Columns can really bring out the room some if positioned correctly, as they can line a doorway or just be a corner piece. These columns don’t have to be made out of heavy materials such as wood or marble either, they can be the lightest thing to deal with when made from architectural foam.
Are you thinking of adding crown molding in your home? MDF is a great budget-friendly molding option that works well in rooms where you plan on painting the molding. If you want to stain it, though, look into solid wood.
Superior water- and UV-resistance composite decking is ideal for building docks, boardwalks and other waterfront structures. It preserves its great look, is low maintenance and can have a slip-resistant finish which is a useful quality for surfaces that are often wet.
Foam building products are considered the chameleons of the building industry. That's because they can mimic the look of materials like wood, stucco or stone at a fraction of the weight, labor and price.
A gypsum plaster finish usually comes after a brick or block wall is finished and goes on rough (textured), smooth, or painted. A smooth plaster of Paris finish will precede a painting or distempering of the wall; in this way, the best gypsum wall finishes are a two-step process.
When aluminum is extracted from bauxite, the byproducts do not go to waste. The residual alumina is used in a range of manufactured goods ranging from laundry detergents to ceramics such as dentures to fluorescent light bulbs.
The bar has been set pretty high when it comes to the world’s tallest building. Construction teams started laying the foundation for the Burj Khalifa in 2004 and finally topped of the world’s tallest manmade structure in 2010 with a final height of 828 meters, around 2700 feet.
Weather-resistant barriers that are applied by spray or roller dry to form an acrylic membrane that prevents water penetration from rain or condensation. Though vapor-permeable, it will protect wood and other materials from water damage.
Composite planking can be made from different combinations of wood, plastic, and cement. They are as sturdy and reliable as traditional materials and many have fewer maintenance requirements.
When choosing lumber, there are two main kinds: hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods come from deciduous trees and have a variety of options like oak and cherry. Softwoods come from evergreens like pine and cedar, but have fewer options than hardwood.
Did you know that treating concrete and other building materials can make the building more energy efficient? The right additives can lower the thermal conductivity of the materials, and reduce heat loss due to the evaporation of water absorbed by the materials.
Landscaping bark is made of hardwood or softwood tree chips and is often used as a high-quality mulch material around tree, shrub, and flowerbed areas. Landscape bark is excellent at maintaining soil moisture and moderate soil temperature as well as suppressing weed growth.
One of the new areas of aggregate development is in geosynthetic aggregates. These are often made out of recycled plastic such as polystyrene. Instead of sending the plastic to landfills, it is melted, mixed, and expanded into low-density aggregate.
There is a difference between substitute building materials from an earlier age, and modern products. The older school consisted of the traditional materials such as wood, stone, concrete, and cast metals. Modern substitute materials are polymers, fiberglass, and other synthetics.
Did you know that 20% of the aluminum manufactured in the world today is used for construction? Aluminum's physical properties, like strength, flexibility, resistance to weather, and inability to rust make it ideal for building, which is why most new building projects use it in greater or lesser degree.
Most of the preservatives used in pressure-treated wood are waterborne, creosote, or oil-borne preservatives. When you’re using marine lumber, creosote preservatives are the most common type that’s used, but some marine lumber is treated with waterborne preservatives.
Bark, sawdust, and wood chip mulches are very similar in their wood base and have a pleasant appearance. These mulches offer good summer and winter month insulation and decent aeration qualities.
When pockets of air get trapped underneath layers of plaster, it creates small holes commonly known in the industry as bugholes. These tiny holes have the ability to compromise plaster’s structural integrity.
Did you know that due to the natural characteristics of brick, matching brick color is not easy and can sometimes be downright impossible? It’s recommended that you always buy enough to complete your project and even extra to allow for breakage or unforeseen circumstances.
It’s not that hard to miss a construction site when you’re driving down the road, but some sites that actually are top secret. During the building of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, the final height of the tower was kept secret. However, the height was leaked, causing the planners to add 20 more feet to the final height.
Taking on a new type of construction project can be an excellent way to grow and expand your business into new areas. If you’re not quite sure what materials and supplies you’ll need for the job, we may be able to help you.
You actually have a wide variety of choices when it comes to retaining walls. You can use natural stone, brick, or cement blocks, then build them with mortar or as a stack wall. Whatever you choose, landscape supply stores are the best place to get what you need.
How do you install architectural foam elements? It depends on the specific application, but in most instances decorative elements can be attached to brick, block, drywall, siding, stone, stucco or wood using high strength construction adhesives.
Did you know that plaster of Paris, the material used in making casts and molds, is called such because it was originally made from the gypsum deposits in Montmartre, in Paris, France?
Buildings are only as good as their foundations, and with any restoration project, the first thing to check is the foundation of the structure. If there are problems, they must be addressed first in order to make sure the building is sturdy and safe.
While sheet piling has been made out of a variety of different materials in the past, vinyl sheet piling is becoming more and more popular in marine applications. If you’re unsure whether it’s right for your application, a marine construction supplier can help you decide.
Plaster is a highly porous material. If you want to apply paint to your plaster walls, you will need to have the plaster sealed and primed before applying the paint.
One of the great reasons to use a polyurethane adhesive is how quickly it develops "green strength." The means the adhesive quickly develops an initial bond while it cures fully, so there's less time spent clamping and holding the materials in place.
