Wood varies greatly in color and figure - even wood of the same species and boards from the same tree. You need to pay attention to how boards look when you're putting then next to one another in a project. Otherwise, you may end up with color and figure differences that will detract from the appearance and be difficult to disguise with a finish.

Whether you're choosing boards at a lumberyard or from your own inventory, look through the supply and imagine how different grain and figure patterns would look if placed in various parts of your project. Be conscious of knots, splits, checks and other defects and determine how you would either use them to advantage or work around them. If you're using veneered plywood or plan to veneer the wood yourself, think of how the figure in the veneer can be used to best advantage. Above ...

This has been one of the biggest problems in the construction business for years. The bigger the piece of lumber, the more it can shrink. There are large pieces of lumber that have been kiln dried where most of the moisture has been removed and this wood seems to remain the same size and rarely shrinks.

The reason why lumber shrinks is because, it's losing moisture. This moisture is from the original growth and can often create problems, if the lumber isn't dried out properly. The lumber yard is responsible for drying out the lumber so that it can be used effectively while building a home, but sometimes they're in a hurry and this lumber get shipped off shortly after it has been milled.

Now here's something that might shock you, I personally watched a 2 x 12 that measured 11 1/2" shrink to 11 ...

Building a hutch or putting down wood floor for the living room are two jobs that can be completed with relative ease. The most important question to answer is what type of hardwood lumber you want to use. First you will want to learn a few things about hardwoods. Then you will be able to make an educated decision.

Hardwood is wood that comes from broad leaf trees or two that produce nuts. Walnut, Maple and Cherry trees are the ones that are used mist frequently in North America. The climate in North America is perfect for the trees so they grow in great abundance. Lumber from any of these trees is labeled hardwood.

However, this generic label is somewhat misleading because there are major differences in the types. Industrials groups have worked hard to give rating to various lumbers to help differentiate between them. Different strengths and grades are ...

In the Atlanta remodeling market, a local builder reports that they are receiving a lot of requests to put additions on homes that consist of a large opening through an exterior wall or large opening in an interior load bearing wall. This requires the load that is carried by that wall to be held up some other way. Since conventional lumber is somewhat limited in its ability to span large openings the builder has found that they need another material that can be used in these situations.

Traditionally, the home owner would have to settle for a column in the middle of their span or have a steel beam made for the application. However, the builder recommends using a product called Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), which has many benefits. Laminated Veneer Lumber is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives.

The advantages of ...

Chromated copper arsenate treated wood, or CCA treated wood, has caused eyebrows to raise in question from all around the country. Is this type of wood safe for my deck? It is safe for my children to play on? The answer: yes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deemed that CCA treated wood poses no unreasonable threats to health or safety and does not require that decks, playground equipment, and other structures built with this type of lumber be torn down. However, when children play outside around CCA treated lumber or on any other structure they should wash their hands before eating. Also, food should not be placed directly onto CCA treated lumber to decrease unnecessary exposure to arsenic.

Should you be scared about your CCA treated lumber? No you should not but applying a deck sealant to your wood is an added precaution against the dangers arsenic poses. Although ...

It isn't difficult to choose wood if you know how to buy lumber for a DIY project. There are just a few things that you will need to keep in mind so that your DIY project goes smoothly.

Installing Shelves

If you are building shelves you will want "clear" or "select" grade wood without a lot of knotholes, discoloration or other such defects. Knotholes will greatly increase the difficulty of your manipulation of the wood so you want to avoid them if at all possible.

Building Fences

You will want to use "common" grade wood for building fences. While this wood can have defects in it, you will be able to paint right over them.

Checking Out The Boards

Whenever you purchase plywood you will want to hold it up to your eye and make sure that it is completely straight. Another way in which to make sure that ...

Cosmetically, a finished deck may appear to be sturdy and beautiful, but strength of the decking lumber should not solely be relied upon without having a solid foundation. There are a couple great alternatives to using real wood lumber for decking, gazebos and even pergolas, which can be stronger and more durable than real natural wood. Some die-hard traditionalists insist that nothing can match the natural beauty of wood, however, the differences between synthetic decking lumber and real wood is often blurred even to professionals. Aluminum decking is also available in different finishes as well in order to simulate a colored wood tone.

The primary reason for using synthetic materials is due to the quality of manufacturing processes reaching levels of excellence never before seen in the decking industry. There are exceptions to every rule and it is ultimately the home owner's responsibility to select which avenue to take ...

In the not so distant past, decking did not enjoy the longevity it does today. Advancements in deck sealants, stains, and pressure treating wood have greatly enhanced the durability and appearance of the modern day deck. Proper annual or seasonal maintenance is still required to ensure a quality deck retains its quality over time. Choosing a better species of wood is the first place to start. A "better" species of wood is one which is more resilient to the harsh elements. There are only a few areas which do not receive a vast variety of temperature or climate changes. The majority of the U.S. is much like what North Carolina experiences year round. Temperatures ranging from freezing to hot can cause repeated and rapid contraction and expansion of deck lumber. Coupled with wet or icy conditions, most basic lumber, regardless of being pressure treated, will begin to show signs ...