Often the most enjoyable part of building a new home is selecting the products that you will look at every day: kitchen cabinets and countertops, flooring, appliances, fixtures and paint. These items allow your own taste and sense of style to shine through.
But what about the products you don't see? Selecting the right structural products might not be nearly as exciting, but these decisions can be the most crucial for the structural integrity of your home. As you build your home, consider the following products to ensure your home will last for generations to come.
Wall Framing
Your walls function much like your body's skeletal system in that they support the weight and define the shape and structure of the home. This framing "skeleton," like your body's skeletal system, needs to be strong and true. That's why it is important to understand the options now available.
iLevel Trus Joist TimberStrand® laminated strand lumber (LSL) is an engineered wood product that provides a resource-efficient and versatile option for your wall framing needs. This high-quality structural solution is stiff, strong, and straight so your walls won't shrink excessively; therefore nail pops and drywall cracks are virtually non-existent. TimberStrand® LSL's dimensionally stable, consistent, full-edge features provide an ideal framing material for hanging cabinets, placing tile, or constructing openings that require tight tolerances. It is also perfect for framing tall walls such as those in today's dramatic two-story foyers.
Ask for TimberStrand® LSL for a number of applications including headers, beams, rim board and for wall framing.
Flooring
If your walls are the skeletal system of the home, then your floor is the spine, the most important aspect of keeping your home in alignment. And the right decisions for your flooring system can minimize annoying squeaks and structural problems down the road.
iLevel by Weyerhaeuser offers a comprehensive flooring system called the FrameWorks® Floor System. The FrameWorks® Floor System starts with the best structural components in the industry: iLevel's quiet and dependable Silent Floor® joists along with its rimboard and beam products. Then it takes performance to the next level by incorporating the new TJ®-Performance Plus® Panel. All backed with iLevel's legendary technical expertise, customer service and reputation. Each part is designed to go together, so your builder does not have to spend the labor and effort to construct a floor from materials of various sources.
So when it's time to sit down with your builder and talk about the options you want for your home, make sure you ask about what you can't see. Some good decisions up front can save you years of hassle and thousands of dollars down the road.
Learn more about iLevel Weyerhaeuser's roof, wall and floor systems.