Archive for September, 2009


Landscape Design Plans To Help Set the Scene

Filed Under: Landscaping
Sep.30, 2009

When it comes to surroundings and scenery, who wouldn’t like to customize what they see whether they wander it or sit back and relax in it? Some like the scenery that is just them, while others like to blend in with their scenery. It’s a matter of preference. Landscape plans can give many a step closer to whatever their desires in this area.

You find a time in your life when you consider changing your landscape, and may even look for outside ideas that can get you there faster. Landscape plans can bring you somewhere between your complete landscaping picture, and at least good ideas sooner. As with anything significant though always remember to take all the time you need in deciding.

So what’s in a landscape? That’s a tough question as the number of answers is at least a multiple of the number of people asking. Everyone has their own views, and so do you. Taking your time looking no matter what your end goals are; will definitely bring you many great images closer to what you want.

Some of the basics you will find in nearly all landscape plans are vegetation, and structures that will accentuate them. Keep in mind the best landscapes look great from midnight, sunup, noon, late in the afternoon, sundown, and beyond! These are among the views you will want to see in your endeavors.

There are many that have carried out extensive landscaping projects. Many of them are professional landscapers that have a lot of the knowledge on how to put it all together. Their experiences are often found in a wide variety of settings including home improvements, gardening, farming, building, and other construction related fields. They should not only have a good eye for what will improve a landscape, but also often know exactly what needs to be done to make it so.

Many of the sources for landscape plans come from these professionals, however there are many other do it yourselfers with experience and plans out there as well. Just about anything that can be done has come out with much more information anymore as a result of mass communication. With this you may be able to get closer to what you want with less time and effort.

Though don’t look for one immediate answer in landscape plans that puts the picture you want together overnight. Actually long after you will still be finding yet more ideas that improve the image you desire. Take your time and put significant effort in, and you will find your dream landscape.

One good source for more landscaping ideas, plans, and pictures is where you found this article. Among them there should be many views for you to mold your own from. Take your time to look at these resources and the links elsewhere that they can bring you.

What you can expect to find are many topics of gardening, building, and cosmetics that will accentuate the beauty, while neatly storing the necessary things (such as your yard tools, maintenance supplies, etc…). Among these you should be able to find a vivid look that will indeed be great whether day or night.

If you are seeking your own landscaping you will realize though that all the resources in the world, won’t add up to the exact picture of your own. While they can assist you greatly in setting your scene, your scene will be unique to itself, and only you can make the final decisions as to what will make it the greatest. Take your time and you will indeed have many great views over a long time to remember it by.

In the end, you want something. It doesn’t matter what you want the images for, you deserve to have the best resources at your hands to come by it with. Landscape plans can be a very useful part of this.

For more landscape design plans check out Landscapes and Landscaping

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Landscaping Tips – Hiring The Right Landscaper

Filed Under: Landscaping
Sep.29, 2009

Although we live in a do-it-yourself culture, there are sometimes when it pays to hire a professional. Landscaping can be a perfect example of this. A quality landscaper will have equipment, know how, design skills, and talents to transform your property into a living show piece.

Landscaping can be complicated and labor intensive. It can require specialized tools and equipment. Landscaping is also an art, and the experts have a strong understanding of good design, composition and aesthetics that allows them to make the most of any piece of land. Professional landscapers also possess voluminous knowledge about various plants, grasses and trees that assists them in making the best possible decisions for any given job.

Try as we might, we can’t, as amateurs, produce the breathtaking results that a professional landscaper can. Thus, if we need serious landscaping help, it makes sense to call in the expert. That part of the decision calculus is relatively easy. Once we decide to hire a pro, however, another question emerges: how can we choose the right landscaper. Let’s look at a few helpful hints that can point those in need of professional landscaping assistance in the right direction.

First, don’t let cost make your decision. We have a natural inclination toward bargain hunting, but the old maxim “you get what you pay for” is often true. A cut-rate provider may keep your wallet thick, but the grass could turn out thin and brown. Cost is always a consideration, but one should not compromise the integrity of their landscaping project in order to save a few dollars.

