Replies

1. 
   RSRose | Sep 20, 2002 10:30am | #1

   Dennis,

   Ash as flooring or stair treads? Yes, of course. It's a very durable wood for that use. We had an ash floor in my school in Philadelphia. It stood up to a lot of foot traffic!

   Here's one manufacturer who offers it:

   http://www.bruce.com/reshartcona/line_detail.jsp?prod_line_id=1177

   Rich

1. 
   DennisS | Sep 20, 2002 10:45am | #2

   Thanks for the nod, Rich.

   In our new place (new to us) I'd like to use lighter colored materials (and wood) for the cabinets - the kitchen thread - and perhaps this stair I'm envisioning I'd like to build. All this stuff is a ways off but I have to think about things for a while before I dive in.

   What concerned me about the ash was what appears to be a somewhat porous surface. But I guess it's not all that much more so than oak. Ash bends pretty well, too, doesn't it?

   You can probably see where I'm going with this (hehehe)

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   JeffKurtz | Sep 20, 2002 02:56pm | #3

   Dennis,

   Ash would be great.  A bit easier to work than oak, and less porous.  Yes, it bends extremely well - that's why they use it in snow shoes.

   For building purposes, don't overlook the lower grades.  I paneled a house with #2 ash I had milled and it was beautiful.  With drying, milling, and trucking the total cost was $320/K.

   The only drawbacks I can think of are the hoards of very fine dust produced when sawing, and a propensity to split.

   Jeff

1. 
   DennisS | Sep 21, 2002 03:03am | #6

   > ....Ash would be great.

   That's good to hear. Of the few hardwoods I've priced (and I haven't done an extensive amount of research of yet), ash seems to be within a reasonable budget price. F_G .... what's your take on good flooring woods available around here in the color range of ash?

   > ....A bit easier to work than oak, and less porous.

   Even *better* news. I'll need all the help (from the material) I can get if I decide to try this myself.

   Thanks for the info, Jeff.

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

2. 
   RSRose | Sep 20, 2002 07:00pm | #4

   Dennis,

   Sounds like we're embarked in very similar projects with similar tastes in wood color - kitchen cabinets, flooring. We are redoing a house that is new to us also. Cabinets will be in maple finished with waterborne polyurethane which will keep them as light as possible. Floors will be maple or beech. It was an ad for beech floors at Home Depot that took me to the Bruce flooring website in the first place.

   Rich

1. 
   DennisS | Sep 21, 2002 03:11am | #7

   > ....Sounds like we're embarked in very similar projects with similar tastes in wood color

   When we bought the house we're now in, all the woodwork, doors, trim, cabinets and the like were that horrible faux walnut stuff. Dark as the ace of spades. And phony as a three dollar bill. We got so tired and depressed living in that color scheme that in desparation I just painted everything antique white! What a marvelous lift it gave to the spirits of the interior of this place.

   Our "new" place has a marvelous southern exposure with a view out to our little valley and stream in the front yard. (Don't get too impressed, it's only two acres worth -grin-). I love the look of real, natural wood but want to keep it light and airy. No overpowering grain or figure, just an honest expression of the material.

   Beech sounds like something worth investigating, too. I guess I'm rather fond of ash since years ago I designed a lounge with ash batten paneling. 1 1/2" battens spaced 1/2" apart over a black fabric background. I had never even seen ash before in the flesh, only pictures. I really liked the end result and have admired that particular wood ever since.

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

2. 
   floman47 | Sep 21, 2002 02:52am | #5

   I’ve installed allot of ash flooring and treads.  I thank it looks grate.  I to thank the lesser grades look better, but thats me!  Good luck! 

    

   Jeff in so cal