
FSC Framing Lumber
Framing has begun in the new studio this week and it is quickly taking shape. In keeping with as green a project as possible I decided to use lumber that was harvested from sustainable forests. FSC certification for lumber is how one can insure that the material being used is genuine. For those who may not be familiar with FSC it stands for Forestry Stewardship Council. This is a worldwide organization that provides a vehicle to certify forests and suppliers. FSC is recognized as the authority in this area and insures that forests are managed in ways that protects our environment while insuring a supply of materials for the future. As we progress down this road using sustainable materials is just one of many steps to becoming a responsible inhabitant of this earth.
[wpvideo hnzvakIn]The realities of using materials such as these pose a few challenges. First, availability for small orders that are common with our company can lead to lead times and increased costs of the traditional way of ordering material. Fortunately, our supplier Pine Cone Lumber of Sunnyvale CA, was very cooperative and was able to provide the material within a one week lead time. The cost is more and ranges from 10-30% over standard lumber. On this order this represents about $200-$600, a small price to pay for helping our environment, I did not even bother to compare the cost vs. regular lumber as I did not want my decision to be influenced by cost alone. Another reality of using FSC material for framing is that it is kiln dried which makes the material physically harder to work with. Nailing through kiln dried material requires nail guns rather than hammers. Pat Leary, our project manager, brought this to my attention. This equates to just a bit more inconvenience due to additional tools, hoses, and carrying around the gun vs. a hammer. Otherwise the material was pretty clean and straight.
ON the material you will see the FSC stamp which is important to be sure that you are in fact using sustainable material.

Engineered beams on site.
Another element of staying true to sustainable materials is the utilization of engineered lumber. As you can see we elected to use beams known as PSL’s. These are manufactured from “strands” of lumber that are sourced from waste and other resources from lumber mills. Additionally these types of beams are stronger and straighter than the conventional solid lumber beams.
I have been debating this exact same qeoitsun. I decided to put the flooring on the entire floor then place the cabinetry on top of the floor.This way, IF I ever want to change anything, the entire floor is covered and I don’t set myself up (or anyone else for that matter) for a future nightmare. It seems like the only right way to go about the remodel, after much thought.