Material Education
Natural Defects
Lumber Defects 101
Checks and Splits
Peck
Rot and Decay
Heart Pith
Ring Shake
Stains
Wormholes
Pitch, Gum, and Sap
Wane
Shelling
Knots
Material Education
Wood Deck Materials
Manufacturing Defects
Wet and Dry Wood
How to Read Grade Stamping
Plane Sawn and Quarter Sawn Cuts
Bark Side Up vs. Best Side Up
How to organize your materials for use
Warping
Crook or Crown
Bow
Cup
Twist
Deck Builders
Watch the first of our deck design video series. Here are the three products in the video. Enjoy!
Gossen PVC Decking
BigFoot Systems
EBTY Hidden Fasteners

Stains

Some boards appear to have discolored streaks. They are commonly referred to as mineral streaks.  This happens when dark colored minerals are drawn into the tree from its water source or when mold grows in poorly ventilated areas.  The stains are generally blue or brown.  Stains can be cut out or covered by a dark colored wood stain.  Some commercial wood cleaners containing oxalic acid can be effective to clean off stains from mold.