FSC was created in the wake of the 1992 UN Conference on Sustainable Development with the purpose of improving the management of the world’s forests. In the last 17 years FSC certification has set the standard for responsible forest management and is supported both by environmental groups and the commercial sector.

Since the inception of the FSC certification process, competition with unregulated wood products has been problematic due to the simple fact that unregulated wood products can be produced from clear cuts, “slash-and-burn” projects, and other environmentally destructive techniques. “With responsibility comes regulation and, at least during the adoption phase, regulation has resulted in higher costs for the consumer.” says David Steinberg, founder and President of AltruWood. According to Steinberg, the US market is beginning to accept the necessary premium on FSC certified wood products as both green building and sustainable development become a priority.

“We saw this change in the market as an indication that there was enough of a demand to support the leveling of the playing field between FSC certified products and unregulated products in terms of pricing,” explains Steinberg. The end result is AltruWood’s “Mill to Market” strategy and now many FSC certified wood products are the same price as their unregulated counterparts and, in some cases, they are less expensive.

About AltruWood:

AltruWood, Inc is based in Portland, Oregon and is a manufacturer and distributor of FSC Certified lumber, shakes, shingles, decking, and flooring. Along with FSC Certified products AltruWood also offers reclaimed product line including reclaimed Doug Fir beams, reclaimed hand hewn beams, reclaimed flooring and the innovative dead standing timbers.

Source: AltruWood, Inc

Website: www.altruwood.com
Email: press@altruwood.com

AltruWood Contact :
Colin Wilson – 503-542-7463 x6

Press Contact @ Quaro, Inc:
Aaron James – 503-719-8486

Portland, OR – It used to be, if someone wanted to “build green”, they better be prepared to spend significantly more money to do so. Now, as the Green Building Phenomenon increases, the savvy homeowner or contractor is finding that certain Green Building materials can actually cost them less than their non-responsible counterparts. FSC Certified Lumber, which has been limited in growth due to significantly higher prices than non-FSC Certified lumber, can now, with a little bit of research, be found at prices lower than non-FSC. The reason for this: direct to homeowner distribution.

AltruWood Inc (altruwood.com) , a nationwide distributor of FSC Certified building products is leading the charge in bringing consumers FSC Certified Lumber Products at prices below what the consumer would pay for non-FSC. Consumers are essentially benefitting from the perfect storm of the growth in green building, the overall decline of the building sector, and the industry wide use of the Internet to source Green Building materials. In this delicate economy, traditional lumber yards and building centers are wary of stocking FSC Certified material, in which, all things being equal, they would pay a slight premium for. As a result, long-time FSC Certified companies such as AltruWood, are going direct with pricing that would normally have an additional 15% – 30% local distributor markup on it. The end result is a price tag for the customer less than what they would pay for non-FSC.

Consumers are most likely to see the cost savings in standard, non-commodity building materials such as Red Cedar Siding, Cedar Shakes and Shingles, Ipe Decking and wide plank flooring.

About AltruWood:

AltruWood, Inc is based in Portland, Oregon and is a manufacturer and distributor of FSC Certified lumber, shakes, shingles, decking, and flooring. Along with FSC Certified products AltruWood also offers reclaimed product line including reclaimed Doug Fir beams, reclaimed hand hewn beams, reclaimed flooring and the innovative dead standing timbers.

Source: AltruWood, Inc

Website: www.altruwood.com (http://www.altruwood.com/)
Email: press@altruwood.com
AltruWood Contact : Colin Wilson – 503-542-7463 x6

Press Contact @ Quaro, Inc: Aaron James – 503-719-8486

In recent years, new technology has been developed to allow for more rapid drying of timbers.  This technology uses what is known as a Radio Frequency Vacuum (RF-V) to dry the timbers.  Just as with a standard microwave oven the RF-V kiln uses microwaves to excite the water molecules and and it then draw them out using the vacuum.  While this technology can produce the desired moisture content reading, it is unclear if it has any overall effect on the future stability of the wood.

It has been our experience that AltruWood Naturally Dry Douglas fir timbers are superior in performance to RF-V kiln dried timbers.

There are a few reasons for this.  For starters, the drying process begins before the tree is cut while it is still standing vertically – this is where the lumber gets its name.   The tree then begins to release its moisture the same way it acquired it – through the root system in the ground.  An AltruWood Naturally Dry tree, at the moment of cutting, is significantly advanced in the drying process.  Additionally, Naturally Dry timbers have significantly less issues with pockets of tar.  These pockets are a nuisance since they can ooze pitch onto your carpet or floor for years after the beams are installed.

It commonly believed that a timber achieves the most movement when it passes through what is referred to as “the moisture saturation point.”  This point is defined as the point in which mechanical properties of the wood are not meaningfully affected by increased moisture.  With Douglas fir timbers the moisture saturation point is between 24% – 28%.  The reason Naturally Dry timbers perform is that they have already passed through the moisture saturation point prior to cutting.

Lastly, we have been sourcing Naturally Dry timbers for years from multiple locations across the Northwest.  It is our experience that certain regions produce significantly superior fiber than others.  We have carefully identified those regions and only produce Naturally Dried timbers which have grown there, guaranteeing superior performance to any other type of Douglas fir timber available today.

