Ipe deck boards are stacked with “stickers” to acclimate before being installed

Are you about to construct a deck, but are wondering whether you should buy pre-grooved decking or cut the boards yourself? Well, this is a question that many people come across. At DeckWise®, we have found that cost and convenience are really the only differences between purchasing pre-grooved boards and cutting the boards yourself.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you may prefer to cut grooves into the boards yourself. If you do have the time to cut them, you could save money on materials by using a biscuit joiner or a router. However, cutting those grooves yourself presents you with the possibility of not making even, precise cuts. if you are hiring someone else to build your deck the labor cost will increase if contractors need to cut the grooves themselves.

But like we previously mentioned, the cost factor is the ultimate factor on which method you choose. Both of the methods are equally safe and secure. If you are interested in cutting the boards yourself, we have posted a video below on how to groove wood using a biscuit joiner.

The post What’s Better, Pre-Grooved Decking or Routing It Yourself? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

In case you missed all that the kit includes:

• 190-8×2” Stainless Steel Trim Head Screws
• 12-3/8” Tapered DeckWise Plugs
• 1-1/8” High Speed Drill Bit
• 1-T10 Star Drive Screw Gun Tip
• 3-Deck Board Spacers
• 175-DeckWise Hidden Deck Fasteners
• 1-Instruction Sheet

We also offer a DeckWise® 100 count kit, which is similar to the complete kit, but you do not receive DeckWise® Deck Plugs, the high speed drill bit or the screw gun tip. This kit also does not include as many fasteners or stainless steel screws.

This 100 count kit includes:

• 100-DeckWise® Hidden Deck Fasteners
• 100-Stainless Steel Trim Head Screws
• 3-Deck Board Spacers
• 1-Instruction Sheet

Choosing between the two kits depends on how big your building project is. Each kit covers different square footage and is dependent on the board size and joist spacing. If you need help determining which kit to use, you can access our website at www.DeckWise.com or call one of our sales representatives at (941)896-9851.

The post What Tools Do I Need For Hardwood Decking? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Do you want to build one but don’t have the time or money?

The DeckWise® Deck Tile System is a quick, easy, and affordable way to renovate your outdoor living space. With our Deck Tile System, you can have the deck you always wanted for a fraction of the cost of traditional timber decking. Plus, you can install the tiles yourself, saving not only money but also installation time. Because of the modular design, this system does not require the commitment of a permanent structure that you would need to build a traditional deck. Our tiles were designed to be installed over an existing surface by simply placing the tiles on to our patented connectors. Deck Tiles are also the ideal solution for renters or urban dwellers who would like to renovate an existing balcony or rooftop.

We offer our tile system in three different types of wood: Ipe, Cumaru and Tigerwood. After you decide which type you like best, you can choose either anti-slip surface or smooth. The anti slip surface is ideal for areas near water, like surrounding a pool or as the base of an outdoor shower.

The DeckWise® Deck Tile System Features:

• Chemical & UV resistant polyethylene that won’t fade or crack.
• Pre-drilled countersunk holes for easy fastening over a concrete slab or existing wooden deck.
• Built in gap spacing for an even and uniform surface.
• Elevates the deck tile above the subsurface to prevent wood rot.
• Can be divided into halves or quarters easily with hand tools for use on edges and corners.
• Improved drainage and runoff so water doesn’t pool in the corners.
• Available in Brown, Black and Gray.

Go to www.DeckWise.com or call us at 941-896-9851 to find out where you can get the DeckWise® Deck Tile System.

The post Is There An Easier Way To Build A Hardwood Deck? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Don’t let your wood drying method lead to a deck building disaster.

Are you getting ready to build a deck, but your lumber is all wet? Well, when wood gets wet it swells and does not allow you to know its true size (this is referred to as “green wood”). Building a deck with “green wood” will result in an uneven deck that may become unstable to walk on.

If you are putting in the time and money to create this new deck wouldn’t you want the best result? Choosing the proper wood drying method will truly change the overall look and longevity of your deck. There are two different methods to properly dry wood. These two methods are known as Air-Dried and Kiln-Dried.

What is Air-Dried?

Air drying lumber is the classic method to drying wood and has been around for ages. This process requires the wood to be stacked in layers on a raised foundation in a cool, dry area and separated with stickers (aka thin wood shims).

Positives

• This method results in the wood appearing more natural.
• If completed properly, the wood tends to look more attractive, have a higher quality, and be more workable.
• This is a gentler process on the wood.

