Items Tagged with: Div06

Laminated veneer lumber is a shop fabricated structural wood, composed of wood veneers which are adhered together. Laminated veneers were first developed in the 1940s for aircraft parts. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL), which is a structural composite lumber (SCL), was first produced in the 1970s in response to growing environmental pressures and government regulations. It is an environmentally friendly product that efficiently utilizes wood fibers from smaller trees.

Sheathing is the board or panel material used in floor, wall and roof assemblies of both residential and commercial construction. The most basic function of sheathing, in any application, is to form a surface onto which other materials can be applied. There are several types of sheathing, each having a specific function based on its application.

Wood decking is created using structural boards or planks and attaching them to joists, beams, rafters, or trusses to form a floor or roof surface. Similar to sheathing, the boards act to provide lateral support to the structure and carry the live and dead loads from above to the floor or roof structure below.

Treated wood foundations are load-bearing, pressure-treated wood framed walls, used below grade to support light frame construction. Treated wood foundations are commonly called Permanent Wood Foundations or All-Weather Wood Foundations. Since being developed in the 1960s, this unique building system has had its skeptics; however, it has proven to be a durable building system in thousands of physical applications. Treated wood foundations have undergone extensive research, analysis, and testing by several highly respected organizations within the building construction industry. They have been approved for use by model building codes, many state and local building codes, federal agencies, and by lending, warranty and insurance institutions. A treated wood foundation, when installed, waterproofed, and drained properly, and used in conjunction with other waterproof materials, is a viable alternative to poured concrete or concrete block foundations.

Log construction refers to a building technique in which a structure is built from logs that have not been milled into conventional lumber. Log buildings are formed by horizontally stacking logs and interlocking their ends with notches. The origin of this type of construction is uncertain, but it is believed to date back to Northern Europe during the Bronze Age. When Europeans settled in America during the 17th and 18th centuries, they utilized this knowledge of handcrafted log construction to create shelter. In 19th century American politics, log cabins came to symbolize humble beginnings, since no fewer than seven U.S. Presidents were born in log homes. Throughout history, log construction was used for homes, churches, schools, barns, mills, commercial buildings, and outbuildings. Typically built in rural settings, this rustic architecture style can be built in any climate. Today log construction can be seen in elaborate homes as well as in simple cabins, built from handcrafted or milled logs, with different styles and options.

Wood framing, or light frame construction, is the assembly of dimensional lumber or engineered wood lumber that is regularly spaced and fastened together with nails to create floor, wall and roof assemblies. Wood is the most common material used within the construction industry today.

Fire-retardant wood treatment (FRT) is the process by which pressure impregnates wood with fire-retardant chemicals. It is a protective treatment that reduces the combustible nature of wood, minimizes the effects of fire, and is suitable for interior and exterior wood, dimensional lumber, engineered lumber (excluding wood wafer products), and finish materials. Two types of FRT exist today: one involves a blend of a nitrogen-phosphorus organic compound and boric acid, and the other involves the use of ammonium polyphosphates with additives (boric acid, borax, moldicides, and others). Formulation compositions used to treat wood are proprietary and differ between manufacturers.