Hudson Valley Builders Show tomorrow!

March 2: 2:00pm - 7:30 pm
Anthony's Pier 9
New Windsor, NY

In the New Jersey area this weekend?

Check out the Woodworking and DIY Show at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset for demonstrations, ideas, and expert advice to get your spring projects going!

NAHB Green Building Standard

When building or renovating a home today it's important to consider "green building practices" in your plan. The National Association of Home Builders Green Building Standard is a great tool to guide you in the right direction.

Refinish and Refresh!

The beauty of solid wood is its ability to be refinished. Whether your wood piece is starting to show its age or you just want to change up your style: grab a palm sander, sand down the existing finish to the raw wood, and apply the new paint or stain of your choice. Instant makeover!

Happy Valentine's Day

Staying in tonight? Check out these easy to make, yet healthy recipes from Eating Well for a perfect dinner!

Wood flooring finishes

We're often asked about which type of finish to apply to wood floors.  With so many different options on the market it really depends on the look you are going for and your lifestyle.  Here is some good information from the National Wood Flooring Association discussing finishes.

Winter Sale!

15% off Select Grade Cherry Flooring
All widths (3", 4", 5")
Now through March 15th

Ice Dams

With yet ANOTHER winter storm on its way this week, here's a good article from Fine Homebuilding on Ice Dams - what they are and how to prevent them.

For all you DIY'ers: check out the Kreg Jig. I recently purchased one and just built my first bookcase! For the professional woodworker, yes, this is cheating, but for us amateurs it is fast and easy to use. They also have free project plans on their website!

Here's a cool idea to create more seating space in your dining room - build a bar shelf!  Click here to learn more.

What do New York, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vermont have in common?


The State Tree of all 4 is the Hard Maple (also known as Sugar Maple)!

International Builders Show

The biggest event of the year in the home building industry, the International Builders Show, took place last week. Check out these articles to learn about the latest products, trends and advice!

Looking for wood products?

Support local businesses right here in New York! Check out the Catskill WoodNet - a group of woodworkers, artisans & sawmills in the Catskill Mountains dedicated to supporting the health of our watersheds and forestlands.

Way to go ladies!

Check out these DIY women who are rolling up their sleeves and creating simple, yet practical pieces for their homes.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/jan/10/diy-moms/

Weekend warrior!

 Want to get organized for the New Year?  How about building some shelves!  Check out these tips

Wood trivia: What is the NHLA?

Answer: National Hardwood Lumber Association. This organization represents the North American hardwood lumber industry and establishes many of the rules and standards for manufacturing hardwood lumber. Learn more at their website!

Happy New Year!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to start a brand new year! Check out the new HGTV Dream Home in Stowe, VT - it has some fantastic woodwork (look at the ceilings!).

http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/index.html

For expert tips and ideas on everything "wood", check out the "The Wood Whisperer" blog! A last minute gift idea for the woodworker in the family may be this movie he recently reviewed - "Woodshop". A bit on the cheesy, corny side, but for those into wood, it might be a good laugh!http://thewoodwhisperer.com/woodshop-the-movie/

DIY Home Energy Assessment

The last thing we want to think about during the holidays is another project around the house.  However, taking the time to do a home energy assessment can potentially save you some serious cash in the New Year.  Check out the Dept. of Energy's DIY tips; many utility companies also offer in-home assessments for a small fee.

Honeysuckle!

Honeysuckle has officially been declared the color for 2011.  So how can one possibly incorporate this color into wood?  Check out this picture!  Beautiful white wainscot combined with a great pink color wall and green accents!

Building or Renovating your home this year?

Click here to check out tips from Builder Magazine on the top products to consider!

Thanks to Frugal Farmhouse Design for mentioning our Eastern White Pine flooring! We look forward to seeing pictures of your finished kitchen. Be sure to check out Lori's blog and her shop (The White Flower Farmhouse) to see her beautiful designs!

This holiday season give the woodworker or do-it-yourselfer in the family a head start on their projects with a gift certificate to Wightman Specialty Woods!

There are no restrictions or expiration dates on our gift certificates in case that New Year's project doesn't get started as soon as the ball drops!

Get in the spirit of the season by making a wreath!

Wreaths are easy to make and don't have to cost a lot of money - you can find many parts of your wreath from your own backyard (pine cones, evergreens, holly bushes) or from decorations you already have (ribbons, bows, dried flowers) - the possibilities are endless!
Click here to learn more!

The holiday season has arrived!

Do you know which state is the top producer of Christmas trees in the U.S.?
Oregon! (though New York is in the top ten)

Thanksgiving trivia!

Did you know?
President Abraham Lincoln established the original date for our National Thanksgiving Day celebration in 1863, but it wasn't until 1941 that Congress officially declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Winter heating season has arrived!

To help out with that heating bill, you may consider wood products as a source of heat. Check out The Department of Energy information on wood and pellet stoves to learn more!

How long should firewood 'season' before burning?

Answer: Regardless of the specie, it is best to burn firewood that has been drying for 1 year. Wood that has dried less than a year will produce a lot of smoke & not burn well, whereas wood that has been adequately dried will burn clean and hot!

The totals are in!

Our Silent Woodworking Auction raised close to $1,500 for 2 wonderful charities: Springbrook of Oneonta, and the Ronald McDonald House of Albany. Many thanks to the woodworkers and bidders!

Thanks to everyone to came out for our 17th Annual Open House on Saturday! We enjoyed sharing the day with you all. Look for an update in our next email newsletter!

