Knotty Cedar Siding vs. Clear Cedar Siding for Modern Homes

Knotty (STK) Cedar Siding on Modern Home

Considering cedar siding for your modern home? If so, it is important to understand the difference between knotty and clear cedar grades. Given proper maintenance both grades are equally durable. The main difference is appearance.

Knotty Cedar Siding

Knotty cedar siding is also referred to as STK or select tight knot. Knotty cedar gives a more rustic appearance compared to the clear grade. For modern homes, large scale application of knotty cedar generally appears too rustic. However, as demonstrated in the top photo, on a smaller scale knotty cedar is a viable option.


Clear cedar siding is mostly free of knots. The lack of knots make it less rustic in appearance.Thus, clear grade is generally a preferred choice for modern homes. The cleaner more uniform appearance easily lends itself to use on a larger scale as shown in the bottom picture.

Clear Cedar Siding on Modern Home

Now, the big question. How much does this stuff cost? Clear grade is much more expensive then STK. Wood pricing can fluctuate greatly, but the following numbers from late 2010 should give a good idea. Pricing is per linear foot.

1" x 4" tongue & groove
STK: $0.41
Clear: $0.99

1" x 8" tongue & groove

Clear Cedar Siding

STK: $0.89
Clear: $2.46

Clear Cedar Siding on Modern Home

West Standard Design Build's New Washington Park Home

West Standard Design Build's Washington Park office: 889 S Race

West Standard Design Build's Washington Park office: 889 S Race

West Standard Design Build has moved into our new home.
It is located at the corner of Race & Kentucky in heart of Denver's vibrant East Washington Park.

Stop by and say hello!



West Standard Design Build is a Denver, Colorado based architecture firm and custom home builder: www.WestStandard.com

Wallet Friendly Modern Light Fixtures for Kitchen and Dining

Clinker by Innermost

Cool modern light fixtures tend to carry steep price tags. Here are a few sleek designs that will get attention while not being overly pricey.

The first two selections are from Innermost, and work well in the dining room.

For a modern kitchen, the bottom three pendants by LBL Lighting are good choices.

Kaboom by Innermost

The Clinker can be purchased for about $1300. The Kaboom weighs in at approximately $200, and the pendants range between $250-360.

More information on these fixtures can be found at: www.innermost.us
www.lbllighting.com

Cypree Large by LBL Lighting in Washington Park Modern Home

Neutron by LBL Lighing

Tubes by LBL Lighting

Washington Park Home Build Featured on National Network

West Standard clients, Dave and Natalie, talking about their new home

Huff family with West Standard's Brian Dotson

Rendering of Dave and Natalie's modern home

West Standard clients, Dave and Natalie Huff, made their "big screen" debut last week.

Dave and Natalie have generously allowed a national television series to document the design process and construction of their new Washington Park home.

The TV series, premiering later this year, focuses on the challenges and triumphs of building a new home.


West Standard Design Build is a Denver, Colorado based architecture firm and custom home builder creating smarter smaller spaces. More information may be found at: www.WestStandard.com

Slab-Over-Void Installation Begins on Washington Park Custom Home

void material placed within foundation's perimeter (brown rectangles)

polyethylene vapor barrier (yellow), and R5 rigid insulation (white)

rebar over rigid insulation

additional rebar placed around concrete piers

Despite Denver's recent cold temperatures and abundant snow fall, West Standard has progressed on the construction of our client's Washington Park modern home.

A small break in the inclement weather allowed for partial installation of the slab-over-void system. This system allows the concrete floor (slab) to be suspended above the soil. Thus, protecting the floor from the site's high water table, as well as swelling that could occur in the underlying earth. Additionally, this system was chosen to deliver on our clients requirement for stained concrete floors in the kitchen, dining, and living areas.

The first step for installing the slab-over-void system is to place a void material within the perimeter of the foundation walls. This material sits directly on the soil, and consists of multiple six inch tall cardboard boxes. The Boxes are reinforced with a grid of vertically oriented cardboard fins. The void material creates a base onto which the concrete will eventually be poured. Over time the void material will degrade leaving the concrete floor suspended above the soil.

20 mil polyethylene sheeting is then placed on top of the void material. The plastic sheeting serves as a vapor barrier keeping ground moisture from the overlying insulation and concrete floor. Next, rigid R5 insulation is placed on top of the plactic sheeting.

Reinforcing bars (rebar) are then set in a grid pattern.  Concrete is very resistant to compression, but relatively week in tension. The rebar is used to carry the tensile load, thus, increasing the concrete's strength.

finished concrete showing tool joints

The final step in this process is the pouring and finishing of the concrete floor. In conjunction with the void material and rebar grid, the floor is supported by a series of previously poured concrete piers. Additionally, The concrete floor is "tied" to the foundation wall with a series of reinforcing bars that extend vertically from the top of the foundation wall. The exposed length of each reinforcing bar is bent to form a right angle with the foundation wall.

finished concrete showing six inch slab

After the concrete is finished the floor must be protected from the cold ambient temperatures while it cures. To accomplish this, the aft floor will be covered with insulating blankets, and the front portion will be enclosed in a tent. Tenting, although more labor intensive, allows for the best possible finish. We are tenting the portion that will ultimately be exposed stained concrete. Blanketing tends to leave a slightly blotchy finish, and this was acceptable in the areas that are to be carpeted.

West Standard is a Denver, Colorado based architecture firm and custom home builder creating modern sustainable experiences. More information may be found at: www.WestStandard.com