Barn Beam Mantels

In my opinion, nothing looks better than a barn beam mantel over your fire place.  The hand hewn beams have lots of character and give off a warm feel.

Hand Hewn: "hewing" is the process of converting a log from its rounded natural form into lumber (timber) with more or less flat surfaces using primarily an axe.  Cleaning up a beam is simple!  All you need is a wire brush and an orbital sander.  You can either stain the beam or add a protective clear coat.

Mounting a heavy barn beam mantel can be a challenge so make sure you have a clear game plan before deciding to nail one of these to one of your walls.  The most common way to install a beam is to hollow out the back and screw it to a mounting bar/plate that is already secured into your stud wall.  See below:

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Step #1 - Install your mounting plate to the wall.

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Step #2 - Hollow out the back of your beam.  Apply PL Premium (our favorite) to the mounting plate and inside the beam.

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Step #3 - Screw the mantel at the back to the mounting plate that is on the wall.  Both the screws and adhesive will make sure that this beam isn't going anywhere.

Click below on a few examples of some really nice barn beam mantels.  Here at Stairhaus, we stock beams anywhere from 6x6 all the way up to 12x12.  The most popular mantel size seems to be anywhere around 7x7 to 9x9.  We can cut them to any length and you can pick out what beam you want to mount on your wall!

Take a look at the gallery below and be prepared to want one of these over your fireplace!  It's time to replace that cheap mdf builders grade mantel!

Really Cool Stairs #11 - Concrete Stairs

For the record, we do not build concrete stairs!  In my opinion however, if you want to accomplish an ultra contemporary look, concrete is a must.  They may look cold and dull however their sharp lines and grey-scale appearance give them a very desirable look to any edgy architect.   Take a gander through a few pictures I found, I honestly think concrete may be the way I go when I build my next house!

Barn Board Feature Walls

The feature wall seems to be the "in" thing to do these days.  If you have been in our showroom, there is no way you can miss the 2 big display walls we installed in 1" grey board.  The character you get in the barn board is from decades of wind, rain, snow and sunshine.  Generally the grey board has one side grey (outside of the barn) and the inside is brown, giving you 2 options for colour when installing on the wall.

The best way to install the barn board is by strapping out your existing wall with 1x2.  After the wall is strapped, we suggest you get a roll of black tar paper (roofing paper) and staple it to the 1x2.  This is a cheaper and faster way to "black out" the walls as painting it will take up a of time and money.  The black background on the walls will allow none of the defects to show up.  If the wall was white you would see through the cracks and nail holes, highlighting the defects. 

We offer our barn board 2 ways, raw or dressed.  You can save a little money and dress it yourself (ripping both edges of the boards so they are square) or we will dress/prep it for you.

Take a look at a few awesome feature walls in this gallery:

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day! We are very proud to be Canadian today and also be a Canadian company! Many of you have today off, so please enjoy the day and stay safe!

We are open today and will be closed on Friday. If you wanted to pop by and see our operation please do!

BARN DOORS Rule!

We sent out 5 custom barn doors last week, so I thought it would be fitting to whip up a blog post on these beauties.  The barn door style has been around for hundreds of years however recently the demand for tracks has skyrocketed due to the popularity of having functional barn doors inside of your home.  Whether we make you a rustic door out of reclaimed materials or you hang a brand new door, we sell the tracks and can offer a variety of door styles you can choose from (we also have barn doors in our showroom for you to see).

Take a look through this gallery and I guarantee you will find a style you will fall in love with!

Really Cool Stairs #10 - Glass Railing Edition

We love glass railing systems here at the Haus!  Modern, clean lines and a great way to change the entire look of your house.  We offer both supply and install of glass to existing staircases or entirely new stair systems.  Industry standard for glass is either 3/8" or 1/2" tempered glass.  There are many options to how the glass is fastened - clips or channels.  Take a look at these awesome examples of how glass can be used in your house or business.

Clear Coat Epoxy Resin Finishes

In my opinion, the BEST way to finish a table top, live edge slab or any wood product where you want to see a crystal clear finish and have the highest level of protection.  Epoxy self-levels to 1/8", creating a virtually indestructible surface. The result is a crystal clear, brilliant surface that accentuates the material below it.  The epoxy resin is specially formulated to resist scratching and provide long lasting maintenance free protection for your surface.

Another cool use for an epoxy finish is that it can capture/protect materials added to a surface.  For example, you could create a penny or beer cap table and fill all the voids with the resin.  It will self level and lock everything down so it will never move again. 

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Beer Cap Table with Epoxy Finish

Here are a few more examples of epoxy resin finishes.  If you want a finish like this, we have access to the materials and can have it professionally finished for you!

