08-24-2008, 11:56 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Carey
There are homes in Hillo from the 1800's that are still standing & ones from the 1970's that are falling apart.... so much has to do with materials & care...
Another factor is the wood harvested now versus in the 1800's. The 1800's used a lot of old growth that had higher F strength. It was stronger than much of the lumber milled today, or even 30 years ago.
One of the architects I use said that he increases the beam sizing in a garage door opening because the wood is "crap". His exact words.
The loggers also made better choices in the 1800's on what to cut as it was plentiful. Now younger, poorer quality trees are cut so the wood has more warp and wain. In addition, this climate of Puna has issues with lumber dried on the mainland. It dries, it soaks up water, it dries again, etc all before you put it up.
Any one bring an oak dresser over? You see what happens to oak especially if it came from Calif, Az, Nevada, NM ?
In addition, quite a few houses in Hilo built in the late 1800's and early 1900's were built with heart redwood. You pretty much have to pay a king's ransom to get that if you even can find it.
In dec, SB and I went to see the Gamble House in Pasadena. SB was amazed at the size of the beams (24" x 24" and 40' in a couple of cases). You cant even get that size lumber now. It would be a glue lam. Can you see how that would have changed those beautiful craftsman houses to have a glue lam instead of the beautiful beams?