Customers are attracted to businesses that look great and stand out. But standing out is difficult when you use the same materials as other businesses. One way to outshine the competition is to use a natural hardwood like Ipe for siding. Wood radiates a welcoming environment and evokes wholesome emotions that other materials can’t replicate.
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We’ve brought back South Beach’s Art Deco Decking
Art Deco is one of the classic styles of building that was made famous during the 1920’s – 1940’s. This style is characterized by narrow, bold geometrical shapes that are usually lavishly ornamented. In many areas across the United States like South Beach, the eclectic Art Deco style has begun a renaissance but not in traditional buildings rather in other structures like decks, porches, and siding of houses.
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 This piece of mill run American Cherry is similar to the one used as a counter top |
 This counter top created out of a rough cut piece of American Cherry, added character to this kitchen |
Often used in furniture making, wood working, and flooring, American Cherry has become a staple in the industry because of it’s ease of handling. It has had a strong, positive reputation for many years with wood workers. Unfortunately, this beautiful wood is often stained to the point where its colors are lost. The natural tones of American Cherry range from light browns to darker reddish tones, with highlights of white from sap wood.
2014 International Builders Show in Las Vegas, NV
AdvantageLumber.com recently returned from exhibiting at the 2014 International Builders Show in Las Vegas, NV. IBS is the nation’s largest annual residential housing construction trade event for manufacturers and suppliers of home construction products and services.
All wood breathes, no matter what kind it is. The fibers that make up the wood absorb and release moisture. It’s required that before you begin installation, you allow the decking to acclimate to your local environment. This helps prevent large expansion and contraction of the wood once it’s installed.
The proper way to acclimate wood is to let it sit in the area where it will be built for a period of at least 7 days. Depending on your climate, and the time of year you install your deck, this acclimation period can be anywhere between 7 – 14 days. Never let your wood sit directly on top of the ground or concrete.
Both the ground and concrete have high fluctuations in temperature and humidity and can adversely affect the decking. Do not store your material for more than 30 days before installing it. If you have to store it for a period longer than 30 days, consult with someone from AdvantageLumber.com to find the proper way to install during long periods of time.
During the storage process, the deck must be elevated at least 12″ off the ground and stickers (small wood pieces) must be placed between each row of wood. This spacing will help with the ventilation in each board and helping it acclimate evenly. Last, but not least, do not cover your wood with any tarp/plastic.
Covering it with a tarp will trap moisture and cause the wood to warp and twist. If you foresee rainfall, cover the wood with a sheet of plywood to shed the water. Always keep your material as dry as possible prior to installation.
Following these simple rules will ensure that your siding will perform as you expect it to. Not only will the boards last longer, but it’ll be free of imperfections and future defects. We encourage you to watch this video to see how not to store wood decking or siding:
Give your home a face lift with the exotic and captivating look only natural wood can bring. Unlike any other material, wood brings both warmth and beauty to your project. Let your commercial location or home speak for itself by making the perfect first impression. The possibilities for exterior wood applications are endless, and Advantage Lumber can help you get the perfect materials for your designs.
Our Advantage Siding™ will elevate your home in ways you never dreamed of.
Back-priming is the process of applying a coat of primer to wood, or siding, to prevent moisture from entering the material. Now, why don’t we just do that instead of going the long way around this? Priming does not completely protect the materials from moisture, but it is extremely important that if you oil the front of the siding, to oil the back of the siding.
Should I Back-prime?
Back-priming is great practice, but do not rely on this process alone to protect your siding from water intrusion. Moisture will still manage to penetrate the siding through minute cracks and crevices, no matter how well you think you’ve primed each and every board.
Softer woods such as cedar and pine definitely benefit with extra primer. These types of woods are more prone to water damage. Exotic hardwoods such as Advantage Rainscreen Ipe™ and Advantage Rainscreen Cumaru™ are infused with natural oils that make them less susceptible to water intrusion. Normal primers will begin to peel when applied to exotic hardwoods, and oils that would normally adhere to softer woods, will only gum up on these types of woods.
Only use approved oils on exotic hardwoods.
What if I still decide to Back-prime?
Only use approved oils and primers on exotic hardwoods, and any wood for that matter. The last thing you want is to ruin all of your siding because you didn’t use an approved oil for the type of wood in your project. Set aside enough time for the primer to dry, at least 48 hours.
Pro Installation Tip:
Sand all sides of each piece of siding. This allows you to level the board for superior adhesion of any oils and paints you decide to apply. This may seem like a tedious task, but it allows you the chance to ensure your finished surface has a smooth and linear look.
Back-priming is a process that should be well researched before installation begins. Make sure you only use approved oils and primers for the materials you are using and allow adequate time between application and installation. You want to make sure that everything is done correctly to ensure the maximum life expectancy of your siding.