Negatives

• If this process is done too quickly, case-hardening and internal checking (aka honeycombing) can occur.
• The air drying method can sometimes leave water and sticker marks.
• Equilibrium moisture content (EMC) can be left unequal. EMC is the balance of wood moisture content reaching the moisture content of the surrounding air. If this is unequal, problems of “green wood” can occur.
• This process can take a longer time to properly complete.
• Typically this wood drying process needs to be reacclimated to the new climate prior to installation.

What is Kiln-Dried?

Kiln drying lumber is also known as “controlled air drying,” which dries the lumber in a controlled atmosphere.

Positives

• This method allows wood to dry quicker and more even, which allows for immediate installation and immediate application of surface and end protectant (such as Ipe Oil or Ipe Seal).
• If completed properly, the wood tends to be straighter with fewer defects, and it is easier to measure accurately.
• This process typically results in less mold development and insect infestation.
• Kiln drying can also reduce the cost of shipping because the wood has less water weight.

Negatives

• Depending on the species of lumber, kiln drying can be more expensive.
• Internal stresses (such as checking, splitting and warping) can occur if dried improperly.

Though these two methods are vastly different, they both provide the builder with advantages and disadvantages. Choosing between the two will ultimately depend on the builder’s preference, budget and project size. Regardless of your choice, We want to leave you with a few tips that will make your deck building more beneficial.

• To insure proper gap spacing use gap spacers (we recommend DeckWise Deck Board Spacers).
• Ask your lumber supplier about how to store and handle your lumber purchases properly.

The post What’s The Difference Between Air Dried and Kiln Dried Hardwood? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

The Hardwood Wrench is capable of a pushing force of roughly 1,100 pounds. That bending power is over eight times greater than any other deck board straightener available today. By employing a self-locking cam attached to a high-quality anodized aircraft grade aluminum dog with an ergonomic stainless steel and hardwood handle, the design of the Hardwood Wrench makes installing deck boards a true one-man operation.

Expandable and reversible, deck builders can use this advanced tool in tight spaces without worrying about impeding other boards. Additionally, it is compatible with both single and double joists, capable of bending multiple boards at once, and works with all types of decking material including pre-grooved lumber, composites and PVC.

That’s how impressive the Hardwood Wrench was before the new and improved one hit the market. Now we are looking at a tool that does all that, plus some. DeckWise^® discovered that if they enlarged the length of the cam, it would completely improve the functionality of the tool. The larger surface area allows for an increased range and more bending power, helping you create closer gaps with even the most extreme bowed boards.

In addition to an increased surface area on the cam, the pins on the Hardwood Wrench were modified and adjusted, creating a stronger grasp on the joist. This alteration turns the Hardwood Wrench into a dual-purpose tool, able to not only straighten deck boards, but now, siding boards as well.

With the small changes that DeckWise^® made, they can now offer you the ideal tool for precise deck board installation. One tool, ten configurations, toughest bending power available, and dual-purpose. Some may claim to have ‘better’ and ‘new and improved’ products, but can’t back it up. When DeckWise^® makes this claim, they mean it. The Hardwood Wrench is truly the ultimate, indispensable deck board straightener professionals can use for all their decking, flooring, and cladding projects.

The post Why Should You Use A Board Straightener? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Hardwood plugs are used when you have to drill directly into the face of the wood. You start by pre-drilling the hole into the wood. Then, drill your decking screw into the hole. After that, you insert a dab of glue into the hole and insert the hardwood plug. Occasionally, part of the plug may protrude out of the wood. If this occurs, remove the protruding part with a hand tool or sander.

There are many different hardwood plugs, so how do you choose the right one? Well, we offer the DeckWise® Master Plug kit. This kit is available in five of the world’s best hardwoods. We offer Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, Garapa and Massaranduba plugs. Also, 350 or 1,050 hardwood plugs, 350 or 1,050 DeckWise® stainless steel screws, one complete Drill & Drive kit, and a 4oz bottle of Gorilla Glue is all included in our kit. That’s right, we even include glue in our kit!

Our overall goal with the DeckWise® Master Plug kit is to simplify all your decision making. We try to accomplish this by providing you with everything you would need for proper plug installation. To learn more about our kits go to www.DeckWise.com.

The post When Should You Use Hardwood Plugs? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Are you building other things besides decks? Well, that is no problem. The DeckWise® Drill & Drive can be used for more than just deck projects. This tool is perfect for the occasional touch-up and other projects, such as home renovations.