Second, ask for reference and then take a look. Get references from prospective landscapers and then take the time to actually follow up on them. Take a personal look at their handiwork and see what you think about the quality of their efforts. Talk to former customers about the landscaper’s ability to get work done on time and other important considerations. Your landscaper will be making potentially permanent changes to your property. Take the extra effort required to make sure those changes will be positive.

Third, call appropriate agencies. Check with the Better Business Bureau and other consumer watch dogs and find out whether the landscaper in question has been the subject of any complaints or valid criticisms. This is not a foolproof way to weed out sub par options, but if you find that a prospective contractor is a magnet for consumer complaints, it only makes sense to think twice before hiring them.

Fourth, talk about the project. Before making a decision, spend time on the property discussing the project with the landscaper. Get a feel for his or her vision of the project and find out whether or not he or she is receptive to your ideas and capable of meeting your specific needs. The fact that a landscaper did a wonderful job on a modern commercial property doesn’t necessarily demonstrate an ability to handle the yard of your restored Victorian home, after all. Make sure you have found the right person for the job.

Following these recommendations won’t necessarily guarantee landscaping success, but doing so will improve your odds of hiring the right landscaper considerably. Remember not to cut corners, to check references, to consult with consumer agencies, and to have a meaningful discussion or two about the project in order to assess whether a specific landscaper is the right person for the job.

Landscaping may not always be a do-it-yourself project, but that doesn’t mean you have to rely on the first professional you find in the Yellow Pages. Take the time to find the right landscaper for you!

Free landscaping ideas & 2,183 landscaping pictures be sure to visit http://www.landscapingideasonline.com . It’s the website landscaping contractors & homeowners use to get landscape design ideas – by Brad Palmer.

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5 Key Steps to Build Your Dream House

Filed Under: House Plans
Sep.28, 2009

So you want to build a new home! You can join the multitudes of those that already have built their dream house and now enjoy living in it. Your dream is not beyond reach. Here are 5 steps that now stand between you and a completed dream house for you and your family. Follow them and you will be able to see your dream home become a reality.

1. Plan how much money you are going to need for the project.

First, you need to set a budget and then stick with it if at all possible. You do not want too many surprising costs, so this is very important. You may want to include some kind of cost guarantees in your contract.

2. Find the property where you are going to build your dream house.

This will give you a piece of real estate to put your dream house on. A lender will also require it before you get any money for a construction loan. Find out if you can get a guarantee from the lender to have your construction loan converted to a mortgage later. This could save you a lot of money in closing costs later on.

3. Get a set of house plans drawn.

Sit down and sketch an idea of what the house plan is going to look like. Also write down some features you want to go into your dream house. Here is where you have a choice. You can either contact an architectural drafter, a home designer, or, you can even learn to draw your own house plans, which is by far the least expensive way to go.

4. Put your floor plans out for bids.

Once your house plans are completed, place an ad in a local newspaper or call different builders in your area to get a copy of your blueprints so that they can place bids on your new home. You will want to get at least three bids before you choose one, and be sure to check on the reputation of the builder, too, before you sign any agreements.

5. Get everything put in a contract.

If you make changes during construction, which is common, make sure there is one set of plans that is to be used as the master plan and that both you and the builder should note and initial each and every one of those changes. That way, at the end of the job, there should not be any surprises or hidden costs.

These 5 steps will definitely help you to get started in the right direction on getting your new dream home built. Take your time and do it right, and your custom dream home will give you joy for many years to come.

By Mike Valles, a freelance writer. Learn how to draw your own house plans from an architectural designer with 22+ years of experience. He has been a draftsman since 1975 who has completed over 600 residential drawings and teaches architectural drafting online at http://www.houseplandrafting101.net

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Do You Want to Draw Your Own House Plan?

Filed Under: House Plans
Sep.27, 2009

Great idea, it sure saves money. Also eliminates the middle man. Those architects and designers can get expensive. I’ve heard that some designers can charge up to ten dollars per square foot for simple drawings containing a floor plan and exterior elevations. Now that is a chunk of change. If you are going to do it for yourself, you’re going to need to know how. Below are just some of the things needed to know to draw a simple ranch style home.

