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Is My Deck Rotting or Just Weathered? 5 Simple Tests to Tell
Last spring, I was standing on my deck on a warm Saturday, coffee in hand, and I noticed a dark, crackly spot near the back corner. My first thought was, “Is that just old wood, or is my deck about to cave in?” I bet you have had that same thought. A deck can look…
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Deck Repair vs Replace: The Simple Screwdriver Test
I want to tell you a quick story before we get into the details. A few years back, I got a call about a deck that looked like it was ready for the dump. The pine boards were gray. Some were cracked. It looked sad from the street. But when I got up close with…
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How to Clean a Deck the Right Way (Without Ruining the Wood)
Key Takeaways for Quick Readers: I ruined my deck the first time I tried to clean it. Not completely ruined, but close enough that I still think about it every time I pick up a pressure washer. Here’s what happened. I had this pressure washer, brand new, still had the tag on it basically. I…
Meet Sam Wood Worker
Sam has spent years working with wood — from furniture building to fine finishing. The Wood Carpenter was built to share real, practical woodworking knowledge you can actually use in your workshop.