Below is a video that demonstrates how the Drill & Drive works. This video is a testament to how simple the Drill & Drive really is to use.
To find more information about the Drill & Drive and our other DeckWise® projects check out our website at www.DeckWise.com

The post How Can I Cut Down On Installation Time? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Lets begin with finishes. There are two types of finishes, oil-based and water-based. We believe using an oil-based finish is the better option for protecting your deck from harmful UV rays, water damage and mildew. Oil-based finishes provide excellent durability and result in a more even finished appearance. However, it typically takes longer to dry. The main reasons we favor oil-based finishes over water-based finishes is because water-based finishes do not penetrate the wood as well. Also, the water-based finishes have a tendency to peel. We offer an oil-based finish called Ipe Oil. This finish was created to protect even the hardest woods, while giving your deck an even coated appearance.

Using the proper oil-based finish in coordination with a good sealer will increase the structural integrity of your deck. The function of deck sealants is to prevent the end-cut from end-checking and cracks. We recommend our Ipe Seal . Our Ipe Seal is a wax emulsion sealer that extends the life of each deck board while preventing the boards from end-checking and cracking.

Below, we have provided you with a little insight to what items you will need for proper installation, and inform you of the best application time.

Items needed:

• a broom
• water hose
• 3/8″ nap paint roller
• dry rag

When to apply finishes and sealants?

Depending on the type of wood drying method, you will need to apply the finishes immediately or apply the finishes once the wood is completely dried. Kiln dried wood allows you to apply the finishes immediately, while air dried wood requires you to wait until the wood has completely dried and acclimated to your environment.

How to properly apply finishes and sealants?

After you determine which wood you are using, its time to apply the finish. You want to first sweep your deck, which is to assure you that all debris inside the cracks is removed. Secondly, wash down the deck boards with a hose and let dry (drying usually takes about 24 hours). Next, use a paint roller to apply the finish. After a few minutes, use a dry cloth to rub in the excess liquid and let it dry completely.

Wah-lah, you’re done!

To read more about our finishes and sealants access www.DeckWise.com.

The post How Do You Protect Your Deck? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

The FSC has made its goal to properly manage forests in hope to maintain biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes. We suggest that if you are purchasing lumber to build a deck, you should check to see if it’s FSC certified. Another idea we suggest is building your decks with reclaimed wood.

Reclaimed wood is recycled wood that has been reclaimed by many different sources. A few sourcing options can be old barns, buildings and train trestles. Building your deck with reclaimed wood can result in a beautiful, strong and unique deck. Decks built with reclaimed wood can actually be more durable than decks built with traditional lumbers. Often times, reclaimed wood has been around for over a century, which allows the wood to go through the cycles and weather changes. However, there are a few things you should consider before building your deck with reclaimed wood.

Being environment-friendly can often increase the cost of your decking project. Reclaimed wood tends to be more expensive because of the sourcing process it endures. There also is a limited supply, so you need to make sure you have the right amount prior to building. The lack of supply also makes it difficult to match colors and patterns, and the species of wood can be unknown.

After all of that has been said, we believe if you have the extra money and resources to build a deck from reclaimed wood we think you should! And if you don’t have the money and resources for reclaimed wood, but you desire to still be environment-friendly stick to recycled materials and FSC certified wood.

The post How Can You Still “Go Green” By Building a Deck? appeared first on DeckWiseGuys Deck Building How To.

Protecting your deck is an essential process in preparing for the cold weather. Using deck protectors, such as our Ipe Seal and Ipe Oil, keeps your deck in good health during those cold, wet months. In those months, the cold and wet climate your deck has a higher risk of growing mildew, soaking up access water and warping. If you have spent your time and money building your deck, you wouldn’t want to throw it away by not protecting your deck. Would you? Some people believe applying protectors is a one-time thing, and others believe application of those products is a hassle. Well, at DeckWise®, we want to inform you of the importance of frequently using deck protectors, and let you know applying those protectors is as easy as 1-2-3.

First, you want to clean the surface of your deck. You can do this by spraying it off with a hose. After you clean it off, let it dry. Secondly, you apply the product. This too is an easy process. All you do is roll the product over the entire surface. Third, and lastly, you wipe off the excess product.

See, those three steps don’t seem that bad. And it’s those three simple steps that will guarantee the life of your deck during the winter season.

Our products can also be used on other outdoor hardwood surfaces such as fences and wood railings. Let our products help you, and save the life of your outdoor wood surfaces.

When that cold weather finally approaches, and snow may begin to fall, your wood will be protected. If snow piles on your deck and you wish to shovel it off, we suggest shoveling the snow lengthwise with a plastic shovel. If you shovel the snow in the other direction, you are putting your deck at risk for scratches. Also, the use of a metal shovel can put scratches on your deck, which can also scratch off the protector you have previously applied to it.

To read more about our products go to www.DeckWise.com.

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