Barn Beams - Other Interesting Uses!

The true beauty of reclaimed wood is that there is basically endless uses for the materials as long as you have a creative mind.  Google is the best for inspiring some great ideas.  Simply searching "barn beam furniture" yields some amazing concepts/ideas that you can modify to suit your needs.  Check out a few cool tables/beam creations that I found that would look amazing in your home.


Barn Door Track Hardware

Our initial barn door post was viewed 8000+ times so I figured I would focus in quickly and show you how many options are out there for the tracks themselves.  The barn door track has been around 100+ years and has recently exploded in popularity.  There are many different styles, colours and sizes now readily available, many offered strictly online only.

Take a look at a few cool track styles I found online.  Simply searching "barn door track hardware" will yield a few hundred different examples of tracks that are out there and available for purchase. 


Really Cool Stairs #12 - Stairs made out of Reclaimed Materials

Short and sweet!  Here are a few pics of some cool stairs I found on the web that are made from reclaimed materials.  We have quite a few requests now for stairs/railings to be made out of parts of a barn, as this is one of the reasons why we got into the reclaimed wood industry.

Take a look!


Gallery Updated!

We are constantly trying to take decent pictures of every project we complete so you can see what we are up to!  I try to update our gallery once every week with some fresh material for you to see!  We have quite a few followers now and we can't thank you enough for showing interest in what we love to do.

Have a great weekend!

Glass is in!  All we have to do is cap the top with a contemporary maple railing and we are finished.  Love how this job turned out.

1-3/4 x 2-3/4" Wormy Maple standard railing, 3-1/2 Chamfered Contemporary Post, 1-5/16 Chamfered Wormy Maple spindles.  Job Location: Toronto, Ontario

Open Part 1 Side Oak Stairs.  We had to build half of this stair on-site and notch it around the steel jack post which will be cladded on a later date.  Job Location:  Snow Valley, Ontario

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:

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

 

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

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 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.


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!



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!