Unique uses for Doug fir plywood

IfnVe you ever thought of heating IIa home with Douglas fir plywood? What about shingling a building? That's exactly how Glendale, Or.-based Swanson Group's plywood is being used in several unusual applications.

A new floor system solves two major challenges in home design: what heating technology to use and where to put the heating system. Warmboard serves as both an excellent, quiet subfloor and a heating system, which heats up quickly, increases energy efficiency and comfort, and reduces the costs and difficulty of repairs.

The highly efficient, low mass radiant floor system begins with a stiff, strong 1-1l8" thick, 4'x8' tongue-andgroove plywood subfloor panel. The premium, engineered structural panel overcomes many of the limitations of concrete in radiant heating applications and minimizes the load to structural systems.

Warmboard essentially eliminates the complex system for laying out tubing and the need for additional labor to install the concrete, as well as the time needed for it to cure. A modular pattern of channels is added to the plywood's top surface. A thick 4'x8' sheet of aluminum is stamped to match the pattern and bonded perrnanently to each panel.

RADIANT FLOOR system leatures (below) a modular pattern of channels added to the top surface of plywood subflooring, so (at lett) tubing can be installed in the channels once the subfloor is nailed down.

Warmboard can be cut and nailed directly to the floor joists as easily as the conventional subfloor that it replaces. The tubing goes in the channels once the entire subfloor is nailed down. The system usually takes about a day to put in place. Walls can be built on top of the panels as soon as the tubing is down-usually the next day.

Terry Alsberg, president and c.e.o., Warmboard, Aptos, Ca., notes that the system's demanding design specifications required a plywood panel with superior strength. Additionally, the panel needed to be lightweight, lay flat and allow for deep routes without exposing a lot of core voids. A number ofpanels and species were tested.

Douglas fir emerged as the preferred panel, because it provided the right combination of strength, stiffness, flatness and weight. Swanson Group furnished samples for product testing and submitted panels to the APA-The Engineered Wood Association for final testing and approval.

Warmboard offers a labor saving, cost-efficient way to install radiant floor heat. More contractors are using it, and homeowners are pleased with the results. It meets or exceeds all APA requirements for Sturd-I-Floor, as well as all RPA guidelines for radiant floor systems.

Today, Warmboard ships its radiant floor heating system all over the U.S. ,Tl I raditionally shingles were laid up one at a time. Cedar Valley Shingle Systems, Hollister, Ca., changed that by developing its red cedar shingle siding panels to respond to a need in the marketplace. Shingle panels save labor, and the plywood

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back makes them more solid on the wall. Cedar Valley uses only Doug fir plywood because it is more stable. The company tried spruce, but was disappointed with its strength.

In addition to its stability and strength, Douglas fir is also relatively light, which is a major criterion for contractors. Additionally, Cedar Valley depends on Swanson Group to deliver panels to minimize the need to maintain a large inventory.

Doug fir's versatility, performance and durability

make the plywood well suited for many specialized products.

Architect Glen Fong, Customer Design, Mclean, Va., notes these benefits of Cedar Valley shingles: ease and speed of installation, durability and authentic look. "You have the cedar shake, the fiberglass underlayer and the plywood all working in concert with each other. Additionally, the system offers a variety of component pieces-corners and flares-that really give it a great look. Those options save time and money."

In addition to its stability and durability, Doug fir is also economical. "These days it's the go-to wood of the lumber industry," Fong said. "It weathers well and is readily available."

Cedar Valley shingle panels use full 5/16" exterior plywood sheathing with real tapered shingles that are laid up by hand. The 8-ft. panels require only seven panels per square (100 sq. ft.) and go up four times faster than individual shingles. The one-piece plywood backer handles easily and eliminates problems of courses breaking apart. The smooth back surface also makes marking and sawing quicker and more accurate. It only takes 14 nails to cover 14.25 sq. ft.

Fong is so impressed with the Cedar Valley system that he installed them on his personal residence. "I have specified Cedar Valley for over 10 years because they can be used for an extraordinary variety of applications, especially on high-end homes valued at over $2 million." This shingle siding system works well on commercial and multi-family buildings and has been used throughout the country on these kinds of structures.

Doug fir panels can be engineered to meet rigorous specifications, and their versatility, performance and durability make the plywood well suited for many specialized-and sometimes unusual-products.

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Rank Company

(including number ol 0SB plants)

Louisian+Pacific

Po{ttard, &, 14llank Hancevill€, Al.; Dawson Creek, B.C.;Woodland, i&.; Athens, Ga.; Houlton, Me.; @h, Mi.; Two Harbors, Mn.; Hayward, Wi.; Swan Valley, Manitoba; Boxboro, N.C.;Jasper, Ca[h4e, Tx.; Maniwaki, St.-Michel, Chambord, Quebec

Weyerhaeuser Co.

Federal Way, Wa.

10 plants: Drayton Valley, Edson, Slave Lake, Alberta; Grayling, Mi.; Elkin, N.C.;Sutton, W.V.; Wawa, Ontario; Miramichi, Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan;Arcadia, La.

Norbord lndustries ':'r

Toronto, Onlario ' .,. .' g plants: Bemidji, Mn.; Cordele, Ga.; Guntown, Ms.; Hugrley, Al.; Jefierson, Tx.; Joanna, S.C.; La Sane, Quebec; Nacogdoches, Tx.

Georgia-Pacific Corp.

Atlanta, Ga.

6 plants: Fordyce, Ar.; Grenada, Ms.; Dudley, N.C.; Brookneal, Skippers, Va.; Mt. Hope, W.V.

Grant Forest Products

Englehart, Ontarb lplqnlg: Englehart, Tlmmins, Ontario; High Level (50% JV w/Ainsworth), Alberta

Huber Engineered Woods

Charlotte, N.C.

4 olants: Commerce, Ga.; Easton, Me.; Crystal Hill, Va.;Spring City, Tn.

Ainsworth Lumber Co., Ltd.

100 Mile House, B.C.

3 olants: 100 Mile House; Grand Prairie, High Level (5090 JV r/yrGfad), Ab€rta

Potlatch Corp.

Sookane. Wa.

3 plants: Bemidji, Cook, Grand Rapids, Mn.

Tolko Industries

High Prairie, Alberta lp[s!: High Prairie

Slocan Forest Group

Richmond, British Columbia

1 plant: Fort Nelson, B.C.

Boise Boise, ld. l_p[g: Banrick, Ontario .l

Martco Partnership