So what do you need to know to draw your own house plan?

1. You need to know how to lay out your Floor Plan. The floor plan is the template for your entire set of drawings. From the floor plan show where we want our electrical, tell how big our rooms are, note our window and door sizes, etc., so this is where we have to begin. Sure you could start with the exterior views but that would limit our interior of the home to what the outside looks like. Not a good idea! The house needs to be functional first and look pretty second out of necessity.

2. You need to understand the mechanics of a well designed kitchen. A kitchen is a place where the homemaker spends a majority of their time. It needs to be comfortable but functional. This area consists of a Sink area, Cooking area, & Food storage area. The best layout for a kitchen is one in which the least steps are taken to reach each appliance. This is called the working area or working triangle. A good working triangle doesn’t exceed 12 to 14 feet all the way around.

3. The builder of the home would sure appreciate knowing where the walls, windows, & doors are located exactly. They would also like knowing door and window sizes, not to mention anything else special that is on the plan. That’s where the dimensions and notes come in handy. You need to be able to create a dimensional string and groups of notes that are not confusing.

4. The Electrical Plan is very important to you as it gives you the opportunity to customize the home to your power and comfort needs! On the other hand, it is not always needed. What I mean by this is that any electrician who has taken a test for his or her license knows what is required electrical service by code. Chances are that they have already wired quite a few residences and barring any special needs or preferences can do the job without this plan. Always be aware though! Certain states require that you be a licensed Architect or Electrical Engineer to do Electrical plans. Be sure to check with your local building inspector to see what your limitations are! This will definitely save you some headaches down the road.

5. In standard construction, at least in the South Eastern United States, houses are built on Masonry Foundations or Basements. A foundation is the part of the home that anchors it to or keeps it from settling into the ground. This knowledge is a must in completing your plans.

6. What about how the exterior is going to look? It is no small matter if you are wanting to convey the idea of how the finished product is going to look when construction is complete. What is it going look like when its built? How to determine the best roof pitch, do we use brick, siding or rock?

7. Folks, I defiantly don’t believe in mind reading! Neither does to typical contractor! If there is anything special you are wanting to build into your house, how is the builder to know unless you show them? You can make all the notes you want to on your plans and elevations but the message of how you want the house constructed may not always come across. That’s why you need to understand how to draw details.

8. Then there is the task of finishing your drawings and not letting goofs and slip-ups get out the door. You need to understand the most common mistakes made by people who draw house plans so you can look out for them!

9. Last but not least in drawing your house plans is to know how to print them out and in what format and size.

My name is Tim Davis and I draw architectural plans for a living. I know what I’m talking about. I teach others how to draw house plans in a virtual classroom on the internet called House Plan Drafting 101 at http://houseplandrafting101.com – I also teach Architectural Blueprint Reading at http://blueprints.8m.com

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Things To Consider When Choosing House Blueprints

Filed Under: House Plans, Uncategorized
Sep.26, 2009

When planning a house the size of the family and the size of your budget are two very important considerations to keep in mind.

Size of the family

The number and size of rooms needed in a house depend largely on the size of the family and the manner in which they are accustomed to living. In some parts of the world, a room 8′ square is considered adequate for most purposes, and two or three such rooms make a complete livable house. Much depends on one’s style of living-and what the neighbors have is sometimes a consideration.

The types of activity that are interesting to a family will determine to a large extent the size of the room needed. If your favorite indoor sport is to read the newspaper, you do not need a very large room. You need even less space in which to read a magazine or book. A real bibliophile, however, needs a lot of shelves in which to keep his voluminous library. If you like to entertain with large parties, you will need a large beautiful living room.

In this country every young couple wants a house that is exclusively its own. In many places of the world, a family is likely to include what we would call several families, including grandparents and several married children and their offspring. With a house for only two people, perhaps we can get along with a moderate amount of space.

