Healdsburg Lumber Co.

- THE ARATA HOUSE: Chapter 23 - Most builders would probably choose a pre-made banister and railing from companies like L.J. Smith or Cable Rail. But Ryan Arata is not most builders. He had a specific look in mind, so he decided to go ahead and build it himself. He started by working with Ronnie Black from Black Iron to create the steel posts. Posts like these are typically made from aluminum, but steel is a less expensive option. The steel was painted black with Dunn-Edwar...ds Paints Aristoshield in semi-gloss. Their Aristoshield line is made specifically for metal. The next step was to drill holes in the posts through which the cables will eventually be strung. Since cables have some flex to them, they are required to be spaced no more than 3 apart, as opposed to the 4 for something rigid. There are 13 cables, 13 posts, and most of the post have holes on two sides. That is a LOT of drilling! The holes for the posts on the banister were particularly challenging because they are at an angle. The cable railing are stainless steel 1x19s from Feeney. By building custom railings, Ryan was also able to choose minimalist hardware and creatively conceal the nuts and bolts keeping the tension in the cables. The banister and railing were topped off with a Clear Fir handrail, sealed with a clear coat. The natural wood matches the stairs and adjacent front door. A second piece of wood was secured under the handrail in order to provide pressure against the pull of the cables. To finish off the entryway, an avant garde chandelier was hung just inside the front door as a focal point. We’ll be back next Saturday!

We're back with another episode of What's Happening Wednesday. This week we're talking about Emtek! www.emtek.com

- THE ARATA HOUSE: Chapter 13 - Before the house could be painted, there were a few more projects to be completed. 101 Seamless Gutters (in Santa Rosa) came to install the gutters. And the name of the company says all you need to know about these gutters: they’re seamless! Instead of having a joint every few feet, these gutters are one continuous piece, which compliments the minimalist aesthetic. The piece of gutter that runs along one side of the house is 60 feet long! ...But the pros at 101 Seamless Gutters expertly installed them. To finish up the top of the house, Metal Sales (www.metalsales.us.com) Vertical Seam roof panels were installed. The panels come pre-cut and would have been too difficult to lug up a ladder. So Precision Crane Service (www.pcsnorcal.com) in Windsor did what they do best and hoisted the panels up to the roof so they could be installed. Arguably the most enjoyable part of the build thus far was installing the front door. The unique door chosen is a Simpson Door Clear Edge door (www.simpsondoor.com). The door features three glass panels that go all the way to the very edge of the door. Très chic! And instead of the hinges being on the side of the door, the experts in Hudson Street Design’s custom door shop modified the door to be a pivot door, meaning it swings from the top and bottom. And the best part was coating it in a deliciously lush red. It’s amazing to think how far we’ve come, but there’s still a lot of work to do. See you next Saturday!

- THE ARATA HOUSE: Chapter 12 - After the insulation and drywall were up on the inside, attention turned to the outside. Typically, drywall is not installed until after the roof is complete (due to potential moisture damage). However, because the Insulated Concrete Forms and Zip System create a water-tight seal, it was safe to drywall the interior before putting the roof on. While the foam of the FoxBlocks ICFs does not require a water barrier, Henry’s (www.henry.com) rains...creen was added for additional protection before applying the siding. In keeping with the modern look of the home, and to add even more individuality, James Hardie (www.jameshardie.com) Panel Reveal System was selected. The panels feature a unique groove or reveal in the space between them. As a way to break up the paneling and add some visual interest, Ryan incorporated sections of James Hardie Lap Siding. To finish off the siding, Versetta Stone (www.versettastone.com) accent columns were built around the corners of the house. The stones are cultured and manufactured locally in Napa. They feature an interlocking system that allows the stones to securely stack on top of one another without the use of cement or mortar. Because of the easy assembly process, Ryan was able to install the stones himself which meant he saved money by not having to hire a tile company. Check back next Saturday for the next chapter.

We're back with our first episode of the year of What's Happening Wednesday! Featured today: Windsor One trim and patterns.

- THE ARATA HOUSE: Chapter 11 - With the structure of the house complete (including the inside framing), it was time to make this building look like a house! The first step was to install insulation. Primarily, Knauff insulation from Service Partners Supplier was used on all of the interior walls. With the open floor plan, two-story ceiling, and concrete floors, there was a big potential for echoing and for noise to carry. Insulating the interior walls nearly soundproofs a...ny of the enclosed rooms (an essential feature with young children). Because there is not attic space and the ceiling is directly below the roof, there is a risk of condensation and mold. To prevent any mold from growing in the soft insulation, 2 of spray-foam was applied first to stop the condensation. Regular insulation was then added on top (or ratherunderneath). On the few portions of exterior walls framed in wood (mostly near the roofline), a thick layer of Roxul Mineral Wool Insulation was installed. Roxul Insulation is exceptionally dense, which provides a similar level of noise absorption and insulation as the ICF blocks. It is also fire-resistant, meaning that in the unfortunate event of another wildfire, it will aid in protecting the home. As you may recall, the drywall will be secured directly to the Fox Blocks. The Fox Blocks (or Insulated Concrete Forms) provide all the insulation necessarily. The drywall was provided by L & W Drywall Supply (www.lwsupply.com) in Santa Rosa. The drywall used was 5/8 throughout, adding to the soundproofing. While Team Arata was able to complete most of the drywalling themselves, they did have a crew to install drywall in the harder-to-reach areas. Seeing the walls completely up really helped the Arata family begin imagining their lives in their new home. We’ll see you back here next Saturday!

Happy New Year!

