Baird Brothers Hometown Hero: Chris Miller

On the road of life, sometimes certain people are meant to cross paths. Corporal Chris Miller is one of those people for Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods. We met Chris a few years back when he stopped into our showroom with a small project.

After talking with him, we quickly learned more about his story and how he is using his own experiences to support other veterans in need. Chris himself is a retired wounded Marine who has made it his life’s mission to advocate for other veterans, specifically bringing awareness to three incredible organizations: The Travis Mills Foundation, Dogs For Our Brave, and The Independence Fund. 

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Local Products Featured In National Reveal For This Old House

The Farmhouse in Fairfield County 2020 Idea House uses flooring, doors and mouldings made at Baird Brothers in Canfield, OH

Youngstown, OH: In a live virtual tour, released on Wednesday via various social media outlets, This Old House highlighted its 2020 Farmhouse in Fairfield Idea House, which incorporates numerous products manufactured at Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods in Canfield, OH. The home, situated near a golf course on Long Island Sound in Connecticut, is slated to be featured in This Old House Magazine and on thisoldhouse.com/farmhouse2020.

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TOH_CottageCape_Header

In the midst of all things COVID, This Old House has been busy pumping out content for home enthusiasts, craftsmen and builders across the nation. And, while the 2020 TOH Cape Cod Idea House reveal was quite a bit different than previous years, the home (known as Cottage on the Cape) was nothing short of stunning…and Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods is proud to be a part of it!

While most viewers follow This Old House on PBS, the brand’s newer Idea House Build Series allows fans to join Pro2Pro Editor Chris Ermides as he chronicles two separate 2020 Idea House builds. A virtual grand opening for the Cape Idea House was held on July 16, and full episodes of the project are available online.

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Baird Brothers Celebrates 60 Years In Business

Canfield company marks 60th year of producing quality hardwood products for the Valley and beyond

Canfield, OH: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods is celebrating its 60th year in business. The family-owned and -operated company was founded in 1960 by three brothers, Howard, Richard and Paul Baird, and is recognized as a premier, nationwide producer and retailer of fine hardwood products.

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Sustainability is important; quality hardwood products come from quality sources.

At Baird Brothers, we believe that it’s our responsibility to be a steward of our natural hardwood resources. From the beginning, we’ve made it our mission to build this business with future generations in mind; so for us, sustainability doesn’t start and end with our manufacturing process. In order to make sure our business is here for future generations, we need to make sure that our forests are, too!

Sustainable forestry is about finding a balance and having concern for the bigger picture. So, when purchasing from timber companies, it’s important for us to know that the companies we work with are managing our natural hardwood resources properly. That same responsibility is why we implemented green manufacturing practices in the early 80s, well before most businesses were discussing eco-friendly ideas.

Sustainable Timber Harvesting

Sustainability is, by definition, the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance, and timber is one of the most renewable natural resources we have (when treated with respect).

In order for our forests to properly regenerate, the right trees must be selected at the right time while ensuring that young trees are growing for the future.

That’s where responsible logging companies like Frontier Woodland Services, LLC can help. Dan Castellucci, owner at Frontier, saw a niche in working with private landowners (according to the American Forest Foundation, family-owned forests account for more than 358 billion cubic feet of standing wood), and he uses his background and education to ensure that hardwood resources are harvested using sustainable logging practices.

According to the Rainforest Alliance, “The goal [of sustainable logging] is to harvest in such a way that species have the chance to regenerate and ensure that the forest’s overall ecological health is maintained, restored or even enhanced.”

Interestingly, disturbance is an essential part of forest regeneration and timber harvests help to control where and how that disturbance occurs. Three of the most common timber harvesting practices are clearcutting, selection harvesting and shelterwood.

Clearcutting

Clearcutting is the most visually drastic method of harvesting, but it is designed to mimic natural disasters, like wildfires. The open spaces created following a harvest allow tree species that are intolerant of shade to regenerate rapidly.

Selection Harvesting

Also known as selective cutting, selection harvesting is used in forest areas that have become overly dense. Trees are cut at uneven ages, leaving a partially opened canopy that allows younger trees to grow.