It is a mistake to build a house with only one bedroom, even for a couple without children who seldom have overnight guests, as such a house is hard to finance and is often difficult to sell. Select a lot where all the houses are approximately in the price class as the house that you want. Sometimes it is all right to build a little below your neighborhood if you are sure to make the house especially attractive in appearance.

The Building Budget

Most of us have to be careful to keep the cost within a certain limited budget, and sometimes it seems very limited indeed. But that is not always the handicap that it may seem. If there were no limit to the cost, we might get such a monstrous house with so many rooms and so many fine things we could not half care for them and would be worn out with so much housework.

To keep the taxes as low as possible, do not let the house get too large, but do not on this account cramp your rooms too much. Have the living space you need and can use to advantage, but do not go too much beyond this just to impress the neighbors. What a person wants is happy and carefree living.

The budget limit requires us to do more careful planning, to use our space wisely. Of course, the actual number of square feet in a house is not a true measure of its cost. The things you put into a house are what actually determines the cost. You can keep a house warm with a $500 heating system or with one that costs $3,000. You can get a fireplace for $400, or you can spend $1,500 if you wish to do so. There are many qualities of nearly all building materials and furnishings. We have to balance the space we need with the quality we can afford. A smaller house of better quality is usually to be preferred to a large house built in the cheapest possible manner.

Houses are costing anywhere from $8 to $20 a square foot, depending on where they are and how they are built. I know of a good warehouse that was built recently for less than $3 a square foot, and it is a good substantial building. The cost is not so much for enclosing the space as it is for what is put into that space. Plan your house with your family size and your budget in mind and you will get the house which will suit you.

Would You Like More Information On House Blueprints?

I’ve Got Loads Of Great Ideas And Expert Advice To Help You Choose The Right House Blueprints.

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Energy Saving Strategies – How the Homeowner Can Use Less Energy

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency
Sep.25, 2009

With the price of oil hitting new all-time highs on a nearly daily basis, naturally the news has focused on our need to get off our oil dependence and seek alternative fuels. Every means of alternative, environmentally friendlier energy generation is back on the table: from wind and solar, to geothermal and hydroelectric. Cars are coming off production lines that go further on each gallon of gasoline than ever before and the electric and fuel-cell cars are on the horizon. Meanwhile the debate rages on about whether the United States should join the rest of the world as all fossil fuels are sought out in progressively more remote locations around the globe in an attempt to fill the demand gap until the alternative energy sources can fully come online and mass distributed.

It would seem that the focus of energy efficiency in the national news has been on the sources of energy and not the sinks–the end users. Electric companies, though, are not forgetting about their customer base. Utilities across the country are asking for customers to voluntarily yield certain controls to the power companies via “smart meters” and other control devices. With the promise of a lower electric bill, customers give the power company the ability to turn off certain appliances, control their thermostat, and shut down their computer. Additionally, these “smart meters” are also able to measure the little-known aspect of energy supply called the “power factor,” and allows the utility to charge more when it is not within acceptable parameters.

Aside from reducing their standard of living and being miserly with their light and appliance usage, alternatives for the common citizen to reduce energy consumption are in home improvements:

  • Placing solar panels on your roof may look unsightly to some; however, you may be selling some electricity back to the power company while you are at work. Tax advantages and credits may be available as an incentive though sometimes the math can be misleading. Often, calculations include the tax deductions you can take by paying for the solar panels using a home equity loan, causing you to pay more in interest and getting some back as a tax deduction. Funny may leads to a longer period of time to wait before the initial investment is returned as savings.
  • For those with available land, a windmill is an option provided the land lies beneath some strong trade winds. The benefits and drawbacks of wind energy are similar to those of solar energy: the financials only work in certain circumstances and the effectiveness is determined by the weather.
  • Updating the lighting around the home to compact fluorescent lights will save a considerable amount of energy and money. The cost to make the switch is relatively low, compared to other energy saving opportunities. The caution that is typically raised regarding these lights is that they contain mercury, a dangerous material should the light ever break, and there are questions related to the use of florescent lights and possible links to health issues such as autism. With careful handling and grown children, florescent lights remain an excellent means to energy reduction.
  • Improving the insulation in the attic can result in savings in your home heating and cooling efforts. The insulation in older houses especially should be inspected for effectiveness. Often, an older home will benefit greatly from the advances in insulation technology.
  • Unlike the “smart meters” that the electric companies are installing, a home energy controller has the potential to significantly reduce the draw of power to a home by optimizing the power factor. In so doing, reductions of 8-15% are common with far better, more atypical, results reported. With the costs of such devices rarely exceeding a few hundred dollars, it requires no “government math” to show affordability and the savings from using such a device generally pays for itself in a few years, less if the “smart meter” is already assessing a surcharge due to a low power factor.

