Deck building tips and tricks. Discussion about wood and much more!
Here at AdvantageLumber.com, we always have state of the art equipment in our factories. Having the latest machinery allows us to provide you with the most current services available, and because of these advances we also are able to serve you with fast shipping times. We have seen steady growth since we first opened our doors in 1992, and even during the economic downturn, we have prospered where other companies have not.
Did you know there is an extensive amount of lumber wasted when manufacturing mills cut decking to even lengths? For example, to produce 12’ boards they’ll take 13’ boards, cut them down to even length, and discard the cut offs leaving massive piles of beautiful hardwood to waste.
Stair building is an art form of its own. The perfect set of stairs makes a comfortable transition between areas. How often have you been on a deck where the stairs were too narrow, too long, or they just looked odd? Stairs need to be properly built for comfort, safety, and appearance. Remember, every deck is different, and building the correct set of stairs for your particular project enhances the appearance and creates safety for your guests.
Traditionally, deck stairs land directly on a patio made of concrete, stone, or a material other than soil to prevent rot and decay. These landings can shift freely with frost movement. Frost movement is the rise and fall of the soil due to underground water freezing and expanding. Recently there have been some concerns regarding frost movement and the stair’s ability to withstand the fluctuations. Typically, stairs have more freedom of movement than the deck, but some builders argue the stairs should be supported just like the deck. This topic is a grey area because it all depends on each deck’s situation.
Deck posts are an extremely important part of your deck. So, it should be obvious that ensuring they stay in good condition and a part of any routine deck inspection is critical.
A deck is built for load to be evenly distributed throughout the entire surface area. This suggests the ledger board and posts will have an equal load. This assumption is wrong in most cases. If you plan to entertain on your deck, your guests will have a tendency to hang out at the end of the deck where the railings are; thereby increasing the load on the posts and not the ledger board.
Designers and builders chose our Advantage Ipe™ to be the complementary material for a modern designed, 6 million dollar home. Aside from its already incredible qualities, Ipe brought a beautiful color, look, and exotic grain pattern that the home required. Placed around the pool in rectangular areas, Ipe gave a warm and inviting sensation to …