News

Spring is almost here and may we say thank goodness! Don’t get us wrong, we love the great views and moisture we get with winter especially with us being so close to the Sierra Nevadas. The one thing we could do without is the slow workload. Sure, it comes with the trade but, we love to be active. Spring marks the beginning of construction season and that we love! Before you get your next home project started there is one thing that needs to be done first, routine maintenance. Checking out your roof, beams, and posts will lead to less...

A metal of many uses Since its first use in in 8000 BC when copper tools helped build Stone Age civilization, copper has become an integral part of modern day industry. Plumbing, construction, electrical work, coin production, gun metal, even artwork and medicine make use of copper or copper alloys. Mining Since the US is known mainly for importing, you may be surprised to learn that the America is the 4th largest copper producer in the world.  Nearly half of the world’s copper comes from the Andes, but approximately 9% is mined here in America.1 The bulk of it emanates...

Flashy roof trim or just functional flashing In a recent blog, we discussed the wonders of roof flashing. We love it because it allows us to build our houses in many shapes with great features like vents and skylights by sealing roof seams to prevent water damage. While the roofing that covers the top of our homes is often viewed to be the most important, drip edge seals roof edges and the International Building Codes (IBC) for shingle roofs have recently decided everyone needs it, not just homes in snow-belt states. Ice buildup from melting snow is clearly a problem...

This isn't 4" x 4"! So your contractor told you he used 4 x 4 posts for your fence, but you’ve whipped out your tape measure and noticed that they actually measure 3 ½” x 3 ½”. You may be wondering if this is some sort of cost saving gimmick. Should you be concerned? Is your fence less structurally sound? No need to worry! That’s just the way lumber is measured. It seems strange, but the reason for this discrepancy is simple, nominal 4 x 4 lumber is actually cut to those measurements from the green, unfinished wood. If interested,...

A Brief History of Japanese Architecture From chop sticks to kimonos, the people of East Asia have provided the world with their own special flair to all that they do. Often offering beauty as well as function, the architecture from this area of the world is incredibly inspiring. One example of this is the Irimoya roof. With 2 large and 2 small “hipped roofs” connected by small gables, Irimoya style homes were built to last using plentiful available materials. These “hip-and-gable” roofs are the source of inspiration for our Irimoya Beam Cap collection. Though it originated in China, Irimoya roofs came to...