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Latest Guides
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Free Online Deck Stain Calculator & Coverage Estimator
Deck Stain Calculator: Estimate Gallons & Cost The Wood Carpenter Dark mode Free tool · No sign-up Deck Stain Calculator Enter your deck’s dimensions and a few details about the wood, and get an instant estimate of gallons, coats, waste, and total cost — before you’re standing in the paint aisle guessing. Your deck Fill…
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Deck Material & Board Calculator (Free Online Tool)
Quick Answer For a standard rectangular deck, you’ll need roughly 1 linear foot of decking board for every (board width + gap) inches of deck width, multiplied by your deck’s length, plus 10–15% extra for cuts and waste. A 12×16 ft deck using 5.5-inch boards typically needs about 215–235 linear feet of decking, which works…
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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…

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.