Shelterwood

Shelterwood is gaining in popularity because overstory trees are not removed until a desired amount of regeneration occurs. Shelterwood harvests happen over a longer period of time and include multiple cuts.

Sustainable Manufacturing Processes

At Baird Brothers, we take sustainability one step further by implementing sustainable manufacturing processes that allow us to use our natural timber resources to the nth degree. We are proud to say that our hardwood products are produced by utilizing nearly every inch of harvested timber we purchase because we always work to build our business with future generations in mind.

In order to minimize waste as much as possible, we have implemented processes and technology that make operations more efficient. We’re always on the lookout for advances in technology that improve the milling process, reduce waste and optimize our natural resource.

Cut-Offs Used for Finger-Jointed Mouldings

The milling process for hardwood products produces a large number of cut-offs that are still high-quality wood pieces. So, in an effort to reduce waste, we re-purpose those cut-offs into products like primed, finger-jointed mouldings and workbench tops.

Shorter boards are reassembled by interlocking the finger-joints and filling a jig to create 16’ mouldings which are significantly stronger than MDF and come in a variety of profiles, including hundreds of unique custom offerings.

Using Waste Material to Power Operations

At Baird Brothers, we’re proud to have a very small environmental footprint, all thanks to our on-site boilers and electrical generators.

Materials that would otherwise be thrown aside are ground into a sawdust consistency and transferred to a boiler facility where they’re burned to generate heat for our dry kilns and buildings. Even the heat produced by our off-the-grid electrical generators is reused to power our kilns.

Why Sustainability is Important to Baird Brothers

Sustainably-produced hardwood products are the result of companies that care about forests and future generations. And, at Baird Brothers, we don’t just talk sustainability. We live it!

Early on, our leadership understood that sustainability doesn’t simply benefit current generations; it lays the groundwork for generations to come. Our founding members implemented green business practices almost 40 years ago out of respect for our forests and natural resources, and we’re keeping that tradition of excellence alive and well.

We are proud to be American’s source for fine hardwood products and we work every day to responsibly build our business with future generations in mind—both ours and yours!

Mantel Shelf Install: Taking a Closer Look

Have you been steadily checking home improvement projects off your list over the past couple of months? If so, this blog might be for you!

The May 7th episode of Ask This Old House, “Mantel, Too Many Light Switches,” follows along with mason Mark McCullough as he travels to Chicago to help install a wood mantel – made and shipped from Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods – on a 1980s contemporary stone fireplace.

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Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods Re-Opens Showroom for Safe, In-Store Shopping

The Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods showroom re-opens for in-store shopping on Monday, June 8. This re-opening marks the first time since March 23 that the showroom has been available to the general public and local builders without a previously scheduled appointment.

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COVID-19 Update - Return to Normal Business Hours

While this has been an unusual and uncharted time in our great nation’s history, Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods remains American Made and American Strong!

We are proud to announce a return to normal business hours – 7:30A to 4P, Monday through Friday, and 7:30A to noon, on Saturdays – with a few adjustments to normal operations.

The Baird manufacturing and sales teams were back to full force as of Monday, May 4th, and we are currently processing all online and phone orders without delay.

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Baird Shiplap Antique Oak Flooring.

Popularized by Joanna Gaines on HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” decorating with shiplap has taken on a life of its own. Fans of the show even refer to the versatile hardwood paneling as Joanna’s shiplap. While it originated as a sturdy exterior framing material on the western plains, shiplap is now being incorporated into the design of modern Los Angeles cliff homes, accenting walls in New York City lofts, and, of course, providing gorgeous clean lines to achieve the Fixer Upper rustic modern look in homes in Waco, Texas.

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COVID-19 Update: Re-Opening

At Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods, we know that – right now – keeping our distance is the best way to stand united. And, that’s why we’re making short-term adjustments to normal operations.

Our showroom remains closed until further notice, but orders can be placed online or over the phone by calling us at 800.732.1697.  For the time being, our drive-thru pick up service is available Monday through Friday, 9AM to 4PM and Saturday, 9AM to noon.

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