Recently we started producing striated plywood. I have been told that Wright used some of this in some of his homes, but not sure. Anyone know for sure, and if so, are there any pictures available?
thanks,
Jeff Nichols
Did Wright Use Striated Plywood? If so How extentsive?
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JeffNichols
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- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:35 pm
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JeffNichols
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:35 pm
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JeffNichols
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:35 pm
Thanks for posting these. The outside soffits look pretty weary, understandably. I wish the interior was a bit clearer. But I really appreciate the posts.SDR wrote:
Jeff
www.vintageplywood.com
The exterior photo should be credited to Scot Zimmerman. It was published in Romanza, © 1988 by Chronicle books.
The interior photo is by Alan Weintraub, from Frank Lloyd Wright -- Mid-Century Modern, © 2007 by RIZZOLI INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. There are several other photos showing the ceilings and soffits, including two good ones. Exterior soffits on the sheltered side of the house appear in good shape; the living room features a broad soffit inside the hexagonal-plan window wall.
Offhand I am not aware of other Wright houses using this material -- but there may well be one or more out there.
SDR
The interior photo is by Alan Weintraub, from Frank Lloyd Wright -- Mid-Century Modern, © 2007 by RIZZOLI INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. There are several other photos showing the ceilings and soffits, including two good ones. Exterior soffits on the sheltered side of the house appear in good shape; the living room features a broad soffit inside the hexagonal-plan window wall.
Offhand I am not aware of other Wright houses using this material -- but there may well be one or more out there.
SDR
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4The photographs which SDR just posted show the interior of our former house in Altadena, Ca. The ceiling and walls were all sheathed in striated (combed) plywood. Most of the rooms had a white washed stain applied similar to what Rudolf Schindler used. The kitchen ceiling had a reddish color stain, and the second bedroom ceiling had a soft sage green stain.
I love the material. It brings a nice texture, but it main attribute is the elimination of any visible seams due to the seemingly random variation in widths of the grooves.
Glad you are resuscitating this fine material!
I love the material. It brings a nice texture, but it main attribute is the elimination of any visible seams due to the seemingly random variation in widths of the grooves.
Glad you are resuscitating this fine material!
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JeffNichols
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:35 pm
Your Altadena home
Was this a FLR home or ??
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JeffNichols
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:35 pm
McCartney House in Kalamazoo Michigan.
It was used on all exterior soffits.
There are two areas on the west elevation where it was used. As a vertical wall application. ( after studying plans / elevations McCartney's should have installed a horizontal board and batten system)
Eventually I will replace these two areas with the much needed horizontal board and batten line. I plan to use the material I take off for future soffit repairs.
As stated butting the 4 x 8 sheets show little or no butted seams....
It was used on all exterior soffits.
There are two areas on the west elevation where it was used. As a vertical wall application. ( after studying plans / elevations McCartney's should have installed a horizontal board and batten system)
Eventually I will replace these two areas with the much needed horizontal board and batten line. I plan to use the material I take off for future soffit repairs.
As stated butting the 4 x 8 sheets show little or no butted seams....
McCartney - Meyers
Butting side to side would make an invisible seam. Butting end to end might be another matter. At Walker, the exterior soffits
and some ceilings are butted side to side; the seams are covered with battens. But there's a tricky scarf joint at each soffit
panel in the living room. See below.
Walker bedroom addition. It appears that the soffit above the bed has its panels applied edge to edge without battens.
Walker living room. The long side of the soffit trapezoid is 12 feet; the short edge is 8 feet. Note the diagonal cut starting at the left interior end; at the
upper right of the photo another nearly invisible diagonal cut can be seen -- with the grain of the panels perfectly matched ! These butts presumably
allowed the parts to be cut from 4 x 8 panels . . .
Photographs can be remarkably informative when one searches them for details.
photos © Alan Weintraub
SDR
and some ceilings are butted side to side; the seams are covered with battens. But there's a tricky scarf joint at each soffit
panel in the living room. See below.
Walker bedroom addition. It appears that the soffit above the bed has its panels applied edge to edge without battens.
Walker living room. The long side of the soffit trapezoid is 12 feet; the short edge is 8 feet. Note the diagonal cut starting at the left interior end; at the
upper right of the photo another nearly invisible diagonal cut can be seen -- with the grain of the panels perfectly matched ! These butts presumably
allowed the parts to be cut from 4 x 8 panels . . .
Photographs can be remarkably informative when one searches them for details.
photos © Alan Weintraub
SDR
McCartney owner John Myers sends photos:
1. West Cantilever soffit.
2. West Elevation, phase #2 former Carport tool Room. Phase #3 it has been enclosed & is used as a closet.
3. West Elevation. Vertical application is incorrect per the plans. Eventually it will be removed & restored with horizontal mahogany board & batten.
4. Exterior screened porch soffit w/ triangle lights.
1. West Cantilever soffit.
2. West Elevation, phase #2 former Carport tool Room. Phase #3 it has been enclosed & is used as a closet.
3. West Elevation. Vertical application is incorrect per the plans. Eventually it will be removed & restored with horizontal mahogany board & batten.
4. Exterior screened porch soffit w/ triangle lights.
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JeffNichols
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:35 pm
John, thanks for sharing the pictures of how the striated plywood was used in your FLW home. It's interesting to see all the various ways it was incorporated.
Here's some examples of our reproduction. The first one is simply an edge view, and the second one is from one of our customers who was not yet finished with the installation and painting.
Here's some examples of our reproduction. The first one is simply an edge view, and the second one is from one of our customers who was not yet finished with the installation and painting.
