1. Local Wood: An Architects’ & Builders’ Primer
Local Wood Works
Maine Wood and Sustainability Conference
Portland, May 9, 2018
Local Wood: An Architects’ & Builders’ Primer
Lloyd C. Irland
The Irland Group Lord Rd
Wayne, ME 04284
Seven Islands Land, Rangeley Maine
5/19/2019
local wood works architects primer

2. local wood works architects primer
Contents
Supply Chains & networks
Sourcing Guides &
Certifications
My Suggestions
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local wood works architects primer

3. I. Supply Chains --Processes
Buy Stumpage
Cut, skid, and sort wood on landing
Haul wood to mill (s)
Manufacture lumber (or primary product)
Wholesaler stores lumber fills orders, delivers
Re-manufacturer buys from wholesaler
Retailer buys from wholesaler & maintains stock
May do some value added, e.g pattern stock
Retailer assembles “lumber package” and delivers
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local wood works architects primer

4. local wood works architects primer
Most Supply Chains are multistep – and fluid
Maple strip flooring, Home Depot
Irland, Journal of Industrial Ecology, 11(1)
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local wood works architects primer

5. Implications of Multilevel Supply Networks
Local Retailer usually does not know where the wood came from!
To buy local, Often Must Buy Direct/ Custom
From local shops familiar with supply
They sell in small volumes
Expect more homework and hand-holding
Client
Builder
Supplier
Certified owners don’t sell products; most certified sawmills sell in bulk by truckload or railcar
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local wood works architects primer

6. Examples: Homeowner Preferences Change
Maine pine lost markets as wood clapboard disappeared
Natural pine interior doors/trim/wall paneling also
Shift to lighter colored woods and hardwood floors
Revival of niche market for log home and timber framing – good for small mills and for hemlock and pine
Plastic trimboard more practical and safer than replacing wood fascia
Is “Plastic Lumber” decking “Greener” than treated So. Pine? Don’t know.
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local wood works architects primer

7. local wood works architects primer
II. Sourcing Guides
Land Management Certifications
Multiple certifiers
8 MM A or so in Maine, some dual certified
Chain of Custody
Controlled Sources
Certificate of Local origin (why does this NOT exist???)
Claims by Suppliers
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local wood works architects primer

8. local wood works architects primer
III. My Suggestions
Nobody needs Tropical Timber
Nobody needs hardwoods from Away
For structural framing or decking, often need softwoods from Away
I’s, panels, joists, composite beams, glulams will come from away
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local wood works architects primer

9. local wood works architects primer
More suggestions….
Use wood in the round (Nature’s way is strongest)
Use structural wood green where possible
Esp. outdoor structures and outbuildings
Timber frame, or decorative “timbers” where suited to design
Promote natural colors/finishes –
Use natural finish pine (not painted yellow poplar)
Pickled oak? Blackened Maple? What????
Keep asking suppliers for Green – enough inquiries and they will respond
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local wood works architects primer

10. Thanks for your time and attention
Comments and Questions?
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local wood works architects primer

11. local wood works architects primer
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local wood works architects primer

12. local wood works architects primer
Exterior walls -- total consumption fossil fuels MJ/square foot warm climate home
Building Element
Lumber Framed Wall
Concrete Wall
Structural components 6 76
Insulation 8
Cladding 22
Total 37 92
Bowyer, Dovetail PPT, n.d.
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local wood works architects primer

13. local wood works architects primer
Life Cycle Energy/CO2
Construction
Total Energy Used
CO2 emissions
Wood
3.8 73
Steel
7.4
105
Concrete
5.5
132
Bowyer, Dovetail based on Athena, 1997.
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local wood works architects primer

14. local wood works architects primer
Some examples: Clockwise from upper L “Plastic” decking (Trex) Composite drawer side Pt Orford Cedar decking Plastic trim board Pine v-match Hemlock VG flooring Glulam
5/19/2019
local wood works architects primer