[Greenbuilding] Nansulate Insulation

[Benjamin Pratt]

the floor joists of my 1929 house have a charred appearance. at first
i thought this may be evidence from a house fire, but I've since
decided that they have always been that way. Was it a technique to
preserve them?
Ben

On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 10:16 AM, JOHN SALMEN <terrain at shaw.ca> wrote:
> When I was a kid I made money dismantling barns for the barnboard. I
> remember it as old and tough - but relatively 'woodlike' beyond the scoured
> surface.
>
> Wood on average loses about a 1/4" a century - depends on density less for
> hardwoods, more for softwoods. Initial weathering robs the surface of
> various lignins leaving a relatively pure cellulose covering that is highly
> uv resistant.
>
> There are historical techniques of accelerating that process and creating an
> even colouring for wood. Shou-sugi-ban is a Japanese technique of burning
> (charring) the surface of the wood and polishing it. It is quite beautiful.
> There are contemporary finishes that simply oxidize the surface to an even
> grey (lifetime?).
>
> The problem with shakes and shingles is that they typically require 1st
> growth softwood material with fine grain structure. These are the forests we
> are trying to preserve locally. They are also hard to reuse (other than as
> kindling). I don't mind 2nd growth siding untreated(used as part of a 100
> mile diet)as it does have a long life. I prefer board and batten but current
> rainscreen code requirements make this difficult to do.
>
> Best
> John
>
>
>
> JOHN SALMEN ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
> 4465 UPHILL RD,. DUNCAN, B.C.  CANADA, V9L 6M7
> PH 250 748 7672 FAX 250 748 7612 CELL 250 246 8541
> terrain at shaw.ca
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of
> bill.allen at verizon.net
> Sent: January 23, 2011 5:07 AM
> To: Green Building
> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Nansulate Insulation
>
> John,
>
> I applaud your efforts.
>
> My uneducated question is: Why use paint at all? Don't well installed, bare
> wood shingles last a pretty long time (as siding) if you use the right
> species?
>
> I am making these choices now for my own house and keep gravitating toward
> natural wood (shingles or siding). With the correct roof overhang (eves and
> gables), don't they last a while?  I just dismantled a 150+ year old barn in
> climate zone 6 with the original, naked hemlock siding (vertical). It's got
> plenty of life left.
>
> Would love any comments...
>
> Bill
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "JOHN SALMEN" <terrain at shaw.ca>
> Sender: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
> Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 12:36:32
> To: 'Green Building'<greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
> Reply-to: Green Building <greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org>
> Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Nansulate Insulation
>
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-- 


b e n j a m i n p r a t t

professor art+design
the university of wisconsin stout