Really Cool Stairs #9 - Spiral Stair Edition

Spiral stairs are fun if you are a kid to go up and down as well as a huge space saver.  In Canada, a spiral stair is illegal providing you have another standard stair in place as they can only be used as a secondary staircase.  These stairs can be made of wood (expensive) or you can order a kit which is then put together by yourself at home.  We typically see people taking these staircases out of their homes these days however we still think they are cool stairs!  Have a look at a few different spiral stairs!

Coffee Table SALE!

For 1 week only! 1-3/4" x 20" x 48" Reclaimed Hemlock Coffee Table with Steel Pipe Legs.  The table top comes with a clear-coat and the legs are fully adjustable for uneven floors.

We are trying to blow out a lift of 2" Brown Board (Hemlock).  These will go fast, we have enough material for 8 tables.

GO!

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Check out the "Summer 2015" Our Homes Magazine

We were featured in the "Summer 2015" Our Homes magazine and have our very first advertisement in it.  We have free copies here at our shop for anyone who wants a copy of this great publication.

Our Homes is a great tool for anyone who is either building a new home or planning a renovation. They showcase local trades and provide amazing pictures of completed local projects. The best part is this magazine is FREE! Special thanks to Design Cabin for our branding and graphic design!

Thanks Our Homes!

Live Edge Slabs

Live edge slabs are where the carpenter incorporates the natural edge of the wood when milling the material.  The use of slabs in the furniture industry has exploded in the last 10 years.   A lot of the wood used for slabs is usually graded not suitable for conventional milling (D4S or nominal lumber).  Table tops are probably the most common use for the slabs these days as they looking amazing and have character like no other! 

Usually the slab is milled using a modified chainsaw which is mounted to a frame/track which helps you cut the slabs out evenly. 

One of the most important steps when milling slabs is the drying time.  The slabs we have access to have been air dried for 2 years and then finished off in a kiln.  If the slabs are not properly dried, they will check (crack) and basically fall apart.  Sometimes "bowtie/butterfly" keys are built into the slab where there is checking present to help stabilize the wood.  I love the look of the keys and they are usually made out of a wood that contrasts the main slab so they stand out.

Here at Stairhaus, we have access to some large libraries of slabs which are air/kiln dried and ready to go.  We can provide you with a finished table top or give you the slab and let you source your own legs.  Epoxy finishes seem to be very poplar these days as they add a thick layer of protection while giving you the ability to see the entire slab clearly under the finish.  Below are a few pictures that may get you excited about slabs as they are very beautiful.

Wood Finishing - Protect Your Investment!

Easily one of the most rewarding processes when completing a stair & railing project, or any other wood working project.  Finishing can make or break a job.  There are two main reason why you finish wood:

1) Protection: It is important you seal the materials so you can stabilize the materials with respect to the environment where the wood materials will reside.  Protecting/sealing the wood will provide your materials with "armor" against wear and tear and anything else that could harm the materials (sunlight, spills, bugs etc)

2) Colour: Staining materials gives you the ability to match the colours of your wood to others that might be in your house (match the stairs to your flooring).  Every species of wood has a different staining ability.  It is important you take this into consideration when determining what colour you end up going with as you may not be happy with the finished result.  For example, Maple is a very dense wood which is very difficult to stain, especially dark.  The materials should be "conditioned" prior to finishing which will give your materials a much more consistent look. 

Finishing can be expensive!  I find that most people do not allow enough in their budget when it comes to protecting their stairs & railings.  This process is VERY labour intensive and can take up a few days due to the time it takes for some materials to cure.  Probably the most important step and the one that takes the longest is the preparation of the materials.  Sanding & taping take lots of time however they are key if you want a consistent and beautiful finish. Stains and clear coats can be either sprayed or manually applied, both have their pros and cons.

It is very important that you do not look over this step as protecting your investment is very important.  A poor finish can ruin a project, we have seen it many times.  PLAN PLAN PLAN!  We offer professional finishing services here at Stairhaus, let us help you protect your stairs & railings.

Really Cool Stairs #8 - Cantilevered Stairs

These stairs are personally my favorite.  I love their clean looks and ultra-modern presence.  The last 2 pictures in the gallery show how these stairs are designed and what is hidden behind the walls which gives the stair its strength.  These stairs are expensive but in my opinion, pieces of art!

Really Cool Stairs #7 - Wild Newel Posts

Check out these works of art!  The newel post, or railing post as most people call them, are responsible for all of your railings strength.  There are many flashy ways to customize the posts you have in your house, it all really comes down to budget.

