Bridger Steel Project News, Highlights & Helpful Tips

Charred Wood is the process of lightly applying an open flame to a wood plank to char the surface of the board. The charred exterior not only helps to weatherproof the siding and act as a deterrent to insects, but it also looks extremely stunning!

Shou Sugi Ban is a commonly used variation of the Japanese word Yakisugi. In Japanese, Yaki means to heat with fire, and Sugi means Japanese Cedar. Ban translates to a plank, and in this case, a wood plank. 

Shou Sugi Ban was first seen used in 18^th century Japan as a technique for charring the outer layer of a wooden plank (usually cedar) to help protect the façade against weather and insects. In recent years, the visual appeal of this technique has been adopted by architects and designers around the world.  Commonly referred to as Charred Wood or Burnt Wood, this technique can be applied to a range of wood siding panels.

In the past few years, we’ve watched the design aesthetic go back and forth between the sleek, cool, sharp lines of Modern style and the cozy, comfy, woodsy feeling of Rustic style. More recently, the two designs have found each other working closely together. Those crisp, modern lines are mixing with warm, earthy materials like natural wood and stone to achieve a brilliant and unique style.

Corrugated metal is becoming one of the most sought-after panels for interior and exterior building projects. With expanded options in both size and color, corrugated metal is popping up on new houses and renovations across the country. If you like the look of this wavy material, but aren’t sure where to put it, here are five new ways to update your home with corrugated metal.

Shannon Schad began his career in residential construction at age 15 alongside his dad in the Black Hills of South Dakota. After a few years hiatus as a skier in Montana and Colorado, the lure of family and a career designing custom homes called him back home. 

In 2008 he struck out on his own with Shannon Schad Design & Construction. Now he works alongside homeowners to create mountain homes that reflect both his clients’ design ideas and the landscapes that surround them.

At a recent AIA Conference trade show, our corrugated metal panels were laid out. People would say, “Wow, I never thought you could use metal for interior projects.” Your could see projects flashing through their minds using modern rustic corrugated metal in place of boring, grey painted walls.

For the past ten years Ben Nistler has been building cozy and comfortable homes for other people through his business NHB. This August he finally put the finishing touches on a dream home for himself, using a pretty unique hobby as inspiration.

There is nothing typical about Rumour’s Coffee Shop and Wine Bar in the Black Hills of South Dakota. That's because there is nothing typical about co-owner Tara Little, a woman with a vision for a community gathering space that also serves coffee and a fun selection of wine and craft beers.

When you walk into Jim Greenbaum’s house in Manhattan, MT, his personality bleeds through every corner. From the surfboard hanging on the living room wall to the electric guitar, microphone, and amp in the corner, everything is uniquely his style. “I think a home should smell like coffee and home cooking when you walk in,” Jim tells us. “It makes people feel more at home.”

 

Former architecture student Gordon Nelson has always been fascinated with alternative structures used as homes. Almost a year ago he began work on a tiny home in Manhattan, MT. “My needs are modest; it’s just me and the dog,” he says. “It just needs to be enough to keep the rain off my head.”