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Wood isn't inherently bad. It has a lot of character in tone and grain which people appreciate. It is merely the worst investment you can make.
Here's a good design project for someone on island. Come up with an attractive set of cabinets that are not wood. Patent it. Shouldn't be impossible.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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quote:
Originally posted by cinnaminnacat
so, then realistically:
bathrooms: pedestal sink, fiberglass shower basin, or standard tub; no standard wood cabinents; towel racks; ??
kitchen: if no wood cabinents, then how do you support the countertops for a "built-in" kitchen? stacked bricks and concrete board?
actually, i have mused on the idea of a "non-standard" kitchen that would be more of a small utility room/food prep area with restaurant style SS prep equipment. the real estate people tell me that without the expected, standard kitchen it will resell, later, as a fixer.
wood anywhere is bad--but so hard to get rid of.
In Mexico and South America concrete counters and lower shelves in the place of bottom cabinets are very common, with tiles to make it look good. Done right it can be very attractive. People remodel kitchens often enough that using wooden cabinets is probably not a terrible investment, but speaking from experience those laminate counters are not worth the money you save.
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cabinets:
what about industrial steel shop cabinets?
i took a quick look and there are some gorgeous heavy duty enameled steel shop cabinet componets available at very reasonable prices compared to a quality custom wood kitchen. would last a long time and be very easy clean. should have silky sliding drawers!
yep, totally different look, but I think you could work with it. it definitely looks high end and modern. at the very least, you could veneer the fronts with whatever.
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second story flooring choices?
except for the prospects of a nice view and pleasant breeze, i dont especially want a 2 story house.
that being said, the prospective site does have a slightly higher spot which might be used to good effect by a second story. (not quite an ocean view, but very expansive sky)
can we talk about the second story floor? beams, underlayment, flooring: all customarily wood products for the 2nd story of a small house, esp "puna style".
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What about glass fiber reinforced concrete over foam. The SABS method of building is used Puna.
www.greenbuildershawaii.net is the website of the contractor. Has anyone heard of this?
Docmayo
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I think Carey might have taken this approach. Maybe she"ll chime in.
David
quote:
Originally posted by cinnaminnacat
cabinets:
what about industrial steel shop cabinets?
i took a quick look and there are some gorgeous heavy duty enameled steel shop cabinet componets available at very reasonable prices compared to a quality custom wood kitchen. would last a long time and be very easy clean. should have silky sliding drawers!
yep, totally different look, but I think you could work with it. it definitely looks high end and modern. at the very least, you could veneer the fronts with whatever.
Ninole Resident
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Ninole Resident
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Here's an idea: Go non-wood on the frame and structure but the interior cabinets and furniture go ahead with wood, make sure it's pre-treated and over the years routinely treat and inject with orange oil to deter the buggies. Much more doable than having to continually orange-oil-treat the whole house and all the wood structure you cannot see because it's covered by siding or drywall or whatever. Or the other option of tenting and poisoning your dwelling every couple years to prevent any infestation. That stuff is nasty tho. Kills everything living. Even the grass and plants that get under the tent near the house.
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Along these lines, would it be better to pre-polyurethane the lumber or leave it unsealed to periodically retreat with Hibor, or orange oil, etc? Some wood can be nice as long as the maintenance is manageable.
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"Or the other option of tenting and poisoning your dwelling every couple years to prevent any infestation."
I don't think tenting prevents infestation. Tenting is to kill the infestation.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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beams, underlayment, flooring: all customarily wood products
Steel (or aluminum) framing, concrete board.
veneer the fronts with whatever
Exactly: now the wood component is purely decorative trim; the cabinetry could be designed to allow trivial replacement, something like aluminum frames with wood panel inserts.
