Bob discusses the advantages of engineered wood for the floor system with Steve Barth from Willamette Industries at the house in Mt. Pleasant, near Charleston, South Carolina.

Bob confers with Lise LaFrance of the A.P.A., The Engineered Wood Association, about their engineered floor system as volunteers assemble the house for Habitat for Humanity in Yonkers, New York.

Framing a house using engineered wood has many advantages. Glue laminated beams are stronger than their conventional solid sawn counterparts. (Laminated veneer lumber comes in smaller dimensions for headers and ridge beams.) Engineered I-joists span greater distances and their stiffness prevents squeaky floors. Oriented strand board sheathing prevents racking and provides good nailer for siding.

Bob and Ryley meet up with framing contractor Kevin Parquette of Timberline Building Specialists. Kevin comments on the advantages of working with the 28 ft. long engineered wood All-Joists from Boise Cascade. Designed for high performance and stiffness, All-Joists significantly speed up the framing process. Next Kevin points out the 1 1/8" engineered wood rim board. For fastening Kevin's crew used 12-penny nails covered with a glue which is activated by the speed of the nail coming out of the gun.

Bob meets Lance Olson of Louisiana Pacific as LP's Smartside lap siding is installed on a Mashpee house. SmartSide is a treated engineered wood siding made of medium density oriented strand board (MDO) with a textured face that is embossed during manufacture. It's rough, cedar-look texture is intended to mirror recent cladding trends as homebuilders have started to turn boards rough side out to give texture to the facade and also provide a better surface for paint. SmartSide is very affordable and cost effective at about one-half the cost of traditional wood siding. It is engineered for its look and durability, is treated with zinc borate to resist fungal growth and termites, and resin bonded for stability. The manufacturing essentially takes the wood, removes its defects such as knots and splits, then reassembles it as a stronger, more stable product. It is a uniform thickness throughout and comes in 16-foot lengths for quick installation. SmartSide comes with a seven-year total warranty and a 30-year transferable warranty for material and labor. It comes pre-primed from the factory for additional labor savings and has a full line of trim to complete the installation. This New England home is using classic trim designs for corners and windows, with a frieze that extends from the roof line to the window, and window casing on the sides that meet the frieze at the top.

Bob discusses the wall layout with carpenter Bob Ryley and confers with Bryan Readling from A.P.A., The Engineered Wood Association, on the use of laminated veneer lumber on the house in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.

Dennis Hodgrin of APA shows Ryley the engineered wood used in the Yonkers "Blitz Build".

Bob visits the Willamette I-joist Mill in Woodburn, Oregon to watch the process of manufacturing these engineered joists. Bob then returns to the Habitat for Humanity house in Yonkers, New York where the crew assembles the second floor walls with SIPS.

Here's a new concept in exterior trim work. Pre-engineered lumber has several key features that make it a practical option. It's pre-primed so that it cuts down on paint time. It's treated with EPA approved preservatives, giving it extra resistance to decay and insect damage. Because it's pre-engineered, there are no knotholes or imperfections, and it's easy to cut and drill.

Carpenter Bob Ryley and Jim Daniels of Woodport Interior Doors join Bob on location to hang a new door in the master bathroom. The pre-hung, six-panel door being installed is made from medium density fiberboard, an engineered lumber product made from wood chips. The chips are compressed to create a sturdy, stable product that is easy to paint.