construction demonstration - millwork

assignment:In a group (Tabatha Ptashnik (me), Lindsay Simpson, and Kassia Woloshyn, students will present info on various typical construction techniques, methods, assemblies, etc.

millworkdefinition: “woodwork manufactured at a lumber mill” 1

wooddefinition: “Wood is a strong, durable construction material that is lightweight and easy to work with. Wood from trees and shrubs is part of a tough, fibrous,

cellular living organism, and no two pieces are exactly alike.” 2

1 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/millwork

2 Binggeli, C. (2008). Wood definition. In Materials for interior environments (p. 101). Hoboken, NJ: John wiley & sons, inc.

•Millwork can be defined as woodwork that comes from wood that has been manufactured at a lumber mill. The intention of this wood is to become detailed finish components for an interior. (Binggeli, 101) The most common examples of millwork are interior mouldings, window frames, doors, stairs, mantels, and cabinetry.

•When wood is ran through a lumber mill, it shapes the wood to produce ready-made millwork that can be utilized to add detail to an interior. Once installed in an interior, this finished woodwork can be functional and/or decorative.

•To begin the construction process for millwork, rough lumber is ran through a sawmill and a planer mill. These mills are used to surface the lumber into a desired shape and dimension by removing excess from the wood that is not needed.

•The pieces of wood can then be moulded, carved, or embossed with a pattern. Template patterns can be made through hand or computer-generated drawings, and the wood can then be ran through designated machines to produce the finish profile or detail.

introduction

saw millhttp://www.vastern.co.uk/

planer millhttp://www.machineco.com/planer_mill_66x39.html

examples of millwork mouldingshttp://www.gatordooreast.com/millwork.html

wood used for millwork

douglas fir ponderosa pine sugar pine

*all wood images from http://www.wood-database.com/wood-identification/

There are many different types of woods, and many are used commercially. This includes over 100 000 different varieties from hundreds of different species, but there are some that are used only for specialized purposes. There is a large range of demand in the more commonly used woods, and this is based upon the availability of the type in the region that they are being milled. Particularly, cabinetmakers will often use woods that are in high supply in their region of production.

There are two different categories of wood and those are hardwoods or softwoods. Soft woods refer to wood that comes from cone-bearing trees and generally used for interior cabinets, panelling, built-ins, and trim.

softwoods

- Moderately heavy- Very stiff- Moderately strong - Moderately shock resistant

- Moderately light- Moderately soft- Moderately weak- Moderately low shock resistance

- Lightweight- Moderately soft- Moderately weak- Low shock resistance- Very small shrinkage- Low to moderate decay resistance

western white pine redwood sitka spruce

- Moderately light - Moderately soft- Weak- Moderately stiff- Moderately low shock resistance - Moderately large shrinkage- Low to moderate decay resistance

- Moderately light - Moderately hard- Moderately strong- Moderately stiff- Very small shrinkage

- Moderately light- Moderately soft- Moderately weak - Moderately stiff- Moderately low shock resistance- Moderately large shrinkage

basswood american beech yellow birch white oak

wood used for millwork

hardwoodsHardwoods refer to the wood that comes from broadleaf or deciduous trees. Most furniture is made from hardwoods because they tend to be good in appearance and often warp less, and shrink and swell less. They also have sufficient hardness and can resist forces that lead to indentation.

- Lightweight - Weak- Moderately stiff- Low in shock resistance- Soft- Large shrinkage

- Heavy - High strength- High shock resistance- Very large shrinkage

- Heavy- Strong- Stiff- Very high shock resistance- Very large shrinkage- Low in decay resistance

- Heavy- High strength - Large shrinkage- Comparatively decay resistant

red oak sweet gum yellow poplar

- Heavy- Hard- Stiff- High shock resistance- Large shrinkage- Low to moderate decay resistance

- Moderately heavy- Hard- Moderately strong- Moderately stiff- Moderately high shock resistance- Very large shrinkage- Low to moderate decay resistance

- Moderately light - Moderately soft- Moderately stiff- Moderately low shock resistance- Moderately large shrinkage- Low to moderate decay resistance

wood mouldingsWood mouldings can be chosen from industry standard profiles or can be custom milled when a more distinct design is desired or nonstandard wood species is required. Often, custom patterns are specified by referring to a pattern selection at the millworks, or to an original design. In many cases a blade is carved to the correct profile for use in a moulding machine. A good understanding of the milling process and its limitations is necessary when it comes to designing custom moulding profiles. Still, standard mouldings, used in creative combinations or applications, will produce desirable results at lower costs (Major, 191).

Here are a few examples of the hundreds of possible styles and sizes available of standard or custom wood moulding profiles and their uses (Major, 192).

•Casings: edge trim around windows and doors, interior and exterior. The following examples are intended primarily for interior use (Major, 192).

A - ranch or contemporaryB - standard colonialC - wide colonialD - flatE - custom, flutedF - custom, raised centreG - brickmould

•Baseboards: edge trim where walls and floors meet.