Which wood is the "hardest"?

a. White Ash
b. American cherry
c. Hard Maple
d. Red Oak

Answer: Wood "hardness" is measured using the Janka Hardness test. Of these species, Hard Maple has the highest level of "hardness".

Only 3 weeks left before our Fall Open House!!

Click here to visit our website and learn more about the exciting activities we have planned for the whole family on Saturday Oct. 2nd! You can also preview some of the first items entered into our silent auction!

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Weekly wood question: What main factors influence autumn leaf color change?

Answer: Lack of water and sunlight.

The decrease in sunlight and water during the fall months causes photosynthesis to stop. Once photosynthesis ceases, trees will change color, loose their leaves and rest for the winter, living off the food they produced during the summer.

Local builder succeeds with Wightman's Custom-Joined!

Background

Based in Latham, New York, Faddegon’s Building and Remodeling is an upscale residential construction and remodeling company that specializes in custom designs. Utilizing Wightman’s Custom-Joined paneling Faddegon’s delivers a one-of-a-kind ceiling to a valued client.

The Challenge
Quality construction is paramount in each of Faddegon’s projects. “We always strive to locate high quality, aesthetically pleasing materials for our customers that are easy for us to work with and fit into our clients budgets”, says owner and operator Jim Faddegon. The company employs a small yet highly skilled crew of craftsmen who are well versed in all aspects of building.

The Solution

Wightman’s solid wood materials have been the ideal solution for many of Faddegon’s projects. Strict quality controls throughout the manufacturing process as well as the ability to customize materials were key considerations for Faddegon when selecting Wightman’s products. “Being a small business owner myself I also like to source locally made products”, says Faddegon.

The company’s most recent project was a 2,000 square foot ceiling covered with Wightman’s select Cherry paneling. Wightman’s new “Custom-Joined” materials were chosen to allow for a quick and efficient installation.

“When consulting with Wightman’s on this project they offered us the Custom-Joined paneling as an alternative to a traditional random length paneling product. After some initial skepticism we decided to give the Custom-Joined a try. What a great product! The pre-assembled lengths allowed our crew to complete the ceiling in a much shorter amount of time, the boards were perfectly straight and the machined joints were tight and flawless”, says Faddegon. “Our client also saved on the cost of the project; since the paneling was manufactured to the exact length specifications of the ceiling there was no need to order extra materials to account for waste.”

“We feel that Wightman Specialty Woods is a proven and accomplished manufacturer of solid wood materials”, Faddegon claims. “They produce high quality products offered at reasonable prices and we feel confident using their materials for any of our customers”.

Save the date!

Wightman's Annual Open House
Saturday October 2, 2010
8:30am - 1:00pm
Click here to learn more about the exciting events we have planned for the day!

Wood question of the week

What tree have these leaves come from?



Answer: Red Oak tree! (notice the lobes - they are pointed; White Oak leaves have rounded lobes)

Remodeling a home?

Some of the most popular renovations helping to enhance the comfort and functionality of homes today are:

1. Kitchen makeovers
2. Bathroom renovations
3. Energy improvements (don't forget to check the Department of Energy site for rebates available!)
4. Landscaping

Silent Auction Woodworking Event!

Saturday October 2, 2010

Wightman’s annual open house is just around the corner! For all you woodworkers out there, our Silent Auction Woodworking Event offers a great opportunity for you to promote your work, earn some extra dollars, and also donate to 2 wonderful charities - the Ronald McDonald House of Albany, and Springbrook of Oneonta.

To submit a piece to this event or for more information, please contact Naomi at 607.286.9201, or Naomi@wightmanspecialtywoods.com.

More tips on small upgrades that make a big impact!

Wood question of the week

What's the difference between an arbor and a pergola?

Answer: Pergola's are generally more elaborate and substantial structures than arbors and are often used to cover walkways or outdoor sitting areas such as decks and patios.

Looking to spruce up your home in today's economy?

Here are some great suggestions!

Wood question of the week

What 2 "preserves" make up New York's Forest Preserve?

Answer: The Adirondack Forest Preserve and the Catskill Forest Preserve contain approximately 3 million acres of Forest Preserve lands that are protected as "forever wild" by the New York State Constitution.

To learn more visit: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4960.html

Take a tour!

Our online virtual tour shows you how your wood materials are made right here in central NY! (remember to turn on your speakers)
http://www.wightmanspecialtywoods.com/milltour.htm

Wood question of the week

Identify the structure pictured.













Answer: Arbor - a freestanding structure often placed over walkways or at entrances to gardens. Arbors may be purely decorative or functional with use of trellises, benches or swings.

"Home for the New Economy"

Interesting article about what today's new home buyers are looking for - click here to check it out!

Remodeling a staircase?

Check out this DIY step-by-step guide!

Wood question of the week

What type of mouldings are pictured here?













Answer: Casing mouldings - typically used where walls meet doors and windows.

What did Noah's Ark and the first doors of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome have in common? Legend has it that both were made of Cypress!

Interested in our Cypress materials? The Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association is a great resource for learning more about this beautiful wood!

Have a safe & happy 4th of July!

Wood question of the week: What does "VOC" stand for?

Answer: Volatile organic compounds
When tackling those weekend projects, be sure to look for "low" or "no" VOC paints, stains, & finishes.

Router Basics

From "The Family Handyman/Woman" - great article on the basics of using a router: http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/router-basics