I still remember the first time I held a piece of snakewood. I turned it over in my hands a few times and genuinely couldn’t believe it was real. It looked like someone had painted a snakeskin pattern onto a…
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is a lightweight, naturally rot-resistant softwood from the Pacific Northwest. Rich reddish-brown color, straight grain, exceptional outdoor durability — no chemical treatment needed. The go-to wood for siding, decking, fencing, and saunas. What Is Western…
Red oak is a strong, budget-friendly North American hardwood with a Janka hardness of 1,290 lbf. It has an open grain, warm reddish-brown color, and excellent workability. It’s one of the most widely available and affordable hardwoods you’ll find —…
Scientific Name: Quercus macrocarpa | Family: Fagaceae | Lifespan: 200–400 years | USDA Zones: 3–8 Key Takeaways: Bur oak is a massive, long-lived North American native tree that tolerates drought, cold, poor soils, and urban stress better than most shade…
There are trees… and then there are live oaks. Stand under one, and you immediately feel the difference. The branches stretch wide like open arms. The shade feels cool and deep. The trunk looks ancient, even when the tree is…
If you are building a deck, fence, pergola or another garden structure such as a planter box or shed, selecting the right type of wood to use is crucial in preventing an early heartbreak — and wallet-break. A lot of outdoor…
 When I first heard the name monkeypod wood, I honestly smiled. The name sounds fun, but the wood is seriously beautiful and useful. Monkey pod wood is a type of tropical hard wood commonly used for furniture, ornaments and carving.…
When I first saw hackberry wood on a stack at a sawmill, I let it be. I was searching for ash, and hackberry just seemed unimportant. The seller pulled me up short: “You see that wood you just walked by? It’s pretty…
I think the first time I used a hardwax oil was for my own house. As were many others, I left mystified. Some said polyurethane was tougher. Others swore by traditional oil. Hardwax oil sounded like marketing talk. But having lived with…
It was really my first time dealing with genuine reclaimed barnwood. A client brought in some rough, weathered boards from a barn that was more than 150 years old. They desired a plain dining table. As soon as I laid my hand on…