- THE ARATA HOUSE: Chapter 3 - June 2019 Before work could begin on the foundation, the backflow water system had to be installed. The first plumbing company contacted quoted four times what it should costan unfortunately common obstacle faced by fire victims trying to rebuild. Happily, the next call was to CheckRite Backflow Services in Santa Rosa (www.checkriteflow.com) who not only did a fantastic job, but also quoted and charged an appropriate amount. We highly recomme...nd! At long last the foundation began. The soil in this neighborhood is a hard clay which typically means driving pillars deep into the ground for a traditional slab foundation. This can be difficult and costly. The alternative? A WaffleMat Foundation! (www.wafflemat.com) WaffleMat is a foundation forming system that works by creating a pattern of voids on the underside of concrete foundation slabs that allow for the expansion and contraction of the soil without lifting or cracking the foundation. When concrete is poured over the Waffle-boxes, it forms deep I-beams in two directions that support the structure directly on the soil. After laying a protective sheet, the Waffle-boxes are laid out in a grid pattern and secured in place with metal connectors. The team from WaffleMat was able to complete this process in one day! Everyone was quite surprised to find the boxes out of alignment the next morningespecially since once secured, it takes considerable strength to move them. It turns out that a small tornado (as witnessed by a neighbor) made its way down the hill and directly though the Waffle-boxes the night beforepushing many of them out of place. Fortunately, Ryan was able to line everything back up in a few hours in time for the post tension installers. Check back next Saturday for Chapter 4! Ryan Arata

It's another episode of What's Happening Wednesday! This week we continue with our Marvin series. Check out the Marvin Elevate Collection!

- THE ARATA HOUSE: Chapter 2 - In April 2019, after readying the land for construction to begin, the retaining wall in the back yard was poured. It’s French grey, hard-troweled with a smooth finish, expertly completed by Eddie’s Concrete in Healdsburg. In addition to the retaining wall protecting the backyard from the hillside, it will double as seating with a floating thermally modified white ash bench surrounding a fire-pit. One end of the bench overlooks a koi pond. Th...e fence along the back of the property (cypress with horse fencing) also went in early on with the hope that by the time the house is finished, ivy will grow up the fence to create a more private backyard. Unfortunately, the neighborhood deer had something to say about that... The next step was to lay out the underground plumbing which was done by our friends at Eddinger Plumbing in Healdsburg. May wrapped up with Plum Electric (also in Healdsburg) installing the temporary power needed during construction, as well as the outlets that will eventually be in the floor of the first level of the house. Remember to check back next week for the next chapter! Ryan Arata

- THE ARATA HOUSE: Chapter 1 - Though the Tubbs Fire raged through Sonoma County back in October 2017, work on the Arata House did not begin until a year and a half later in May 2019. First, the property had to be cleared of rubble and debris left from the fire. This process couldn’t even begin until the fire was completely out and the area was deemed safe enough for debris removal teams to access the neighborhood with their equipment. Due to the wide spread damage, there wa...s quite a waitlist for their services. Once the lot was cleared, Ryan set to work designing his dream home. Though he had hoped to start building right away, engineering changes and permit delays meant the Aratas didn’t get the final okay until January 2019complications that many fire victims faced. And then came the torrential rains of winter 2019, delaying the commencement of building even further. The rains eventually ended and then they waited for the ground to dry out. And then, at long last, in May 2019, the foundation was staked out... Check back next Saturday for more of the story! Photos: Interior Floor Plans Ryan Arata @

--- T H E A R A T A H O U S E --- The Tale of One Family's Rebuild In the wee hours of October 9, 2017, our community was awakened to a strange, orange glow in the north eastern sky and the sounds of sirens. By dawn, the fast-moving wildfire (dubbed the Tubbs Fire) which started late the night before, had already passed through Larkfield, over Fountaingrove, and enveloped Coffey Park--leveling everything in its path. Over 5,000 homes and businesses were destroyed, with ma...ny of our employees, customers, and friends being victims. Since then, our county has endured even more heartache and the loss of hundreds of more homes to the Kincaid Fire, and more recently the Walbridge and Glass Fires. Now, exactly three years later, the Great Rebuild is well underway, with Coffey Park nearing the finish line of completing construction. However, many other neighborhoods still have more work to do because they faced additional challengessuch as replacing water and gas linesbefore construction could begin. One casualty of the Tubbs Fire was the childhood home of Kimberly Arata, wife of our General Manager, Ryan Arata. When Kim’s parents decided not to rebuild, she and Ryan bought the lot and set to work to build a dream house for their young family. But this wouldn’t be just any house. Not only did they go for a modern-minimalist style, but they chose to use as many products as possible from Healdsburg Lumber Company and Hudson Street Design. They also set a goal of meeting the clean energy standards set by Sonoma Clean Energywhich they exceeded by being about 40% more energy efficient than the standard energy efficient home. Come along on a journey with the Arata Family and Healdsburg Lumber as we document the process, products, perks, problems, and professionals involved in (re)building a home. Starting tomorrow, join us every Saturday for an update on the Arata House! Follow along each week for useful tips and product recommendations. Photo: Arata House. Ryan Arata

Our What's Happening Wednesday Marvin Series continues. This week: The Signature Collection

We have 1x6 and 1x8 6ft Fence Boards back in stock! As many of you know, Fence Boards have been a hot commodity in the last several months... Swing by today before these disappear!

Our hearts are with our friends and neighbors affected by the Glass/Shady Fires. Thank you to our Firefighters and First Responders for doing everything possible to protect our community! Please stay safe, everyone.