Sunday, March 15, 2009

Pecky (sinker) Cypress


CYPRESS WOOD

Expect this wood to last over 150 years. The reason for this durability is it's natural preservative oil, known as cypresseine, which gives the wood resistance to rot and insect attack. Cypress timber also has very tight growth rings. This makes it denser and increases the stability and durability. These very traits are what make Cypress attractive to architects & interior designers.
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Go Green With Sinker Cypress
Sinker Cypress are cypress logs that have been submerged in water. These trees were cut during the late 1800s. Many of these logs were ax fallen from virgin forests during the industrial cypress harvest from 1880 to 1930. They were 150 to 1500 years old at the time of harvest. After the logs were fallen they were then hitched to oxen and taken to the rivers for transport to the nearest riverside sawmill. Some where lost and today they are retrieved by divers.

Use wood that was cut over 100 years ago instead of harvesting the wood that is grown today. When cypress trees are replanted today, it will take over 1000 years to grow as large as our river recovered timber.
There are no existing trees of that size today.
( http://www.sinkertreasures.com/going_green.html )

Gorgeous !!!
This fungus ( EEEEW )"stereum taxodil" usually takes 125 years to germinate inside the living tree. Once this process is started, tubular pockets are formed vertically up and down the tree. This fungus started the process of hallowing the log.
This pecky wood is usually used for decorative purposes.
"HELLO DESIGNERS"....and this is where we come in ......


Typical application. I am , and always have been in love with Pecky Cypress ceilings, beams, and paneling. It is usually white-washed in Florida.
The Older ( higher end ) Florida homes seem to have it the most .

The finish on this ceiling is the typical finish color.
Just Yummy !!!

Pecky Cypress Door.

The house I grewup in had a room with Pecky Cypress paneling that was washed in a pale beige.
It was beautiful and interesting. Texture is 'great stuff .'
The durability is what makes it even great for the outdoor applications as well. Remember, Florida is very damp & humid for 9 months of the year.
If you would like to design green while working in this industry, think about this:Sinker Cypress is often used to obtain LEED points (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - Green Building Rating System). LEED was established for market leaders to design and construct buildings that protect and save precious resources, including using recycled material such as Sinker Cypress Lumber.
Peck Cypress is TEXTURE. I love texture.



( enlarge any picture for more info and a closer look )
Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
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