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Tag: specialty hardwoods

Skansen Bench

We love the free plans that Popular Woodworking offers online, especially this Swedish-inspired Skansen bench from their “I Can Do That” feature. As editor Christopher Schwarz writes: “This bench is from the Älvros Farmstead, a group of buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries that were moved to Skansen....

Introducing Penofin Verde – Earth Friendly Wood Finish

Protecting your deck investment has always meant using a petroleum based product.  Now our friends at Penofin have introduced a new line of earth friendly finishes for your needs. Verde is the first of its kind. It is a 100% sustainable, petroleum free oil finish with no heavy metal...

Building Better Buildings

The Canadian Wood Council recently released a document called “Green By Design: Building Better Buildings”: “As designers strive more and more to design green buildings that lessen the demand on the environment, the benefit of wood construction is becoming ever more apparent. Wood makes a major contribution to improving...

Can Using More Wood Reduce Your Environmental Footprint?

Structure magazine recently posed the question, “Can using more wood reduce your environmental footprint?” The magazine explores why it’s important for designers to focus on which materials they will use, as well as the life cycle of those materials. For example: “Some people might think that recycled products are...

Schutte Lumber Company now offers mineral siding

Mineral Shingles are a replacement for asbestos siding shingles found on older style houses or for new construction. Siding won’t warp, dent, rot, shrink, or expand and resist termites. Contains no asbestos. Fire-proof, durable, and resistant to freeze-thaw conditions. Tough and durable, even for commercial applications. 11″ exposure and...

Builders Commend Proposed Energy-Efficient Initiatives

How’s this for a startling statistic: Economists from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) estimate that every $1 billion in remodeling and home improvement activity generates 11,000 jobs, $527 million in wages and salaries and $300 million in business income. That’s quite an estimate. And one that President...

Green-focused Building Trends for 2010

Did you know? Green building is expected to grow by more than 60 percent in 2010 alone, (using new, cumulative LEED project registrations as a proxy). Although the focus is expected to change from new construction to existing buildings, here are some trends you can expect to see this...

Wood: Sustainable by Design

Did you know? “Wood is the only major building material that is renewable. Warm, natural wood uses less energy and produces less air and water pollution than the energy intensive manufacture of steel and concrete,” according to an article in Wood Design & Building magazine. Do you want to...

Kick-Start your Green Practices

Builders and architects are used to clients relying on their expertise in regards to building materials and installation methods, but when it comes to sustainability, are they well-versed in green practices? Here are five easy ideas–per Residential Design & Build magazine–to get you started: “Use low-odor, zero-VOC or low-VOC...