Regardless of the means with which the common citizen will reduce their energy usage or the reasons for which they do so, the cost of energy is unlikely to lessen in the near future. Until the “magic bullet” is found–meaning, until a clean, limitless, portable source of energy is discovered, those who are able will make efforts to curb their energy consumption on a voluntary basis whenever possible. The question is: will you act now or when action becomes compulsory?

For more information on energy controllers and how they can save you 8-15% on your home electric bill and 15-25% on your business electric bill, visit http://www.covingtonenergy.com

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Cheap Solar Panels – How to Find a Cheaper Solar Panel

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency
Sep.24, 2009

Figuring out where to find cheap solar panels was very important to us since we were depending on them to provide most of our power needs. Now, when I talk about cheap solar panels I don’t mean poor quality- only cheap in the form of inexpensive. Nobody wants poor quality materials where the power needs of your home are concerned.

What were we looking for?

- Price per watt of solar panels of around $3

- Inexpensive, cheap solar panels

- High quality ones to buy

We set out to solve the problem in the only way we knew how to, we started gathering information.

First off we started looking at manufacturer pricing so we could determine what a good price was. We were looking for about 3000 watts of production power so that was about 30 panels of 100 watts (quite a few).

What we discovered first was that the larger the production output of each individual one usually means a better price. We could buy solar panels with 180 watts of output for a better price than 100 watt panels when we compared the price per watt. So the first lesson learned in our search was to buy the largest ones possible.

We also discovered some real glaring differences in price between many of the manufacturers. Price per watt was our deciding criteria so we kept looking and finally settled on three possible choices. Make sure you shop around when looking for cheap solar panels.

Another idea you might want to investigate is becoming a dealer of solar panels. You usually won’t find a better price on solar panels than if you buy them wholesale. Most companies off incentives of 10 to 30% discounts on pricing for their dealers. Of course they won’t let you just buy a couple solar panels at a discount though.

Most have a set minimum limit usually in the $5000 range that you have to spend to become a dealer and qualify for the discount. Now that’s not a big problem since you will probably be spending that anyways on your own renewable energy system.

The best way to sell something is to own it too. Who knows, you just might sell some to interested visitors… and you will have a few of those.

Perhaps you want the ultimate in cheap solar panels, how about free? That’s right free.

With a bit of time and some persistence you can find many different forms of solar panels from cheap to free. Just keep looking, cheap solar panels are all around, you just need to know where to look.

Do you want more information on cheap solar panels?

Cheap Solar Panels can be found in many different places.

Our family began living off the grid in 2001 and we have never looked back. Finding cheap or even free solar panels is very important because the more solar panels you have the more power output your home has. Find cheap or even free solar panels helps us immensely increase our power output.

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How Home Solar Power Systems Work

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency
Sep.23, 2009

There are a few ways to use the Sun’s energy to create home solar power systems. They can be categorized as passive and direct systems. Passive systems have been use for thousands of years and the inspiration behind such systems was probably the fact that our ancestors felt hot in the Sun. From this point they realized that the heat from the Sun can make water hot, cook food, dry clay bricks and countless other applications. Today there are systems that can passively heat the home living areas and the water used in the home. This article will not cover these topics but focus on the direct use of the Sun to create electricity for use in the home.

In terms of the use of solar energy, creating electricity from sunlight is a relatively new innovation. The technology needed to create electricity from sunlight was first developed to a commercially viable standard in the 1950′s. It is known as the photovoltaic (PV) cell. A PV cell is made of a silicon compound that reacts when photons from sunlight strike it. This reaction causes an electron from the silicon atom to be thrown loose. When a number of PV cells are linked together in a serial configuration, the electrons flow to a positive charge creating an electrical current.