A - ranch or contemporaryB - quirk beadedC - traditionalD - colonialE - two-piece with base capF - three-piece with base cap and base shoe

• Chair Rails: horizontal wall decoration and/or protection specifically from chair damage (Major, 194).

•Crowns, Beds, and Coves: edge trim where wall and ceiling or soffit meet (Major, 193).

A – D crown mouldingsE – F bed mouldingsG – J cove mouldings

• Stops: in door construction, a stop keeps the door from swinging through the frame. They can also be used in windows to guide the sash in the frame, or for shelf edging and multipurpose trim.

A - ranch or contemporaryB - square or plainC - colonialD - beaded

•Baseboards: edge trim where walls and floors meet.

A - ranch or contemporaryB - quirk beadedC - traditionalD - colonialE - two-piece with base capF - three-piece with base cap and base shoe

windowsMillwork used in the trim details of windows helps define windows as an independent element from the interior wall surface while still incorporating them into the overall design scheme (Major, 87).

•Window Trim Assemblies

These four examples of trim styles range from minimalistic to elaborate design approach (Major, 88).

A - widely used in contemporary and commercial applications when a clean, uncluttered line is desired. Here, the drywall directly meets the window, acting as both a trim and jamb, requiring no additional woodwork. B - commonly used trim construction that is simple and inexpensive, and can be used in a variety of contemporary and traditional design schemes. C - traditional design scheme, in which a stool and apron are used to form the sill trim. D - this trim construction is more refined than that of “C”, following classical orders, where the apron and stool act as the plinth, the casings are the columns, and a head casing is the entablature.

• Additional Window Trim Assemblies (Major, 89).

A - The use of corner blocksB - The use of a backband allows clean reception of chair railC - classical surround with key piece

doorsWood, in one form or another, is the dominant material for interior doors. Interior doors are typically trimmed to match interior windows in the same space, excluding a sill/stool construction, as door trim must meet the floor (Major, 93).

A - Assymetrical casing: should be slightly thicker at its outer edge than the thickest part of any adjoining baseboard to make for a clean intersection with a fully concealed end grain (Major, 99).B - Symmetrical casing with backband to cleanly receive wainscot (Major, 100).C - Traditional casing with plinth blocks to cleanly receive baseboard (Major, 100).

A

B

C

fireplace / mantelsFireplace millwork is often used to create a focal point in a room, and as a result is often more elaborate than nearby window and door trim. Fireplace millwork is controlled to a certain extent by the design of the fireplace itself and the consideration of codes and regulations (Major, 125).

Four design variables affecting the detailing of the finish millwork include: the projection of the firebox, the height and configuration of the hearth, the size of the fireplace opening, and provisions for attachment of finish components (Major, 128).

A - effect of firebox projection on the depth of millwork. A flush, or zero projection requires trim of low relief, whereas a projecting firebox necessitates millwork of high relief or depth of detail. Generally, a projection of 3-6 inches is adequate to portray the desired design scheme (Major, 128).B - an elevated hearth may require a reduced scale of millwork. An increase in the height of the overall millwork may require a reduction in moulding scale or proportion to maintain a correct appearance on the wall and in the space. Similarly, the size of the fireplace opening can affect the millwork scale or proportion to a certain degree (Major, 129).

A

B

• Fireplace Millwork Designs

A - independent mantel mounted directly onto masonry (Major, 131).B - cased opening with mantel above, where ideally, the casing matches adjacent windows or doors (Major, 131).C - bar top on a direct-vent peninsula fireplace (Major, 132).D - wood mantel on masonry corbels (Major, 132).

A

B

C

D

cabinetryCabinetry is one of the main type of interior architectural elements designed for storage and this includes everything from kitchen cabinets to bathroom vanities to entertainment units and more. The majority of cabinetry comes from mill working and is generally made in modular components that are intended for quick installation and easy alteration. Each individual piece or module of cabinetry is then fixed into place on site to create a whole unit.

•Conventions:There are a few different building conventions that must be taken into consideration when desiging cabinetry as a storage space. One of the most important aspects is ergonomics, but generally building codes will recognize this. Due to this, standard dimensions are generally used because they provide safety and convenience for average users. Custom wood-working can also be done to fit special needs. However, standard dimensioning can also aid in efficient manufacturing for related accessories. For example, dishwashers and stoves are usually available only in one height to fit inside standard-sized cabinetry.

•Site-Built Cabinetry:-Sometimes there is a need for site-built cabinetry because the space is unusual, there are extremely specific construction requirements, handicapped access is required, or there is a need for original work.-The same design principles for modular design apply to site-built cabinetry. The most important factor is also ergonomic considerations, but the cabinetry can be altered to fit a user’s individual needs.-In this case, materials can sometimes be saved because side panels between adjoining cabinets can be shared. Also, panels used for the backs of cabinets are not necessarily needed because the wall will suffice.

•Modular components:Only one type of cabinetry construction uses mill working and that is face-frame construction. Face-frame construction means that each cabinet is constructed of relatively thin panels and is faced with a frame of wood that provides strength, finishes the panel edges, and allows for the mounting of hardware and doors. However, this is not the most economical method of mass-producing cabinets because of modern materials and manufacturing technologies.