Below are some wild examples of workmanship and creativity.  Here at Stairhaus, we are capable of replicating anything  you throw at us.  Check these cool posts out!

Stair Lighting - Plan Ahead!

Add lighting to your stairs?  No problem!  Installing lights in your stairs not only makes them look cool, it will also make them a whole lot safer when using them at night.   Technology in the LED market has opened up many doors with respect to the lighting options you now have.  The lights are low voltage, very bright and indiscreet. 

If you want to incorporate lighting in your stair & railing project, it is important you plan well in advance.  We are not electricians so the electrical rough-in's would need to be completed prior and would need to be installed in the correct locations (we will do all of the planning for you).  Lights are commonly installed on the walls, risers and tread overhangs.  We are capable of hiding all the wire and making the lights nearly invisible until you turn them on.

Take a look at a few options in the pics below.  Lights are a great addition to a stair & railing project, definitely something worth considering when planning out a build or renovation.

Really Cool Stairs #6 - The "Fun" Edition

This #blog entry is dedicated to stairs that are quirky and fun.  Generally designed around what kids think are cool, a few of these stairs definitely make going "down" really fun.  I think the slides will start anyone's day off on the right foot!

What is a Kiln?

• Woodworking: when wood is used as a construction material, whether as a structural support in a building or in woodworking objects, it will absorb or desorb moisture until it is in equilibrium with its surroundings. Equilibration (usually drying) causes unequal shrinkage in the wood, and can cause damage to the wood if equilibration occurs too rapidly. The equilibration must be controlled to prevent damage to the wood.
• Wood burning: when wood is burned, it is usually best to dry it first. Damage from shrinkage is not a problem here, and the drying may proceed more rapidly than in the case of drying for woodworking purposes. Moisture affects the burning process, with unburnt hydrocarbons going up the chimney. If a 50% wet log is burnt at high temperature, with good heat extraction from the exhaust gas leading to a 100 °C exhaust temperature, about 5% of the energy of the log is wasted through evaporating and heating the water vapour. With condensers, the efficiency can be further increased; but, for the normal stove, the key to burning wet wood is to burn it very hot, perhaps starting fire with dry wood. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_drying)

ALL of the material we buy here at #stairhaus is kiln dried.  The removal of moisture is controlled and we end up with a much more stable material.  Even our barn board is kiln dried as most of our competitors in that market sell it slightly air dried or green.  It is important to understand this process so you can appreciate all the steps it takes to get a beautiful piece of wood.

*click on the pictures below to view a few different styles of wood kilns

Really Cool Stairs #5 - Circular Stair Edition

Most people walk up and down their carpet grade circular in their home every day and not think much about it.  Did you know it takes nearly 3-4x longer to build a circular over a standard straight set of stairs?  We love building circulars however they seem to be less and less popular as the typical 2 storey homes are being replaced with larger bungalows. 

A circular stair takes up more room however definitely makes a statement when you first walk into a house.  Here at Stairhaus, we are fully capable of designing and building virtually any circular you throw at us.  Whether its curved nosing & railing or the  traditional "Scarlett O'Hara" sweeping double circulars, let us make this happen for you!

*Click on the pictures below to move to the next one

What's In Style? Steel Spindles!

Out with the old, in with the new!  Everyone remembers the twisted, solid steel spindles in your parents house back in the 70's, 80's and 90's right?  The top "railing" was that gaudy gold vinyl and the spindles were traditionally twisted flat black or painted white with gold "accents".  YUCK!

Well wipe that stigma from your mind!  Bezdan, our steel spindle supplier, has modernized the entire steel spindle market by offering sleek, clean and light weight new products.  These new spindles offer transparency to your home while keeping a clean modern look.  Here at Stairhaus, we currently install 9/10 homes in Bezdan spindles.  This look is timeless and they will give your home an entirely new feel.

Bezdan is a Canadian based company located in Burnaby, BC.  They have an Ontario warehouse, typically guaranteeing us orders within 24hrs to our door.  We know what the other companies offer and it was an easy decision to deal with this company.  Their quality and customer service is second to none.

Take a minute to browse their site as they offer many other products which are in line with their steel spindle product line.  Whether it be glass fittings or steel cable, Bezdan makes sure we have the materials to get the job done.

In this picture: Stainless Steel Tube Spindles 1-1/2 x 1/2 (Rectangular)

In this picture: TL12X-30 and the TL102X-1-30 in Satin Black

Create your own pattern with the wide variety of spindles Bezdan offers.

Really Cool Stairs #4 - Glass Stair Edition

How cool are these stairs? These might not be for everyone however I think they are masterpieces! It is pretty incredible what you can do with glass!

Enjoy!