You realize that wood moves and understand how that fact will impact the size gap you incorporate into your new deck. You also know that you’ll need to include time for your decking lumber to acclimate prior to installation. But how much time will that require? Like lumber pricing, the answer to this question isn’t […]
Construction
Should I Use Ipe or Teak? Two High End Lumbers Explained
Ipe and Teak are two of the highest quality woods available today. These two lumbers are both prized for their beauty and durability, but despite their similarities, Ipe and Teak are two very different types of wood. If you are seeking a high end lumber option and are considering using Ipe or Teak for your […]
Septic Tank Pumping in Mooresville, NC
Located near Charlotte, North Carolina, Clearwater Septic & Pumping (clearwatersepticandpumping.com) offers a variety of septic system maintenance and repair services. As a family-owned-and-operated company, we’re here to help your family with the kind of thorough, reliable, and affordable service you deserve. Fully licensed, bonded, and insured, our septic specialists guarantee all maintenance and repair work, […]
A Homeowner’s Guide to Avoiding Ice Dams
As iconic as icicles may be, donning the fronts of holiday cards and mimicked in lights and all kinds of other winter decor, the real ones can mean bad news for your home. Specifically, icicles can be signs of an ice dam. Not necessarily, though. So how do you know if your home’s icicles indicate […]
How Governmental Regulations & Lumber’s Origin Affect Lumber Pricing
We realize that lumber pricing can often seem like a conundrum, requiring some kind of mystery password to unlock its riddles. While the many factors that influence lumber pricing are far from simple or static, they are comprehensible to the average customer. They’re also complex and nuanced, though, and explaining that to each individual customer […]
Ipe Wood: Premier Tropical Decking Material, Part 1
Ipe is in high demand for both commercial and residential decking projects. Once you become familiar with the benefits of this Brazilian tropical hardwood species, chances are you won’t have any trouble understanding its continual growth in popularity. There are all sorts of reasons why everyone from lumber dealers to construction companies to end customers […]
Composite Decking or Tropical Decking: Which Is Best for Boardwalks? Part 3
You might be able to get away with using composite decking products on small residential decks. But when it comes to large-scale areas open to the public, you really don’t want to risk it. In addition to the 6 reasons we already looked at in Part 1 and Part 2, we have some words for […]
Good News for Rainforests: Green Building with Exotic Lumber, Part 2
As we all know, conventional wisdom isn’t always accurate: such is the case when it comes to evaluating environmentally friendly building products. Despite many people’s beliefs to the contrary, buying exotic lumber is actually good for the environment. Yes, really. As we continue our discussion of how the lumber industry promotes healthy rain forests — […]
Thinking Outside the Trends: Afromosia as a Teak Alternative
The popularity of minimalist décor trends borrowed from Asian and Scandinavian ideals have led to the increased use of Teak for interior applications from floors to ceilings — and plenty in between. Some luxury homes even use Teak for exterior door and window trim, as well as decking. Of course, Teak comes with a hefty […]
How the Size of Boards Affects Lumber Pricing
Lumber pricing can seem like quite the enigma. To some extent, it is impossible for us to communicate to customers the many factors that contribute to it, but in an effort to unveil the mystery and foster open communication between lumber suppliers and customers, we’re making an attempt. In “What Factors Determine the Price of […]
Composite Decking or Tropical Decking: Which Is Best for Boardwalks? Part 2
As superior as tropical decking is to composite decking in general, the impact of choosing an inferior product is multiplied when you’re building a large-scale structure such as a boardwalk. In Part 1, we looked at 4 major problems with building boardwalks with composite decking materials: inferior hardness, heat retention, oily surface, and unpredictable movement. […]
Custom Glass Fireplace Door Installation – Westchester County, NY
If you own a fireplace, you know that there’s nothing as cozy as relaxing in front of the fire on a cool evening. A fireplace without a cover, however, can be drafty during those cold winter nights. It can also be potentially dangerous. Installing a custom glass door for your fireplace can greatly enhance both […]
Custom Fireplace Doors & Screens – Westchester County, NY
During the cooler months of the year, there’s nothing more inviting than curling up in front of your very own fireplace. It’s the perfect spot to spend time alone with a good book or to gather with those you love most. Watching the flickering flames and listening to the soothing crackling and popping sounds of […]
Where Bridges to Community Volunteers Serve
Bridges to Community is a poverty alleviation-focused nonprofit organization. Our motto, “building communities, changing lives,” encapsulates both the how and why of what we do. Our volunteers work with community leaders in impoverished regions of Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic to accomplish these important goals. In this article, we will focus on the criteria we […]
Composite Decking or Tropical Decking: Which Is Best for Boardwalks? Part 1
Composite decking is increasingly becoming the go-to for public boardwalks. City planners are being pressured by environmental lobbyists, and many are giving in. However, there are some serious problems with composite decking products, particularly for boardwalks. Find out why tropical decking such as Ipe or Cumuaru would be a far better choice. Reason 1: Inferior […]