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Building Skills

Mastering Wood

By Matt Higgins

Think you know all there is to know about wood? Wood is pretty simple, and, sure, you probably work with it every day, but check out the articles below to make you really have a masters level understanding of this incredibly classic home building material.

When building a deck, do you put the boards with the bark side up or down? This is an ongoing debate. Most say bark side up, a few swear by down, and many say it doesn’t matter. Read this article and you may change your opinion. Bark Side Up or Bark Side Down?

In this article, Scott Gibson covers pressure-treated softwood, naturally insect and decay resistant woods, imported exotics, and non-chemically treated woods. If you want a deck to last, read this article. Buyer’s Guide to Decking: Wood

Scott Gibson is at it again with another buyer’s guide. This time he covers all of the wood types commonly used, and he takes on the alternatives. The solution for your next deck build is in this article. Buyer’s Guide: A Plank for Every Deck

If you’re buying pressure-treated lumber, make sure you know what you’re bringing home. Check out this article that makes it easy. What’s the Difference: Pressure-Treated Lumber

Here’s another from Fine Homebuilding‘s What’s the Difference? department. This one covers moisture content, species, and grade. What’s the Difference: Moisture Content, Species, and Grade

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  1. User avater
    MargieJRichey | Mar 07, 2016 07:29am | #1

    Useful and Interesting article.

  2. User avater
    ClaireCGreen | Mar 10, 2016 12:31am | #2

    Great tips and a good article!

  3. User avater
    NancyZCanaday | Mar 22, 2016 12:58am | #3

    Very Impressive.

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