Wondering why you should go to a landscape supply store instead of a hardware store? It’s usually a question of volume. Hardware stores often sell supplies like gravel or mulch in bags, while landscape supply stores will sell it in bulk.
Some of the earliest forms of paver stones were quite common during the Roman Republic, during which the Romans created roads with deep beds of crushed stone and top layers that included six-sided capstones to expedite the transportation of their troops.
Pea gravel is made of small round rocks that are comparable to the size of a pea, hence the name. Pea gravel is best used as a filler between flat rock stones like flagstone. It is also good for pathways and patios.
The products used to clean concrete are just as important as those used during mixing and construction are. The wrong chemicals will react with the concrete, breaking it down and compromising its structural integrity. We will direct you to the correct product for the job being performed.
If you are looking to streamline your concrete hardening/densifying process, then a silica hardener is probably your best bet. Silicas require less labor overall, and since they produce no hazardous waste, the cleanup is much more simple.
Setting proper client expectations can be the best way to ensure they’re happy with the finished product after construction. Since some variation in stamped concrete patterns can be natural, it’s always best to prepare them for this up front.
Do you ever feel like you’d be able to handle more landscaping work on your property if only you had a vehicle capable of transporting all the materials you’ll need? Let’s talk about the materials you need and whether we can help you get everything you need on your property.
Did you know the Romans were the first to use concrete as a building material? It became a popular material to use throughout the Empire. The Coliseum, in fact, is mostly made of concrete.
Planning to add a lot of gravel to your landscape? Don’t forget the landscape fabric. This fabric goes down on the ground underneath the gravel. Not only does it help to suppress weeds and prevent their growth, but it also allows helps keep the gravel from sinking into the ground.
Masonry units are pest resistant! They are also impervious to mold, reducing the need for harmful chemical treatments in the future. The beauty of concrete masonry continues through the years without jeopardizing the environment!
The use of stucco has a number of benefits. Two examples of these benefits are the durability and weather resistance that stucco can provide.
Not only is wood siding natural, attractive, and environmentally friendly, but it is also highly versatile in terms of style as well. Multiple styles are available, including clapboard, shingles, shakes, and vertical board siding
If you’re thinking of using granite in an outdoor kitchen setting, there are different finishes (besides the familiar high polish finish used for indoor countertops) that may be appropriate. This includes a leathered finish that results in a matte look or a brushed finish that gives the top a rougher surface.
Though marine-grade plywood is a type of exterior-grade plywood, not all exterior-grade plywoods are marine-grade. All exterior-grade plywood uses water-resistant glue, but some types have voids and gaps on the interior layers that are not present in marine-grade plywood.
There was a time in the 1950s when aluminum siding was all the rage. If yours is one of the houses with this material, finding replacement panels or corner caps can be difficult. Fortunately, we can produce the sections that you need.
If your home has a basement, you’re probably no stranger to flooding, leaks and water damage. If you’re ready to take control of your home, we can help you find the waterproofing supplies you need.
The size of your new addition can be whatever you desire – from a small balcony to a swimming pool enclosure. The advantage of working with aluminum is its adaptability as a building material, as It can be configured to meet any project specifications.
When it's dry, the gargoyles on the side of buildings like cathedrals looks like they're laughing or roaring, but when rain comes it's a different story. These gargoyles are often part of the gutter systems, and are decorations for the end of water spouts.
The type of concrete sealer you want is going to depend on the material you are looking to seal and protect, whether is concrete (pavers, stamped, decorative), clay brick, cinder block, or epoxy stones.
Vinyl sheet piling is popular for many different reasons. One of them is the fact that vinyl can maintain its beautiful appearance over time. It is well-known that wood will eventually fade but vinyl has a consistency that is hard to beat.
Did you know that aluminum can still maintain its reflective silver color even when ground into a fine powder? This very rare quality is one reason why aluminum powder is a preferred ingredient in mirror finish powder coatings and silvery paints.
Marine borers are small mollusks or crustaceans that live in the ocean, and their primary source of sustenance is wood. This is one of the main reasons why wood is rarely used to construct seawalls these days and why vinyl sheet piling has become so popular.
Concrete is an excellent material for sinks and countertops. It provides the same performance as stone and solid-surface synthetics at comparable prices, but it offers a wider variety of colors, patterns, and thicknesses.
Contrary to what many may think, cementitious does not refer to cement content. Rather, both the ASTM and the UL define it as wet-mixed fireproofing materials that are subsequently pumped as slurry during construction.
OSB (oriented strand board) is glued and pressed like particle board, but it's made from larger pieces of wood. The strands are reversed for each layer to make it stronger. OSB can be used as a substitute for C-D grade plywood.
Several new waterproofing formulas are designed specifically for emergency applications. They can be applied with minimal surface preparation, in falling rain, through standing puddles of water, and in temperatures as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Concrete is an excellent material for sinks and countertops. It provides the same performance as stone and solid-surface synthetics at comparable prices, but it offers a wider variety of colors, patterns, and thicknesses.
Contrary to what many may think, cementitious does not refer to cement content. Rather, both the ASTM and the UL define it as wet-mixed fireproofing materials that are subsequently pumped as slurry during construction.
