A great time for siding!

The summer months provide the perfect opportunity to install siding on your home.  Obviously the warm weather is a key factor for the comfort of the installer but warmer temperatures are also critical when applying primer, stain and paint to unfinished siding.

Many oil based primers require minimum temperatures of around 50 degrees; latex stains and paints have similar temperature requirements.  Taking care to seal both the front and back side of the wood siding will ensure the proper protection of the wood.  Sealing the ends of each board is best to guarantee against any water penetration into the wood; caulking at joints will also achieve this goal.

Here is a Cypress siding installation in progress:

Unfinished Cypress clapboard

Primed and painted

Installation of clapboard and trim in progress at front entrance

DIY Bathroom Vanity

A do-it-yourself homeowner shared this photo with us.  He created this custom bathroom vanity using our Black Walnut materials, a Kreg Jig, and a lot of time and hard work.  Very nicely done - beautiful piece!

Recycle, Re-purpose

 
Recycling is not necessarily meant for just bottles and cans. Building  materials may also be salvaged and re-purposed to become useful again.  The beauty of wood is its workability - through sanding, staining or simply re-finishing, old wood can be made to look nearly brand new.  

Re-purposing old windows has become a popular trend.  From tables to cabinets, picture frames, and much more with a bit of ingenuity, inefficient single pane windows may continue to serve a useful purpose.    

    

Local restoration, retrofit and rebuilding specialists, Absolute Green Homes of South Salem, NY are professionals in transforming old wood materials into functional pieces.  

Their most recent project, The Beach House, is a great achievement in creative design, energy efficiency and use of materials.  When completed this home will be a shining example of the many ways in which re-purposed building materials can bring unique character into a space.   

See more of The Beach House's reclaimed, recycled and re-used materials.

When starting your next project or spring cleaning consider if the materials you plan to discard may be useful in some way.  By re-purposing old materials we not only protect our environment but also put special meaning into our homes.  

      

A word of caution:  removing lead paint from old wood can be a health hazard; use caution if you are unsure of what finish has been previously applied to the wood.

Recycle and Reuse!

Why buy new when you can re-purpose something you already have?

After installing new windows these homeowners were left with the question of what to do with all of the old windows that were now sitting in a pile.  Rather than throw them outs they decided to re-purpose the old windows using stock lumber materials.  This simple outdoor coffee table was constructed using 1x4 Basswood for the skirt and Cypress posts (sawn and cut down) for the legs.  With a bit of sanding and a fresh coat of paint this table will look as good as new!

Meet a local carpenter

Located in Oneonta, NY, The Custom Finish, specializes in fine professional carpentry.  Owner Travis Marsh has a passion for restoring the original beauty of homes through custom creations that display quality finishes and creative details.

Custom Finish's capabilities range from older homes to new construction and business establishments. In addition to finish carpentry the company offers painting services, wall finishing and other general construction services. No project is too small!

Spring Fever

Spring officially arrives in 4 days!  Though this winter has been extremely mild we are all undoubtedly looking forward to nature's spring awakening.

In dreaming of the many activities we will share outdoors here are some ways in which wood structures may add to the enjoyment of the spring and summer seasons!  

Decks:  One of the most popular outdoor wood structures, decks are synonymous with summertime relaxation.  As these structures are typically responsible for supporting a heavy load it is important that they are designed and constructed correctly. 

 
Arbors and Pergolas:  These versatile wood structures may serve many purposes from providing shade to an outdoor seating area to serving as a trellis in a garden.     

Fences:  A wood fence enhances the aesthetics of any property.  Often used around gardens to keep out unwanted visitors, fences are also used to maintain privacy among neighbors or along busy streets.  

  

Revitalizing a landmark

28 Railroad Avenue

Established in 1786 the village of Cooperstown, New York is rich in beauty and tradition. Far removed from centers of architectural innovation, Cooperstown is actually home to many significant residential, commercial and religious structures. One example stands at 28 Railroad Avenue.

Constructed in 1903 this building served residents of the area for decades as a feed mill, food and produce store.  Its function during the 1940's and 50's remains a mystery, but in the 1960's an Agway retail store moved into the facility.  For over 40 years Agway served the local community until the store chose to leave Railroad Avenue in 2008.  The building laid vacant for nearly a year after Agway's departure until Mike Manno purchased the property. 

