Green Building

Below are just a few items we carry at Fingerle Lumber that we consider “Green.” There are many more that we don’t list here. If you have a question about a specific product, please call Paul Lugauer 734 741-4223 or Tim Bradburn 734 741-4237.

Countertops

  • Cambria - Cambria natural quartz surfaces use low-emitting compounds in their products. Click here for more information
  • Corian - Corian by DuPont provides a surface that is easily repaired and renewed, and whose joint adhesives and sealants are low VOC products. Click here for more information.
  • Richlite - Richlite stands out because of its unique paper content. Made from recycle pulp derived from certified managed forests in North America. Click here for more information.

Decking

As consumer’s attention is drawn to products that not only are green, but also to those that reduce the amount of maintenance and repair needed, no industry has evolved more than deck products.

  • CCA Treated Decking - If you were referring to a treated wood deck as being green, you were only talking about its color. In use since the 1940’s, treated lumber was originally treated using CCA (chromated copper arsenate) an effective, inexpensive process. With increased scrutiny and testing, new processes were developed that reduced environmental impact from the treatment process, and any long term effects on the end user.
  • ACQ Treated Decking - Starting in 2003, CCA was replaced with ACQ (corrosive chemical alkaline copper quaternary) which required the development of new corrosive resistant fastening systems.
  • MCQ Treated Decking - First developed by the Osmose company, micronized copper preservative is a new treatment process which bonds microscopic copper particles to the wood cells, eliminating the need for solvents to be used. Not only did this work as effective as CCA, it is not as corrosive as ACQ. The process is a closed loop system, with all chemicals being recycled. Because of this new process, it is estimated that the longer life span will save 100 million trees from being harvested. Click here for more information.

By comparison, composite decking has evolved from the treated planks that were all the range during the late 70’s and 80’s. With a blend of recycled wood fibers, recycled plastics and requiring low maintenance over its lifetime, consumers can very closely emulate the look and feel of exotic wood decks. Industry estimates account for 25% of deck products being installed using composite material. Every manufacture uses different ingredients to achieve that “unique” product.

  • Trex - Trex decking is the industry leader in development, manufacturing and technology in the composite deck market. Using a 50/50 mix of recycled and reclaimed plastic and wood, it manufactures a wide variety of deck products. Not only is it the largest composite deck manufacture, but also one of the largest recycler of plastic from post-consumer, industrial, and commercial operations. On average they keep 300,000 tons of plastic and wood scrap from landfills every year. Click here for more information.
  • Timbertech - Timbertech uses recycled HDPE (high density polyethylene) maple wood flour, and a mildewcide along with a manufacturing process that recycles all waste produced back into the product. Its color pigments are engineered to reflect solar heat which helps with product performance and reduces fading. Click here for more information.
  • GeoDeck - GeoDeck uses HDPE from recycled and new sources along with a purified cellulose product. Click here for more information.

Doors & Cabinetry

  • WoodHarbor - Interior doors by Woodharbor are built following the National Association of Home Builders Green Home Guideline standard. This environmental stewardship program not only looks at the raw material sources and their management, but also at the manufacturing and product processes regarding air quality and formaldehyde use. 75% of the particleboard, plywood and MDF used in Woodharbor’s cabinets and doors is of the lowest formaldehyde emission standard and contains 100% recycled or recovered fiber content. All their hardwood veneers are certified from a credible sustained forest. What this means for customers is the there will be no residual odor, and peace of mind regarding products from Woodharbor. Click here for more information.

Flooring

  • Bamboo - Some of the properties that make bamboo appealing are; growth time for maturity is typically 3-6 years, hardness comparable to red oak, and pre-finished with low or non-formaldehyde polyurethane.
  • Cork - Cork is a comfortable, stylish, durable and environmentally friendly product for remodeling and new construction projects. While furniture and pet claws can leave marks, the quick installation method, comfort and warmth felt underfoot are advantages over conventional “floating” hardwood floors.
  • Lyptus - The Lyptus® name is actually a trademarked system developed by Weyerhaeuser for “growing, manufacturing, and marketing Eucalyptus with the goal of providing a sustainable harvest of quickly maturing trees and producing high performance hardwood lumber and plywood suitable for cabinetry, millwork, furniture, and flooring.” These are grown in Brazilian national sustainable forestry certified plantations which were former agricultural or grazing lands. Eucalyptus trees have a fast growth cycle and mature typically within 14-16 years. During that time they are managed so that there is a higher yield per tree than those naturally grown. The entire tree is utilized, with the residuals used as bio-energy to fuel the mill. (Click here to download PDF, Fact Sheet 502 Weyerhaeuser Lyptus Hardwood Products)

