Hello to all those interested in sustainability issues and our future. Frank’s Green Speak is an effort to provide accurate and usable information on Green Sustainable buildings. I have had a deep interest in these issues since graduating from college as an engineer nearly 40 years ago just before the first Arab oil embargo. Since then much has changed but unfortunately too much stayed the same for too long. Most of the Sustainable Building practices we practice today were well known to us more than 40 years ago such as passive solar design, super insulation, tight building envelopes, energy efficient HVAC systems, day-lighting techniques and much more. Many of us have applied these practices continuously over the years to a market with little incentive to change other than for some visionaries, it felt like the right thing to do.
Our customer base over these decades were those who remembered the 70s era of petroleum shortages and believed that the problem was not going to go away. These people could also foresee a day of reckoning and wanted to be prepared and do what they could to diminish the impact of the day when resource limitations and unrelenting consumption would collide to produce the dynamics we see at work today world wide. I have been very fortunate to have worked with so many people of like mind and vision in our business. I was able to be part of the founding of number of these organizations, some of which were victims of the supply side economic theories of the 80s and some which have endured and thrive today. I owe the leaders and the members of these organizations a lot for a lifetime of learning. I hope that in Frank’s Greenspeak that I will be able to pass on a lot of what I have learned and enable you to take advantage of my continuing education in Sustainable Building practices. I am looking forward to a lively discourse and many questions.
If you would like more insight into my background and credentials please see my biography.
Hello,
My husband and I have a little over an acre of woods composed of 80% ash. All have been killed by EAB. The last 2 weeks my husband has been cutting them down. We are interested in using the lumber for something other than firewood. We were wondering if ash can be used for a timberframe structure or should we try to have it milled for flooring, cabinetry, etc.. They are long segments but not that large in diameter (12″ to 24″ as an average) Bill Decker gave us your name as a reference to maybe help us in this dilemma. Thanks in advance.
Hello Rebecca,
Thanks for your interest in Riverbend Timber Framing, I believe that you have already been in contact with Tom Schrock regrading the timbers on your land. I will let him handle it from here, but if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
Thanks!
Rebecca,
Ash is a very strong wood. Among the strongest in North America. The material is used right along side Hickory for striking tool handles like hammers and axes. It is tough wood to cut and work with a chisel as compared to say red oak but has nice grain. If the damage that is done by the borer is not to much and the diameter of the log allows it some fine timber could be obtained from it. Ash pegs have been used in Timber framing because of their strength.
The holes from the borer can add an interesting look to the wood if used for flooring and cabinetry. Figured and distressed material is in vogue in some cases.
What ever works out for you I applaud your attempt to salvage and make better use of the value of these timbers.