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# Docks & Decks
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Published: December 10, 2024 | Author: Shannon Rogers
In the quest for sustainable and versatile deck alternatives, Tali wood has emerged as a prime candidate. Cumaru, a popular choice for decking, has recently been listed on Appendix II of CITES, indicating increased regulatory scrutiny that may affect its availability and cost. This development highlights the need for reliable alternatives. Tali, scientifically known as Erythrophleum spp., offers a … 
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Published: May 28, 2023 | Author: Shannon Rogers
You just bought some decking or flooring (or really any lumber) and one of the first things you hear is that it needs time to acclimate to its new surroundings before installing deck boards. The maddening thing is you will rarely get the same answer twice when it comes to how long that particular lumber should sit around getting in touch with its feelings. If pressed for an answer to "how long … 
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Published: May 9, 2022 | Author: Shannon Rogers
When you buy decking boards, they are already planed on 4 faces (S4S) and usually have the sharp corners eased (E4E). Depending on whether you are face screwing or using a clip system, there may or may not be a groove routed on the edges. This is a product ready to install right? But is it a finished product? Absolutely not, and this is where many homeowners and even contractors get confused and … 
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Published: November 20, 2021 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Easy answer: you can't...
That's not entirely true. You could dry the timbers in a vacuum kiln and definitely not use them outside and keep them away from direct sunlight. Probably a good idea to speak in low, soothing tones around those timbers too.
I joke, but the reality is that these cracks or checks are just the nature of wood. Checking can be controlled in "regular" sized 4/4 through 8/4 or … 
Published: April 10, 2021 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Spring time is here and with it comes deck building season.  This is the time of year when our millwork department spends 75% of the day grooving Ipe decking boards for hidden fasteners.  At any given moment there are several trucks being loaded with Ipe or Cumaru or Tigerwood decking to be shipped off to our customers around the country.  As we have written about on this blog … 
Published: July 2, 2019 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Color is a sticky subject for lumber dealers. More specifically, matching the color of different boards of the same species. Wood is an organic product. Maybe that goes without saying, but in today's engineered product world, it is important to realize that wood is unique.
It isn't poured or extruded or dyed or infused or crackle painted (at least I hope not). Every piece you get is different. … 
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Published: March 31, 2017 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Over the years we have written a lot about the ever changing landscape of not just Ipe but the tropical decking market in general. In the last year many of our predictions and concerns have come to fruition creating a chaotic state of the market. It seems like it is time to discuss the state of the species and what we can expect over the next year with regards to Ipe availability, quality, and … 
Published: April 17, 2014 | Author: Shannon Rogers
We have talked about shortages in Ipe recently here, and while we still have plenty of Ipe in stock, it seems appropriate to talk about another option and to do some side by side comparison.  Ipe hardness makes is a superior decking product, but is hardness the only thing to consider?
Certainly, we have found that Cumaru is a great Ipe alternative, and we have been selling it as fast as we can … 
Published: March 7, 2014 | Author: Shannon Rogers
I'm normally not a fan of headlines like this one as they are sensationalist, but in this case it is a reality we must grasp quickly. Frankly, I have been worried about the Ipe market for many years, as global demand rises and saw mills churn out material faster and faster. When you look closely at the Ipe supply chain, you see a house of cards that won't take much to be knocked over.
Now don't … 
Published: October 25, 2013 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Its getting cold out there. The summer tourists have gone home and seasonal repairs and renovation has begun in earnest. This year one simple yet highly effective repair you can do is to replace your dock boards with Ipe. After all a dock is just a deck right? In fact Ipe has become such an effective dock material that many of the sawmills we work with in Brazil produce 4-5 foot Ipe boards … 
Published: August 26, 2011 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Several weeks ago we wrote about the issue of thinner and odd thickness stock that the US market demands versus the much larger demand for thicker stock in the rest of the world. This week we will take a look at length of Ipe and similar decking products and how buying odd lengths can end up saving the US buyer money.
Less Waste Makes the Best Decking Materials
Traditionally, the U.S. … 
Published: August 19, 2011 | Author: Shannon Rogers
Installing a tropical hardwood deck with a species like Ipe or Cumaru is done the same way as your typical pressure treated Pine or even composite deck: Ipe clip and other hidden fasteners or face screwed. Each deck fastener system method has pros and cons. Face screwing is fast and secure but it leaves exposed screw holes that many find unattractive. Hidden fasteners leave an unblemished … 
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# Alpha
Published: August 27, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
The cornerstones of the Alpha brand all work together. Grain and texture affect opacity, species determines grain pattern and texture. Finally opacity can make or break the entire look if “grain through the stain” isn’t at the forefront of everyone’s mind. But there is one last principle that showcases all the other elements and puts them into the proper context to be appreciated. Profile. The … 
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Published: July 18, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
Wood grain. Most people have an image that comes to mind immediately when they hear that. But wood grain can actually be a very specific term that refers to how a board has been cut from a log. Flat sawn, rift sawn, and quarter sawn are all wood grains. Without getting too deep into the technical details of how those grains are created at the sawmill, it is important to know that each grain or … 
Published: July 16, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
Grain through the STain
If you’re going out of your way to specify solid wood cladding when planning your next project, you really want it to look like wood. Otherwise, what’s the difference between solid wood, vinyl or a composite product? The opacity of the finish makes the most difference in how your wood cladding looks when viewed from afar over a large area. We ran focus groups with … 
Published: February 23, 2024 | Author: Megan Szaraz
On the hunt for the perfect species of wood for exterior cladding? When taking on a large construction project as the architect, builder, or even homeowner, the selection of wood cladding can greatly influence both aesthetic charm and longevity. It also can be a seriously confusing subject! Get this wood selection wrong and it will all fall apart...literally. After centuries of selling wood for … 
Published: June 29, 2023 | Author: Megan Szaraz
Organic Modern style is all about clean lines and natural tones. But warmth is necessary. So is light. Actually the interplay of light on warm surfaces might be the better way to define Organic Modern design. Without these you get sterile, museum like spaces with white walls and white floors and surly looking docents making sure you don't touch anything. Wood is the key element, the critical … 