A number of PV cells in a serial configuration is known as a solar module. When numerous solar modules are linked together in either a parallel or serial configuration they are known as a solar panel.

Solar panels are the devices that you may have seen on the roofs of houses in your neighborhood. They can be placed elsewhere, but the roof is often the most sensible place as it is likely to get exposed to direct sunlight and the panels can’t be damaged or vandalized as easily or take up room in the yard.

The solar panels create direct current (DC) electricity. This is often pushed through a power inverter. The inverter converts DC to alternating current (AC). AC is used in the home to power most appliances.

An electrical service panel or breaker box then distributes the AC to various electrical points in the house or to the lighting system. A utility meter manages your electricity usage if you are connected to the grid.

For instance, if it is during the day when the sunlight is at its strongest, most electricity will be produced. If this coincides with you being at work the chances are you won’t be using any of this solar generated power. Thus the meter may go backwards. This is effectively giving you credit for the electricity that you are creating with your home solar power system.

Your home solar power system can be connected to the grid as described above or it can be off grid. On the grid or grid tied (also known as a net metering system) is a way to make money with your solar panels. Many utility companies have their own set of rules governing this arrangement so you need to check with the company you are using beforehand. Many states have laws that dictate how the net metering system should work and what guidelines the companies should follow.

A true off grid system means you are not connected to a reliable power supply so you have the responsibility of creating your own energy. The primary source can be solar panels but there should always be a back up system in case you use more energy than you expected or the Sun doesn’t shine as much.

Many people will have a fuel powered generator for this purpose. People more interested in renewable power sources might go for a wind power generator or some other renewable system. Another aspect of an off the grid system is that DC needs to be stored in a battery bank for use at night or when the Sun is not shining. This is another responsibility and space has to be found on the property to securely house the batteries.

Most people start with a grid tied system as it is easier to use and there is less responsibility. As you gain more experience you may think about going off the grid. This form of home solar power system will save you money on monthly utility bills but more work to run and maintain.

Learn more about how do solar panels work and how a solar power AC inverter system works in a home solar power system at http://www.solarpowerappliances.com Adrian Whittle writes about using solar power and appliances that can utilize renewable energy sources.

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How To Build A Barbecue For Under $1

Filed Under: DYI
Sep.22, 2009

I went into my local garden centre recently to find that the whole place have been completely re-vamped and a massive area dedicated to barbecues and smokers. What did this tell me?……..Two things:-

1. Barbecue grills and outdoor smokers continue to become more popular recreational equipment.
2. There’s money to be made!

Let’s face it; the smartest “in your face” displays have got to be for the products that carry the biggest margins, right? Having spoken to the manager I think maybe it’s the accessories where a killing can be made but whatever the case, you can quite easily spend a serious amount of cash on a new barbecue grill and that will be completely wasted money if you buy the wrong thing.

Consider the situation twenty odd years ago before modern manufacturing techniques, globalisation and low cost country sourcing, the situation was even worse for someone with no income and lots of leisure time (you guessed it, I was a student!). CD’s had just appeared on the music shelves (a big drain on cash compared to vinyl), I don’t think the word download was in our vocabulary and certainly the thought of getting free barbecue recipes off the internet could be nothing more than a dream.

I was doing what students do best – having one long party! But the opportunity to have a barbecue party was nil because we simply couldn’t afford to buy a barbecue, and to a confirmed outdoor cooking enthusiast. It was at this point that I decided to build my homemade brick barbecue out of 16 second hand bricks and two cake cooling trays.

Not only is this a great low cost introduction to charcoal barbecue grills it’s also a wonderfully portable system too. Simply lay 8 bricks on the ground in two rows of four to make a square. On two sides place 2 bricks (on their sides) and place another 2 bricks on top so that in cross section you’ve now got a U shape. Throw the charcoal on the brick base a span two cake cooling grids across the top and there you have it.

