01-06-2010, 05:45 PM
Your right... the second inner layer wall plane was more than likely originally adopted for visual purposes, bottom line, why the inner wall plane was originally adopted is irrelevant. It exists today for energy related reasons and was also adopted for fire related issues. Fire can be addressed via simple baking soda solution treatment and other fire retardants when it comes to wood.
Lumber quality has been slumping for years, nothing new there. I refuse to frame with framing grade lumbers these days. Those days are long gone in my opinion. Engineered lumber is another story all together.
BTW... we're building double wall, and partial steel, but then we've AC specified.
If we didn't go with AC... I love the appearance of wood and nothing can come close to it appearance wise, IMO. We would then build from use of several foreign wood species depending on the system in question.
As it will turn out, we'll have all sorts of composite materials in our house instead YUK!
What I've been concentrating on in this thread with regard to single wall is the insulation factor as that's what has kept Hawaii in the business of single wall homes. Where the mainland has been choking on energy and insulation. I have no love affair with plantation homes... I don't like them at all. The single wall home I like for its simplicity, potential lower costs and possible beauty if done right, etc.
If they could come up with a composite wood simulated siding with a foam core... that would be sweet. I believe it's possible if they used a product such as Richlite for the shell of the siding boards, filled them with foam and slapped on various simulated wood grain veneers. A perfect siding and single wall plane for Hawaii. Until then, I can only hope for such awesome materials.
E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.
Lumber quality has been slumping for years, nothing new there. I refuse to frame with framing grade lumbers these days. Those days are long gone in my opinion. Engineered lumber is another story all together.
BTW... we're building double wall, and partial steel, but then we've AC specified.
If we didn't go with AC... I love the appearance of wood and nothing can come close to it appearance wise, IMO. We would then build from use of several foreign wood species depending on the system in question.
As it will turn out, we'll have all sorts of composite materials in our house instead YUK!
What I've been concentrating on in this thread with regard to single wall is the insulation factor as that's what has kept Hawaii in the business of single wall homes. Where the mainland has been choking on energy and insulation. I have no love affair with plantation homes... I don't like them at all. The single wall home I like for its simplicity, potential lower costs and possible beauty if done right, etc.
If they could come up with a composite wood simulated siding with a foam core... that would be sweet. I believe it's possible if they used a product such as Richlite for the shell of the siding boards, filled them with foam and slapped on various simulated wood grain veneers. A perfect siding and single wall plane for Hawaii. Until then, I can only hope for such awesome materials.
E ho'a'o no i pau kuhihewa.