Red Oak Wainscot and trim

A preservationist at heart and resident of Cooperstown for decades, Mr. Manno feared the historic structure would be demolished.  His goal was to restore the building and transform it into useable space. 

G&S Construction and owner Steve Smith began renovations at the property in the winter of 2009. Throughout the project special care was taken to maintain the historical accuracy of the building while also making improvements that would preserve its longevity.

The original layout consisted of two buildings which have since been connected to create a tremendous open floor plan. The main building, which once served as the feed mill, now features new trusses and a barrel vaulted ceiling. Wainscot has been added to the ceiling and walls, and many of the building's historical elements have been preserved including an auger that once transported grain within the facility.
 

Extensive exterior renovations have also been completed. The siding has been replaced with custom novelty siding and new windows have been installed.

Mr. Manno has completed renovations and is now actively searching for an interested party to utilize the newly renovated space.

The revitalization of this historic property is truly inspiring; the next occupant is sure to have quite a story to tell.

Pine flooring

Check out Frugal Farmhouse Design's completed kitchen project using our Pine flooring! "Early American" stain by Minwax was used in this beach cottage renovation. This really illustrates the beauty and versatility of Pine.

Solid wood Cypress

Cypress is a great wood specie for use in exterior projects due to the presence of natural enzymes within the wood that make it resistant to decay and insect attack. Native to the southern coastal region of the United States, Cypress has been used for centuries as decking, covered porch flooring, siding, fencing, and outdoor structures. The wood will age to a silvery greyish color if left untreated, or it may be finished to maintain its original coloring.

Pictured here is Wightman Cypress flooring to be installed at the Catskill Forest Association in Arkville, NY.

A good resource for information on Cypress is the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association.

Check out Clapper Hollow Designs beautiful solid wood frames made with Wightman hardwoods. Solid wood offers a high quality frame material that not only looks nice but is sure to last a lifetime. We have many different hardwood species available for making custom frames, as well as picture frame mouldings in Red Oak and Pine.

Ash Flooring Sale!

Final week to save 15% on all Ash flooring!

Ash is a wonderful wood native to New York State. Famous for its use in baseball bats and other sporting equipment Ash is a very hard, strong wood ideal for high traffic areas of the home. It has an open grain pattern with distinctive white to gray/brown coloring and accepts stain well.

Clapboard siding

Clapboard siding, also known as bevel or lap siding, is a horizontal siding material in which 1 edge is thicker than the other. The boards are placed on the exterior of a home such that each board overlaps the next. Popular throughout the northeastern region, Clapboard siding is made in different widths to appeal to different style preferences.

Basswood

Basswood is an excellent hardwood specie for use in carving. The 'softness' of this hardwood makes it very easy to carve both with and across the grain. Basswood contains hardly any grain pattern and is almost white in color. It has enough structural integrity to allow for intricate designs and is very dimensionally stable so it holds its shape well.

Check out local artist Stephanie Rocknak's use of Basswood in her amazing carvings!

Building a Deck

Do you have plans to build a deck this summer? If so you know that it is a complicated project. Constructing a deck involves load calculations, precise measuring, pouring concrete footers and much more. A deck is, after all, a structure that will hold the weight of your family, guests, furniture and anything else you choose to put on your deck. You want this structure to be safe.

For your safety be sure to consult or hire a professional with extensive construction knowledge so your deck is built correctly. Here are some tips on deck safety.

Eastern Hemlock

Eastern Hemlock is an excellent wood material for outdoor use. Here in central New York Hemlock trees are abundant and the wood is widely used for many different types of exterior applications: siding, fencing, arbors, pergolas and many more. Here rough Hemlock beams create the structure for these distinctive porches.

Custom Cypress clapboard siding

will be stained and placed against white trim of house!

A wood fence keeps out unwanted critters and adds definition and beauty to your home. Check out these tips on how to create one for your yard!

Outdoor Flooring Options

Great tips from DYI network on outdoor flooring options for your deck, patio or driveway - can't wait to enjoy the first al fresco meal of the season!

Spring Savings!

Now through May 15th save 15% off all Red Oak Flooring!

Think Spring!

Click here for some good tips on cleaning up your yard this weekend (if it's not covered in snow!)