a 30 year life. When shakes are first installed, they appear brown or red in color but with years and due to weather, the colour of the wood shakes fade leaving it to a soft gray colour.



HUGH

Gary Nealon asked:


Unless you are planning a big budget for your kitchen, solid wood cabinets are most likely not an option. For new homeowners, or people that have never bought kitchen cabinets before, it is not uncommon to get a surprised reaction when they hear that there are very few cabinet makers that use solid wood for the entire cabinet (unless you are having custom cabinets built and specifying that they use solid wood).

There are several reasons why solid wood is not used for the cabinet box anymore, but the biggest reason being that it is just too expensive. To use solid wood for the entire cabinet would put them out of the price range of just about 90% of consumers. The other reason being that there are several engineered products that are just as strong, but can be 1/2-2/3 the cost of real wood. Ofcourse, not all engineered products offer the same strength and durability, so it is important to scrutinize the materials used to manufacture the cabinets. The majority of cabinet manufacturers are still using solid wood for the face frames and doors (the most exposed parts of the cabinet), but here are some of the common materials you will find that are being used for the cabinet box.

Particleboard

Particleboard is made of exactly what is sounds like… wood particles. This usually consists of wood chips layered and pressed together using a resin or glue to hold it together. Since it is made up of smaller chips, it doesn’t offer the same strength when it comes to holding screws and nails. Screws and nail holds will have a tendency to weaken over time, even splintering apart. Particleboard is also prone to moisture damage if not protected properly.

Fiberboard

Think of fiberboard as an extra thick and more dense cardboard. It is actually made up of wood fibers tightly pressed together and held together by a wood epoxy or glue mixture. While a thick fiberboard can be a tough material, it is highly susceptible to moisture. This usually results in swelling or warping of the material, and it will retain the water. Fiberboard will also require a veneer or paper with a wood pattern to finish it off, which can have a tendency to peel away.

MDF

MDF or Medium Density Fiberboard is a heavy dense material. It is a combination of wood chips, fibers, and resin or epoxy which makes for a strong material. The biggest drawback to MDF is splintering or chipping. If thick enough, it can hold as much weight as real wood, but it is will be affected by water or moisture.

Plywood

This is my preference when it comes to cabinet construction. Plywood is a series of thinly sliced layers of wood where the grain is alternated. The layers of wood are then glued and pressed together. Plywood offers the greatest strength because of the alternating grain patterns which helps dispurse the weight. Plywood is also less likely to be affected by moisture because it doesn’t allow the water to penetrate into the bonding agent.

When it comes to overall strength and durability for your cabinets, it is highly recommended that you focus on cabinets that feature a solid plywood cabinet box. Not only will your cabinets last longer, but they will be less likely to be affected by the moisture associated with normal kitchen use.



TAD

Gary Nealon asked:


When you start shopping for kitchen cabinets, the type of wood used is just as important as the overall look or finish of the cabinets. Depending on whether you are buying RTA (ready-to-assemble), stock, semi-custom, or custom cabinets will have a big impact on the types of woods that are available for you to select from. Custom cabinets will offer the largest selections of wood types, but you will also pay significantly more for them. Here is a list of wood types that you may come across in your search for kitchen cabinets (listed in order of price)

Paint Grade

Paint Grade wood can really consist of a wide range of wood types. Most stock and semi-custom cabinet companies that apply a painted finish may even use MDF or Particleboard instead of wood. The most common paint grade woods will be Birch, Poplar, or Maple.

Oak

Oak is probably the most widely used wood for cabinets. Most contractor grade cabinets, and more economically priced cabinets will be made of Oak. Oak is available in over 200 different species and is grown all around the world. The most common finish for Oak cabinets is just a natural or honey finish. Oak is a strong, dense wood that will hold up to everyday use and can accept stain well.

Pine

Pine comes in three different versions- white, yellow, or ponderosa. White pine can be very easy to work with and will accept stain easily, while ponderosa will require some special attention because of the resin that may still be concentrated in the wood. Pine is great for creating a rustic feel for your home.

Maple

Maple is another widely used wood type and can be found in a wide variety of species. This is probably the most common wood found in RTA Cabinets, because it is grows abundantly in Northern China and most RTA cabinets come from China. There are also more than 10 species of Maple that come out of the US, so there is a wide variety of grains. Most maple is very easy to work with and will accept stain easily. Maple finishes well in any color- from a Honey Finish to a Chestnut Glaze.

Cherry

Cherry is typically used in the mid-priced to higher end cabinets. The unique feature about Cherry is that with a light stain applied, it will actually get darker with time. As the wood ages and is exposed to sunlight, it will change to the reddish brown color most people associate with antique cherry furniture.

Bamboo

With the push towards becoming eco-friendly, more and more cabinets are being designed using Bamboo. Bamboo is a hearty plant that grows rapidly. The biggest drawback to bamboo is that it has to be veneered over another wood, since Bamboo plants do not grow thick enough to cut into planks. Right now, you will only find Bamboo being used by custom shops primarily on the West Coast

Mahogany

Mahogany creates a very rich look, and the wood itself is reddish-brown. Aside from exotic woods, this is going to be one of the most expensive options in the common wood types. Mahogany accepts stain very well, but is not an overly strong wood.

Whether you are building a high end kitchen, or just updating a rental unit, there are a wide variety of wood types to select from. Selecting a wood type that will hold up to the amount of use and abuse it will incurr is just as important as how the finished product will look, so keep that in mind when shopping for kitchen cabinets.



AL