Homasote® Comfort Base Underlayment

  • Recommended for application over concrete floors as an underlayment for carpet or other floor coverings.
  • Increases warmth and personal comfort.
  • Contains no asbestos or formaldehyde.
  • 98% post consumer recycled content by weight.
  • Grid-kerfed back assures positive contact with concrete. Floats with grid side down.
    • Stock:
      • 1/2" 4x4

Homasote® Cork Faced Panels

  • Appealing decorative tackable paneling.
  • 95% post consumer recycled content by weight.
  • Medium tan/brown color cork faced one side.
    • Stock:
      • 1/2" 4x8

Homasote® 440 SoundBarrier & Structural Board

  • Unique, gray weather-resistant building board.
  • Easy to handle, cut, nail, and drill.
  • Will not crack, split, or splinter.
  • Reduces sound transmission through all floor finishes.
  • R-value 1.2.
  • Class C flame spread rating.
  • .20 noise reduction coefficient.
  • 98% post consumer recycled content by weight.
  • Takes paint or stain well.
  • Use for sound barrier, bulletin boards, siding, soffit, underlayment, signs, displays, cut-out letters, train boards, and ceilings.
    • Stock:
      • 1/2" 4x8

Penofin® - The World's Finest Wood Finish®

IMPORTANT PRICING NOTE - Because our prices on Penofin products are lower than their suggested list prices, you did not find us via the the shop online portion of their website.  Rather than raise our prices to gain that listing, we will continue to offer Penofin products at low prices to allow our customers to stretch their budgets. Maybe this is why we ship Penofin products throughout the U.S.?
 
Penofin Verde
penofin_verde.jpg
 
 
 
 
 
Verde is the first of its kind. It is a 100% sustainable, petroleum free oil finish with no heavy metal compounds, no odor, and no offensive fumes. Verde is a 0-VOC finish that can be used in both interior and exterior applications. It is made with new age vegetable ester solvents, tough plant based resins, and the same high quality Brazilian rosewood oil found in all Penofin products.

Siding

The majority of a houses’ exterior is covered with some sort of siding material. It used to be either masonry or wood products that were installed. However, with the increased interest on products that requires a minimal amount of maintenance; new products have been developed, and manufactured with “green” in mind.

  • Hardie Siding - First developed in Australia, James Hardie is an industry leader in exterior siding products that use concrete, recycled wood pulp, water and sand. Having 10 manufacturing facilities close to the major population areas also reduces environmental impact caused by transportation of materials. Their ColorPlus baked on exterior paint reduces the need to paint the product after installation, reducing VOC contamination into the air. Not only is this product relatively maintenance free, but is non-combustible, not susceptible to attack by insects, and resists damage from cold to wet, humid climates. With a warranty of 50 years on the product, it is longer-lasting than most maintenance-intensive wood siding products and therefore requires fewer resources for replacement and repair. (Information taken from the James Hardie website. Click here for more information).
  • Miratec Trim - Miratec has marketed their exterior trim products as a viable alternative to wood trim since the 1990’s. The combination of whole tree logs, wood chips, and 100% phenolic resins (a non-formaldehyde emitter) allow Miratec to retain the authenticity of wood without the performance issues and negative environmental impact of fiber cement and PVC. The type of wood used is a combination of recycled wood delivered to the manufacturing facility from local sources, and residual waste from sawmill operations. Click here for more information.

Windows

The insulation values of windows have improved significantly since energy conservation became important. Andersen and Weather Shield brand windows are both partners in the Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star program. This program certifies the glass that is installed in windows to meet a certain performance for each temperate zone in the United States. Gone are the days where single panes windows only kept the wind out. Now windows are sealed units, with radiation reducing coatings and gases that keep the heat inside during winter and outside during the summer. Both Andersen Windows and Weather Shield products meet and exceed performance standards, and offer both new construction and replacement windows.

  • ZoE-Shield Glass - ZoE-Shield glass, offered in all of Weather Shield products, can even reduce 99.9% of the ultraviolet radiation with their ZoE-Shield 6 glass which features laminated butyl layer sandwiched between two glass layers. This is also very effective in greatly reducing noise transmission. Conservative estimates place the return on investment of 20% in remodeling with new windows.
  • Click here for more information about Andersen Windows and here for more information about Weather Shield.