Click here to view our Naturally Dry beams…

This is just one aspect of purchased reclaimed beams and timbers.  To make a more informed buying decision, continue reading to familiarize yourself with the common issues to consider…

1.  Condition of the beams.

Reclaimed beams and timbers come in many different shapes, sizes, and conditions.  They have often been painstakingly removed from existing structures but sometimes care has not been used during removal.  The desired aesthetic, required structural integrity, and application will all be factors that determine the condition of the beams you are seeking. It is important to understand the many different conditions reclaimed beams can come in so that, as a buyer, you can make the correct purchase.

2.  Metal content.

Have the beams been denailed? If so, has all the metal been removed or has just the visual metal? Reclaimed beams are very old, and often times, nail and bolt fragments are buried beneath the skin of the beam or within a nail or bolt hole. Removing this buried metal involves gauging the wood and leaving some unsightly gauge marks. If the beams are aesthetic, and you are not going to be resawing them, simply having the beams visually denailed is a better option.

Beams and timbers that have been resawn require that all of the metal is removed prior to sawing them. The unsightly gauge marks are usually not more than 1 ½” thick and are usually removed in the resawing process.

3.  Nail holes.

Nail holes are extremely common in reclaimed beams and often add the desired character and aesthetic that the customer is seeking. The main thing to look out for is excessive nail holes that are going to be unsightly. If excessive nail holes exist, often times they are only on one face and can be hidden if that face is not required to be visual. When buying reclaimed beams, ask if the nail holes are predominantly on one face.

The type of nails used can often help to age the wood. Square end nails (also referred to as “cut nails”) were predominant in construction prior to 1910.

Bolt holes are also common in reclaimed beams and generally go all the way through two faces. In most cases, they do not affect the structural integrity of the beam. As a customer, it is up to you to decide if bolt holes are OK in your beams, and if so, at what point do they become excessive? Bolt holes can be plugged or left unplugged, and depending on their position in the beam (if they are at the ends), they can also be cut out. Inquiring about the location of bolt holes, the number of them and their approximate diameter can help your buying decision.

5.  Checking.

Checking in reclaimed beams is extremely common and does not necessarily affect the structural integrity and can be part of the aesthetic.

This AltruWood Reclaimed Free-of-heart-Center Douglas Fir 12″x 12″ exhibits no end-checking. This beam will exhibit great structural tendencies.

Checks are cracks that appear in the wood but do not go all the way through. It is important to get an idea of how heavy the checking is and if it is limited to just the ends (end-checking). The position of the heart will greatly influence the checking of a beam. Purchasing your beams longer than you need them allows you to cut off any end-checking that may occur as the beams go through climate change.

6.  Splitting.

Splitting is checking that goes all the way through two faces of the beams. If the beams will have any structural component, splitting must be avoided. Beams with heavy checking that will undergo a climate change to get to you will have a tendency to split.

7.  Rot and warping.

It is important to always ask if the beams have any rot, warping, twisting, etc..

Some rot and warpage is contained in the ends of the beams and can be cut out. If the beams do exhibit rot, make sure to find out how pervasive it is and where in the beam it is located.

8.  Moisture content.

Devices used to measure moisture content are relatively inexpensive and anyone who is selling reclaimed wood should be able to guage the moisture content for you. In beam material, anything under 18% is considered dry, but it is not uncommon for beams in wet climates to measure around 22%. Beams with a high moisture content have a greater tendency to warp, twist, check and crack.

9.  Heart position.

Beams with the heart contained or “boxed heart” are more prone to cracking, checking, splitting and are less stable; however, if the beams are not structural, boxed heart beams often represent a less expensive option. If they are structural, boxed heart beams are still an option, you just need to be more careful in your buying decision. Depending on the size of the beams, “Free of heart Center” (F.O.H.C.) can be unavoidable. Moisture content, checking, cracking, and twisting all become more relevant when the beam contains the heart. When buying reclaimed beams, it is important to ask if they are free-of-heart center. Beams that are free of heart are generally more expensive.

10.  Surface.

There are many different surface options in Reclaimed Beams. Rough sawn, hand hewn, surfaced, circle sawn, wire brushed, etc. In addition, coloration is also a key part of the desired aesthetic. Have the beams weathered to a brown or gray color? Are they painted? Have they been resawn? If they have been resawn, they will look relatively new (but usually with some of the scarring from nail and bolt holes). When considering the surface of reclaimed beams, it is important to ask yourself what most appeals to you about Reclaimed Wood. Expressing the aesthetic of reclaimed wood can be as simple as highlighting the dense grain and nail markings, or you may desire an aesthetic in which the beam is displayed in it’s weathered and worn form. Having a good visual sense of what you are looking for will help you to compare apples to apples when pricing out your different options.

11.  Grading.

If the beams are structural, local building codes may mandate that the beams be professionally graded. For an additional charge, AltruWood will have the beams graded prior to shipment. Grading services generally range between $200 – $800 dollars.