The cake cooling trays are really cheap in the supermarket and (as a true student has to) the bricks were acquired one night from a local housing development. So with the barbecue complete, how did I get hold of some good free BBQ recipes?
Well that’s where it all started to fall apart and a process of enthusiastic trial and error began. I’m pleased to say that those early formative years have paid off handsomely; all my friends still love my outdoor cooking and so much so that BBQ smoker recipes.com was born to document mine and my friends’ tasty creations.

If you do give the low cost barbecue a try, notice how the bricks heat up and create an “all round” heat. Not only is it cheap, it’s actually very effective too!

Free Smoker Recipes – Free barbecue grill recipes & meat smoker cooking ideas on gas, charcoal or electric.

Easy Barbecue Recipes – Outdoor grilling tips, easy fire pit menus, healthy rotisserie suggestions, best homemade bbq sauce recipes.

Free BBQ Recipes – Easy recipes for the smoker grill with lots of tips.

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Rubberwood A Green Alternative

Filed Under: Furniture, Interior Design
Sep.21, 2009

Parawood, also known as “rubberwood,” was originally found in Brazil by early 1600s explorers. Indigenous tribes in Brazil used the trees’ sap to make sport balls. Explorers were intrigued by the sap’s properties, and so brought the seeds back to Europe with them. Rubber trees were eventually found to grow quite well in Asian French Indochina, Hynan Island off of China’s coast, and Thailand. As with many maples, rubberwood produces sap, and that specifically produces rubber. Rubber tapping it is a useful economic lifespan of the tree, and traditionally, the so-called “useless” tree was then burned. However, it can also be farmed as lumber, which means it’s sustainable, a paramount feature.

Rubberwood is in fact the most ecologically friendly lumber used in the furniture industry today. Other woods, of course, are cut down just for the purpose of producing wood furniture, but rubberwood is only used after it completes its rubber producing cycle, usually 18 to 25 years long, and dies. Therefore, the wood is eco-friendly in just about every sense. This tree does not go to waste for its entire lifecycle. Rubberwood is taken from the pararubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), also often called the “rubber tree.” Rubberwood is also called parawood in Thailand, and is used in furniture production for more high-end pieces, since it has a dense grain, an attractive color, minimal shrinkage, and accepts different finishes easily. Because it’s also environmentally friendly as a wood, it uses trees that have been cut down at the end of their lives, making it much more attractive.

Oftentimes, rubberwood is misunderstood as a particular species of wood used specifically in the furniture industry. The term “rubberwood” also encourages a number of misconceptions in regard to durability and features. However, it is a type of hardwood and it’s used in the manufacture of home furnishings. It’s particularly durable and is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family. Rubberwood has a dense grain that can be easily controlled when it’s kiln dried. It shrinks very little, which means it’s very stable as a construction material, one of the most stable in furniture manufacturing for from dining room tables to wood bookcases.

Rubberwood lumber is very amenable to many different types and colors of wood finishes, meaning that it can mimic oak, rosewood, or other more expensive lumbers. This can actually create confusion as to the type of wood used in a particular furnishing. Rubber produced from rubber trees did have a propensity to rot, but once vulcanization was perfected, the production of rubber was increased for bicycle tire use. Later on, car tires’ manufacture also needed massive quantities of rubber trees. In fact, during World War II, so many tires were required that eventually the United States needed to substitute synthetic materials for rubber. Production continued to fall until about 1960, when rubberwood was discovered as a hidden resource. It’s almost as hard as oak and has a very nice grain, which makes it perfect as a furniture wood.

For the most part, the rubber from rubber trees is now mostly used for condoms, rubber erasers, and rubber gloves. To finish rubberwood, it’s the same as any other fine hardwood. The secret is to finish with even sanding. The smoother you sand the wood, the lighter and smoother the finish tends to be.  Don’t use your vision to determine whether or not the surface is smooth enough. Instead, use your hands and feel the entire surface, making sure there are no rough spots. Sand with a clean hand or using a sand block with the entire piece. It’s quick and easy to do if your technique is organized and you use 150 grit. Sand with the grain as well.

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