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In my opinion, this obsession over anything and everything wood is crazy. Wood cups, warps, scratches. I don't really see the need to spend the extra money for a solid wood door. It would not make a single difference in my every day life. The trim in my house is probably MDF. In fact, several contractors recommended using MDF because it doesn't warp. Our front door is fiberglass, which I found easy to clean and maintain. Unlike the wooden door we had at our old house which needed frequent staining. Sometimes the newer things are better to me, and it's not purely out of cost.
There are some things where wood is preferred. Other things like doors doesn't make a difference to me.
Aah--! Your comments got me tapping on my fat ornate "wood" trim to see if it sounded like wood. It doesn't! It has a plasticky surface, and it doesn't sound the way I think wood should. It looks great though! I have fiberglass exterior doors and I really don't like them, because I think they look cheap. However I do agree that they function just fine. I painted a couple of them and I like their looks better than the original dead white.
If I can't have wood for exterior doors, I'd rather have steel, but that's probably just me.
I do admire the old solid, paneled interior doors though. I also agree that they can warp over time. But some of the older fake doors sort of fall apart, and have to be reglued. That has actually happened to us. And if you need to shorten them, doing that is a real pain. DH thinks our present paneled, hollow core doors are better than the ones we had before. But they don't even look like old fashioned doors. Their surfaces are totally smooth all over.
As you state, they function perfectly fine, and it doesn't make a bit of difference to my day to day life. I like viewpoint.
I would be interested in knowing what balloon framing is, and how it relates to a home burning down in 40 minutes. Thanks for your knowledge.
I didn't read the content of this website, but it has a nice drawing showing the difference between balloon framing and platform framing. (modern houses use platform framing)
Here is the site: Understanding House Framing - Extreme How To
The problem with balloon framing, as ocngypz points out, is that, if there is a fire in the walls, balloon framing acts like a chimney. In a house with platform framing, the inside of the wall isn't open from the basement all the way to the attic.
Edit: I just looked more closely at the drawing at the link I provided. That drawing calls out a fire stop. (actually a "first stop" and a "five stop" but I'm sure they meant "fire stop" LOL) But, they weren't always used.
I didn't read the content of this website, but it has a nice drawing showing the difference between balloon framing and platform framing. (modern houses use platform framing)
Here is the site: Understanding House Framing - Extreme How To
The problem with balloon framing, as ocngypz points out, is that, if there is a fire in the walls, balloon framing acts like a chimney. In a house with platform framing, the inside of the wall isn't open from the basement all the way to the attic.
Edit: I just looked more closely at the drawing at the link I provided. That drawing calls out a fire stop. (actually a "first stop" and a "five stop" but I'm sure they meant "fire stop" LOL) But, they weren't always used.
Thanks!
Could someone living in an older two story house add fire stops?
Aah--! Your comments got me tapping on my fat ornate "wood" trim to see if it sounded like wood. It doesn't! It has a plasticky surface, and it doesn't sound the way I think wood should. It looks great though! I have fiberglass exterior doors and I really don't like them, because I think they look cheap. However I do agree that they function just fine. I painted a couple of them and I like their looks better than the original dead white.
If I can't have wood for exterior doors, I'd rather have steel, but that's probably just me.
I do admire the old solid, paneled interior doors though. I also agree that they can warp over time. But some of the older fake doors sort of fall apart, and have to be reglued. That has actually happened to us. And if you need to shorten them, doing that is a real pain. DH thinks our present paneled, hollow core doors are better than the ones we had before. But they don't even look like old fashioned doors. Their surfaces are totally smooth all over.
As you state, they function perfectly fine, and it doesn't make a bit of difference to my day to day life. I like viewpoint.
I respect what you like
I guess the more I thought on things, the more I realized that many of the current materials being used aren't so bad (when it comes to everyday life) at all. I love wood decks, for example. Absolutely adore them. If I could construct a deck at our current house, I would. However, the maintenance was a PITA. I have to give the composites a tip of the hat because while they don't have the richness of wood they save on time. The mdf trim doesn't splinter or crack. Fiberglass is easier to clean and doesn't require staining. These things are maligned as being inferior but they do have their pros to match their cons and it isn't just cost.
This has more to do with modern synthetic furniture vs. older furnishings made with natural materials. But, the same principles would apply to laminate floors, vinyl windows, engineered wood products, (glue) etc. The subject quickly became about the flammability of the structure, itself.
Yes, a fire inside of a balloon framed wall without fire stopping will be catastrophic. But, one could argue that an old house would be safer, in a fire that starts in the living space. (e.g. someone knocks over a burning candle) First, plaster has a higher fire resistance rating than gyp board, so it would take longer for the fire to get to the wood framing. Then, a solid 2x10 joist or 2x6 roof rafter will burn longer before losing their structural integrity, than engineered roof trusses, or TJIs (wood I joists).
Luckily though, one's chances of being in a house fire have dropped dramatically. The number of house fires has dropped by 50% since the late 1970's.
That's certainly a good thing. But, they still happen.
I have a co-worker who had a house built. Less than a year after completion, he had a major house fire; his adult daughter's puppy chewed some wires. Although, the house didn't burn to the ground, he still had everything demolished, except the basement walls, and started over.
I guess the more I thought on things, the more I realized that many of the current materials being used aren't so bad (when it comes to everyday life) at all. I love wood decks, for example. Absolutely adore them. If I could construct a deck at our current house, I would. However, the maintenance was a PITA. I have to give the composites a tip of the hat because while they don't have the richness of wood they save on time. The mdf trim doesn't splinter or crack. Fiberglass is easier to clean and doesn't require staining. These things are maligned as being inferior but they do have their pros to match their cons and it isn't just cost.
This has more to do with modern synthetic furniture vs. older furnishings made with natural materials. But, the same principles would apply to laminate floors, vinyl windows, engineered wood products, (glue) etc. The subject quickly became about the flammability of the structure, itself.
Yes, a fire inside of a balloon framed wall without fire stopping will be catastrophic. But, one could argue that an old house would be safer, in a fire that starts in the living space. (e.g. someone knocks over a burning candle) First, plaster has a higher fire resistance rating than gyp board, so it would take longer for the fire to get to the wood framing. Then, a solid 2x10 joist or 2x6 roof rafter will burn longer before losing their structural integrity, than engineered roof trusses, or TJIs (wood I joists).
Watching the modern room go up in total flame in a little over 3 minutes was an eye opener. It might have been good to have a list of the furnishings in the modern room to know what it was that was so flammable.
You really do need to have a working fire alarm in your house, people. The newer codes want them over the door or in every bed room. I can certainly see why.
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