Deck Tools Archives - AdvantageLumber Blog

The Best Deck Board Straightener: Hardwood Wrench by DeckWise Takes the Top Spot

June 17, 2025 by Advantage Lumber

Building a deck is a rewarding project, but warped or bowed deck boards can turn it into a frustrating ordeal. A reliable deck board straightener is essential for achieving a flawless, professional finish. At AdvantageLumber.com, we’ve tested countless tools and gathered feedback from our extensive customer base to identify the best deck board straighteners on …

Essential Tools for Working with Hardwood Decking Like Ipe

February 19, 2026June 11, 2024 by Advantage Lumber

When it comes to creating a stunning and durable outdoor space, hardwood decking such as Ipe is a top choice for many homeowners and builders. Renowned for its incredible density, natural resistance to decay, and beautiful grain, Ipe requires specific tools and techniques to ensure a successful installation. Here’s a comprehensive guide on the tools …

How to Make Your Framing Last as Long as Your Ipe Decking

May 17, 2022February 17, 2020 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

Ipe decking can last up to 75 years with hardly any maintenance. That’s great! But customers often wonder: what about the framing? Deck framing is usually made of pressure treated pine. It’s cheap, easy to install, and readily available. But pressure treated pine is only rated to last about 15 years. So why would you …

Are Metal Deck Joists A Good Idea For Brazilian Decking?

May 12, 2026November 30, 2016 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

Brazilian Decking like Ipe, Cumaru, or Tigerwood is some of the longest-lasting wood around. Not only do these woods make your deck look absolutely stunning, they also last decades longer than other alternatives. Many customers ask if we recommend an alternative framing material, since they want their framing to last as long as their deck. …

How to Get Snow off Your Deck: An Easy Checklist

December 15, 2014December 2, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

Winter is here, and although the joy of a beautiful snow covered landscape is great, it’s accompanied by freezing temperatures. These cold winds are also responsible for a lot of our indoor hibernation which can lead to some neglected decks.

How To Convert Square Feet to Linear Feet

June 7, 2023November 18, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

The lumber industry has a lot of terms that are often very tough to navigate especially if it’s the first time anyone considered buying wood. Most wood products are sold per piece or per square foot. Often a lot of people won’t know how to convert from square feet to linear feet and if they order amounts per the square foot then there will be a very big shortage of material. Luckily we do provide a handy dandy square feet to linear feet calculator that’ll do the hard work and a page that explains what lumber sizing is! But, have you wondered how exactly the calculation happens?

New Laser Guided Straight Line Ripper in CA and FL factories

December 16, 2014June 30, 2014 by Mr. Ipe Hardwood

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.