All plywood is made from veneers laid up and glued together so that the grain is perpendicular to the adjacent layers. But even within that seemingly tight definition, there can be a world of difference between one sheet of plywood and the next. Wood choice, quality of material, thickness, surface finish, and the way the wood veneers are cut all play … Read more
Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) was developed in the 1930s as an alternative home-building technique. Yet, it is hardly known by the general population. Interest in the use of SIPs has been growing in recent years, primarily due to the potential energy savings that SIP homes are promoted as offering. SIPs consist of an … Read more
All homes have siding of some sort or another. That siding might be brick, stone, or adobe, even though we don’t think of those materials as siding. But most of the time, when we talk about siding, we’re talking about a wood product, aluminum, or vinyl. In those last two cases, aluminum and vinyl are … Read more
Whether you buy firewood or harvest it yourself, it’s important to know which kind is best for your fireplace or wood stove, as well as how best to dry, season, and store it. There are many firewood alternatives worth exploring too. We’ll cover the entire spectrum here, along with pros and cons plus some tricks … Read more
Today’s average lumberyard or home improvement center carries many different types of plywood, giving you a wide selection. Businesses specializing in architectural trim for cabinetmakers and contractors will have even more choices, especially if you’re looking for hardwood plywood. Of course, not all plywood is created equal, so you need to know what you’re looking … Read more