New Product! Pro Plug System for Decks, Flooring and Woodworking

Never before have all the steps in plugging been put together in a single system that delivers a perfect result plug after plug. This is because Starborn Industries, Inc.’s PRO PLUG™ components have all been specially designed and engineered to work together, perfectly. The beauty of the system is that it makes plugging so fast and easy that it now takes half as much time as before — sometimes even less. So if you’ve always valued the strength of top down fastening and the high-finish look of plugs but couldn’t invest in the extra time and labor, put the SMART-BIT® PRO PLUG™ System to work for you, today.

Building Terms – I-Joists and LVLs

I-Joists and LVLs are becoming more and more popular as framing options, but do you know what they are?

I-Joists are classified as an Engineered Wood Product.  They replace the use of solid dimension lumber in places like floors and roofs.  Prefabricated wood I-joists utilize the geometry of the “I” cross-section and high-strength components to maximize the strength and stiffness of the wood fiber. Flanges are manufactured from sawn lumber or structural composite lumber, while webs typically consist of plywood or oriented strand board.  The advantages of using I-Joists are many including; easier construction, better load capabilities, and very environmentally friendly.

LVL’s or “Laminated Veneer Lumber”  is an engineered wood product created by layering dried and graded wood veneers with waterproof adhesive into blocks of material known as billets. Generally speaking, “engineered wood” is manufactured by bonding together wood strands, veneers, lumber or other forms of wood fiber to produce a larger and integral composite unit that is stronger and stiffer than the sum of its parts.  LVL’s allow builders to create wide open floor plans without the use of support columns.  A second important benefit to LVL is that the veneering and gluing process enables large timbers to be made from relatively small trees of many species, thereby providing for efficient use of forest resources.  You can read more information regarding the impact of engineered lumber on the environment at the APA website.

If you are building a new home be sure to ask your builder about the use of engineered wood products or call Schutte Lumber Company at 816-753-6262

Building a Deck – Think Redwood

Redwood decks have long been prized for their beauty, but did you know they are an environmentally sound choice for decking material? According to the California Redwood Association “Roughly 90 percent of product-producing redwood forests are certified sustainable under FSC or SFI, and all redwood products come from California. When you choose redwood, you’re choosing natural wood from sustainable forests.”

If you are looking for a carefree deck, redwood is your answer. You can practically ignore redwood and it maintains its beauty and structural integrity.  A wooden deck also adds value to your home investment according to U.S.News, “Homeowners who add a wooden deck to their properties recoup on average nearly 81 percent of the project’s cost when they sell the home”.

For more ideas on using redwood and to download project plans visit the California Redwood Association and be inspired by their gallery of projects or call Schutte Lumber Company at 816-753-6262 for more information.

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