Happy New Year!
Steve Gray Renovations Inc has many exciting projects in the works for 2008. We are looking forward to another great year of working with our partners to bring quality and innovation to our clients.
We have been making some changes and additions to our website. We have added a brief interview with our Project Leader Chris Gulley. Click on the Chris cartoon to see what he has to say. Don’t forget, you can click on the Steve cartoon to see various interviews with Steve himself. Watch for more changes and updates to our site!
 Wondering what’s been
keeping us busy?
Here’s a slideshow highlighting some of the projects we have been working on. Enjoy!
We make a couple of appearances in some publications this month. Remodeling Magazine interviewed Steve for another article that appears in this months Magazine.
Also, WTHR.com has placed an interview with Steve on their site.
Tips on Seasoning and Storing Wood
Wood is composed of bundles of microscopic tubes that were used to transport water from the roots of the tree to the leaves. These tubes can stay full of water for years after a tree has died. This is why it is important to have your firewood cut for 6 months or more before you burn it, it gives this water a chance to evaporate since the tube ends are finally open and the water only has to go a foot or two to escape. Splitting the wood helps too by exposing more surface area to the sun and wind, but cutting the wood to shorter lengths is of primary importance.
 Here are a few things to check for to see if the wood is ready. Well-seasoned firewood generally has darkened ends with cracks or splits visible, it is relatively lightweight, and makes a clear "clunk" when two pieces are beat together. Green wood on the other hand is very heavy, the ends look fresher, and it tends to make a dull "thud" when struck.
 Store wood properly. Store it off the ground by building the pile on some longer logs (or whatever method you can devise). Unventilated spaces or plastic tarps, which never get taken off, will prevent the drying and evaporation process and cause molding and rot. So, if a tarp is your only option, take it off frequently to air the wood on fine days. Don’t forget to put it back on again in time to protect it from the elements. Your seasoned firewood will reabsorb large amounts of water if exposed to rain, snow and excessive dew, which is liable to make it rot and be unfit for making a good fire.
Remember not to burn pine, spruce or fir, it will cause more creosote to build up in your chimney. Also, NEVER burn treated lumber due to its high content of harmful chemicals.
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Q&A with SGR
HELP. ADVICE. ANSWERS!
Keep your questions coming! We will be answering some of those questions in upcoming issues.
Click here to ask the pros! |
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