Always consider wood grain orientation!

Always consider wood grain orientation!

Yesterday I came across this very nice looking wayfinding sign in a recently constructed building. As you can see, it is a beautiful use of material (solid wood) that adds a contrasting warmth to an otherwise very contemporary design. One thing I noticed, however, was that the panel was cupping (as you can see in the left image below). Wayfinding sign, made from a laminated panel Closeup of grain orientation Upon closer inspection (a high-contrast version is also added here), you can see what the issue is: Some of the boards that were laminated into this panel were cut plainsawn. As explained in Chapter 5, this can lead to shrinkage on the bark side of the board and therefore cupping of the piece, which can even deform an entire laminated board like we see here. Overall, this is not a major issue and most people will likely not have noticed this when passing the sign. But it is a great reminder that it is...
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Fences, Fences, Fences

Fences, Fences, Fences

A classic fence option from my backyard As we discuss in Chapter 22, there are many options when it comes to fences, both in terms of design as well as material. Common material options are wood (naturally resistant or pressure treated), vinyl, and of course metal (mainly galvanized steel). However, as a recent story (linked below) from the New York Times highlights, there are other options as well, namely stainless steel in this case. This article also discusses some of the socio-economic factors that are relevant in this context: fences as status symbols, cultural representation, etc. (more…)...
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